SANZAR to act on laser attacks

Governing body SANZAR said Monday it will raise with the Argentine Rugby Union the issue of lasers targeting Australia's goal-kickers during the weekend Rugby Championship Test against the Pumas.

Laser beams were shone in the faces of Australian place kickers Mike Harris and Kurtley Beale during the Wallabies' gutsy 25-19 triumph over Argentina in Rosario on Saturday.

Replays of the build-up to some kicks at goal showed red and green lasers aimed at the Wallabies in an effort to distract them.

But makeshift fullback Harris succeeded with seven out of eight shots at goal for a 20-point haul.

Australian newspapers Monday criticised the use of the lasers with The Daily Telegraph describing it as a "new low" for spectator behaviour.

SANZAR (South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby) did not release an official statement on Monday but CEO Greg Peters said the matter would be raised with Argentina.

"It's unacceptable. It can be a hard thing to isolate offenders but we will do what we can to try and crack down on it," Peters told The Daily Telegraph.

Peters later told AFP: "The situation will be part of our operational review of the match and will be taken up with the Union Argentina de Rugby."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans played down the incident after the match.

"Obviously, it was not ideal but it was not a major element and was resolved very quickly [by a ground announcement]," he told the newspaper.

"I think it would be a terrible shame if that was to blur in any way the great experience the team has had here."

AFP