Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan has described the International Rugby Board's proposed law changes as "illogical and very short-sighted".

Thirteen of the 23 Experimental Law Variations currently being experimented with in southern hemisphere tournaments such as the Super 14 will be introduced at all levels of the game in a 12-month trial from August 1.

These include the contentious change of players now being able to defend a maul by pulling it down while there will also be no restriction on the number of players in a lineout.

McGeechan told the Times: "If you don't want to contest the lineout, you can put two players in, pull down the opposition, and string the other forwards across the field.

"It's probably the end of the short lineout and of the maul. Two players can go in and pull it down, the others join the defensive line.

"A good maul attracts players to it and creates space elsewhere. It's illogical and very short-sighted."

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