Place kickers obliged to trim their

Players will be asked to trim their penalty kicking rituals next season if they wish to avoid their team being penalised. One of a number of new laws introduced by the International Rugby Board (IRB) on August 1st allows referees to award a scrum to the opposition if a place kicker does not attempt to kick within 60 seconds from the moment he tells the referee his intention to go for goal.

Other changes prevent lineouts from being taken within five metres of the goal-line and players hitting rucks and mauls without first binding. There is also a change in emphasis on obstruction.

The laws, which became enforceable four days ago, have been changed in an effort to speed up matches. All unions have been asked to adopt them, except those involved in the current Tri-Nations series involving South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. It was considered inappropriate to ask those teams to change mid tournament, so tomorrow's decider between New Zealand and Australia will adhere to the old rules.

The kicking rule change would appear to put added pressure on referees, particularly if the final kick of the game is a match-deciding effort. But international referee Alan Lewis sees the players having to make the bigger adjustment.

"The responsibility will be on the player," said Lewis. "He is going to have to sharpen up. I think common sense will prevail and that most players will recognise the change really quickly and know that they've just got to get on with it.

"I'd say referees will provide a warning first in the way that slow play in golf is warned. The change-over is punitive with a scrum against but it is up to the players to respond to the change."

The emphasis on speed will also require a management shift in that the kicking tee will have to be relayed to the player as soon as the decision to kick is made. David Humphreys, the Irish and Ulster outhalf, sees little to be concerned about but admits to not having any idea of how long it takes for him to execute a kick at goal.

"I've no idea how long I take from start to finish. I've never timed myself," he said. "Obviously I'll have to start thinking about it but I don't really see it as much of a problem. Organising it properly and bringing on the tee will be a big part of it but I don't think it will affect too many players. (Gonzalo) Quesada is obviously one of the players who comes to mind who might have to speed up.

"I'd say most kickers take around the minute anyway. Now it's something you've got to live with and there is no point in complaining. A month down the line people will have forgotten about it just like taking too much time over the lineout throw."

The new law supercedes the instruction to referees as regards slow kickers such as World Cup marksman Quesada, who's painstaking mental preparation, while effective, is seen as clearly slowing the game down. Originally players such as Queseda, who took more than 40 seconds to execute their kick, were guilty of an `undue delay'. While they were allowed to get away with it, the price from now on will be counted in terms of lost points.

Some of the other law changes are more subtle but Warren Gatland's 15-man lineout on the opposition's goal-line seems to be a thing of the past unless his side can perfect a five-metre shove. Again Humphreys doesn't see it as something that will significantly shape a match.

"Kicking for the corner happens only one or two times a game. It's not something that's happening all through the match," he said.