New Zealand sides have adapted best to rugby's experimental new laws because they offer the game that the Kiwis love best.

But South African sides will take longer to adapt, Crusaders and All Blacks fly half Dan Carter warned yesterday.

Carter, looking fit and relaxed in Cape Town, outlined some of the reasons why the Crusaders have scored 11 tries in their first two Super 14 games. They offer an exceedingly dangerous threat to Rassie Erasmus’s Stormers when the two sides meet at Newlands in the next Super 14 game this Friday night.

“I think it’s fair to say the New Zealand sides have adapted quickest to these new laws because what they have done is really open up the game. And that’s the style of rugby we love playing in New Zealand. Having defences back an extra 5 metres at scrums has definitely helped that free flowing style of game, it has been a real assist if you have that attacking philosophy.

“We have been trying to play this way for some time now, it is the game we like best so perhaps that is why we have looked as though we have benefited most. It has suited us. And we are pleased with the way things have gone in the first two games. But this is a long campaign and you can’t look too far ahead.

“Potentially, South African teams will take longer to adapt because traditionally they have been very strong defensively and much more structured. Both are still important but under these rules, attacking is becoming more important and therefore the South African sides have more to change in their game.”

Carter also warned that players need to be much fitter under the new laws. He revealed that the Crusaders had done a lot of hill running in their pre-season training to improve their fitness levels. “The game is so much more fluid now and continuity is there to a far greater extent. Therefore, you need much higher levels of fitness to be effective at this game.”

But he admitted the Crusaders are wary of another Newlands ambush, after experiencing such an outcome a couple of years back. “The beauty of this competition is that anyone can beat any team on their day. That has happened in the past and you can’t take any team lightly.

“The Stormers have shown in the past they can get up for any game and they have players who are capable of helping them achieve that. They gave us a good beating a couple of years ago.

“If we put ourselves in their shoes, having lost the first two games, we know what our attitude would be. They will be hungry, wanting to win to get their campaign on the road. So they will be extremely dangerous and we can’t take them lightly. It is a huge challenge ahead of us but that is what we love. We are looking forward to Friday night.”

It is Daniel Carter’s belief that the new law requiring players to retreat an extra 5 metres at scrums has been the most significant of the law changes. “As a fly half, that change has been very helpful. It gives you the opportunity to get over the gain line, find more space and try more things in an attacking sense. It has really benefited my game and for me, been the biggest difference.

“But the opportunity to tap and go is another critical factor.”

Carter conceded that he was delighted to have started the Super 14 season with the Crusaders, not go into it halfway through as he did last year because of the All Blacks’ World Cup conditioning programme. “It was tough last year but it’s great to be back playing in the Crusaders’ jersey for a full season. It helps so much when you have a solid core of your squad and guys are not coming in and out.

“But having said that, it has definitely helped us long term that last year, there were several new guys who came in and they all stood up. A lot took their opportunity and that has really helped our overall strength. We have benefited from that. It has given a chance to young players to really step up. Further down the track these guys will be the finished product.”

But one guy the Crusaders will not have long term is coach Robbie Deans and Carter made little attempt to mask the huge loss of Deans’ departure to Australia in June. “He has given so much to the franchise, it will be a huge challenge to try and replace him. He will be seriously missed but that is out of our control.”

What is so special about Deans, what makes him almost certainly the best coach in the world ? Carter was specific in his response.

“He is an extremely experienced and successful coach. He knows what you have to do to win yet he’s still relatively young. He gets on really well with the players and brings the best out of them. He encourages them to play their game. And as a tactician, he knows what to say and do at the right time.

“Australia are very lucky to be getting his services, they will enjoy him.”

ENDS……………