Scots to seek referee's help

McGeechan will seek a referee's assistance

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan will seek the advice of a New Zealand referee before they face the All Blacks to help his side get to grips with southern hemisphere rule interpretations.

Scotland players were penalised heavily in their tour opener and after the match McGeechan had a brief audience with referee Paddy O'Brien to clarify his rulings.

He suggested his side were in effect penalised for sticking too rigidly to the new laws drawn up earlier this season and that he would seek to make any alterations before their opening clash with the All Blacks on 24 June.

McGeechan was hoping to get one of New Zealand's top referees to attend a training session to ensure the players were up to speed on the how the laws were applied, especially in the tackle situation.

If there is more leeway over here then we have got to understand that

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan

"If there is more leeway over here then we have got to understand that." McGeechan said.

"I would like to arrange if possible before the first Test for a referee to come to one of our sessions and give us some clarification on certain things.

"Most of these referees have come straight from the Super 12, where perhaps some things are allowed which would not happen in the northern hemisphere."

Mammoth task

McGeechan, whose side already face a mammoth task if they are to achieve their goal of a first-ever win over New Zealand at Test level, is intent on making sure his side are not disadvantaged by different interpretations of the laws.

But he is also keen to ensure his side have no cause for complaint after the event if things do not go their way on the field.

McGeechan said: "It is important we have a rapport with the referees because we are in the southern hemisphere now and we can't say `that wouldn't happen back home'. We have got to respond in the same way as any player in the Super 12 or Tri-Nations."