Interpretations of the tackle law are strangling this year's Vodacom Tri-Nations, Australian coach Eddie Jones said on Monday.

Twelve months after Australia and New Zealand scored 10 tries and 74 points as they ran the ball end to end in what has been acclaimed as the greatest Test of all in Sydney, tries have become a rarity in the triangular tournament.

Jones conceded defences had become smarter and it was up to teams to develop new attacking strategies, but he also said an International Rugby Board edict to change the tackle law interpretations had closed the game down.

The Wallabies have only scored two tries and a penalty try in their three Tri-Nations Tests so far, but still lead a dour tournament on seven points, one ahead of South Africa and three in front of New Zealand, who have a game in hand.

"There's definitely been problems at the tackle. If you have problems at the tackle, you're going to have problems in attack," he said. "We just seem to be going through a period where there's not a clear interpretation of the tackle.

"In 2000 generally we had a clear interpretation of the tackle and therefore players were able to play confidently and consistently and referees refereed in a consistent manner and therefore we had rugby with a good balance between attack and defence.

"There was an edict from the IRB wanting the tackle interpretation to be changed. That happened and since then I don't think there's been a clear understanding of how we want the tackle to be played."

Jones criticised South Africa's attempts to slow down the ball at the breakdown in Saturday's 14-14 draw in Perth and the physical tackling of Springbok flyhalf Butch James.

However, Springbok coach Harry Viljoen was not impressed with Jones' complaints. "After every Test we play against the Wallabies we hear their excuses," Viloen said. - Sapa