Spectators at matches in Premier 1's Super Cup are seeing more rugby than those at this season's Super 14 matches, writes Kevin Ferrie.

Rod Macqueen unveiled remarkable figures comparing the two tournaments shortly after arriving in Scotland yesterday as part of the International Rugby Board delegation examining how experimental laws are affecting games. "Everything's the same, scrums, lineouts, etc. There's only one difference, the ball's in play over 10% more in the Scottish games," said the great Aussie coach.

"Some of this game time is unheard of. The ball in play in these matches is a maximum of 59%, as opposed to 41% in Super 14, while the average in the Scottish games is 49% and in Super 14 it is 37%."

However, as he revealed those figures, he stressed that this was not because, as some believe, the game has lost all meaningful shape under the experimental laws.

"It's important that we have still got as many scrums and we've still got as many lineouts. It is not because the game is without structure."

"The main consideration is that it is a game for all shapes and sizes," he said. "If you take the lessons, for instance, from rugby league, you'll find that when they made the scrum uncontested, the body types became similar. So that's our No.1 priority.

"The thing that is very, very important in rugby is the contest for possession and that's what makes it a game for all shapes and sizes."