22 Aug 2008

Boks to tackle IRB over scrums and meetings

5:46 am on 22 August 2008

The Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will meet International Rugby Board manager of referees Paddy O'Brien next week following South African concerns about New Zealand scrumming techniques.

The Springboks say they'd like to discuss a request to meet referees in the company of opposition coaches before Test matches.

South Africa voiced their concern over alleged illegal scrumming techniques applied by New Zealand during the first Test between the teams in the Tri-nations series in Wellington.

De Villiers and All Black coach Graham Henry met referee Matt Goddard before the second Test in Dunedin to clarify the Australian's interpretation of the laws but IRB regulations prohibit such meetings.