Test rugby a debacle - Campese

David Campese won 101 caps for Australia

David Campese says the Lions tour of South Africa has proved that international rugby is a "debacle".

The Australian legend believes the opening two Tests have highlighted the different rules being played in the northern and southern hemispheres.

"Two Test matches, two different referees, two different rulings of the game," he told The Back Page.

"I think that demonstrates that international rugby at the moment is a bit of a debacle."

He added: "We've got two different hemispheres who have got different rules and the interpretations are different.

"It was very obvious in the first Test when you had [New Zealand referee Bryce] Lawrence and then the Frenchman [Christophe Berdos in the second Test].

"One team was blown off the park one week and then the next week things weren't as bad.

"I think it shows you that there are things that we've got to sort out."

And Campese believes one way of sorting the problems out is to bring back proper rucking and stop players killing the ball on the floor.

"The game will be better for it, the ball will be a lot quicker and players can actually get on and do things," he insisted.

"At the moment, it's a nightmare at the rucks and mauls, they've got players' hands on and really it's a rugby league game. Everything is defence."

Campese, capped by 101 times by the Wallabies and one time world record holder for the most tries in Test matches [64], also plays down suggestions that the Lions tour proves the southern hemisphere teams are better.

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"We say that all the time, but really, is it?" he said.

"You guys have had a long season, you're coming off a season, we're starting our seasons, so it's really hard to tell.

"We've got to try and get one season that combines everybody so we can tell who are the best teams in the world."

Campese does not believe that will happen but added the Lions were partly to blame for losing the series in South Africa.

It means they have not won a Test match since the Australia tour in 2001, making it seven defeats going into Saturday's final Test against the Springboks.

He said: "The Africans at home are always going to be hard to beat but I think there's been a lot of concern that the lead up to the Test matches the players haven't really got to play against the Springboks.

"When it came to the first Test they found they were behind on the scoreboard because they haven't played against these players.

"I think it takes away a lot from what the British Lions have been over the years."