Jones - called for rule change. (Getty Images)
JONES KEEN TO SPEED GAME UP
By Alex Lowe, PA Sport, Sydney
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has called for a change to rugby's replacement
laws in a bid to minimise injury stoppages.
Jones said the dramatic World Cup final was blighted somewhat by the constant
stoppages as players received treatment and wants a rugby league-style
interchange system adopted.
"It was a slow game, a very slow game. Every time there was an injury the
game stopped, which is something that desperately needs to be attended to in
rugby," he said.
"If you look at all the positives of the games we've had in the World Cup,
the negative is that we still have long stoppages for injury.
"We've got to get away from that in rugby. My argument would be that we
should have 12 interchanges and if people feign injury than you use up one of
your interchanges."
Rugby already has a 'blood-bin', allowing players with cuts to be temporarily
replaced while they undergo treatment, though that is a regulation often
stretched.
Jones stressed that most of the stoppages for non-blood injuries are avoidable
but hinted England's ageing pack could have benefited from the breaks in play.
Though he stopped short of accusing England of feigning injuries in their
20-17 World Cup final victory, he did admit that all sides take full advantage
of the stoppages.
"Everyone in the world does it, we do it, every other side in the world does
it," he said.
"We've got to get rid of injury stoppages in the game. England certainly
didn't try to slow the game down at all."
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