diff --git a/Grid/qcd/action/gauge/PlaqPlusRectangleAction.h b/Grid/qcd/action/gauge/PlaqPlusRectangleAction.h
index 7690092d..039d39e0 100644
--- a/Grid/qcd/action/gauge/PlaqPlusRectangleAction.h
+++ b/Grid/qcd/action/gauge/PlaqPlusRectangleAction.h
@@ -79,27 +79,19 @@ public:
     GridBase *grid = Umu.Grid();
 
     std::vector<GaugeLinkField> U (Nd,grid);
-    std::vector<GaugeLinkField> U2(Nd,grid);
-
     for(int mu=0;mu<Nd;mu++){
       U[mu] = PeekIndex<LorentzIndex>(Umu,mu);
-      WilsonLoops<Gimpl>::RectStapleDouble(U2[mu],U[mu],mu);
     }
+    std::vector<GaugeLinkField> RectStaple(Nd,grid), Staple(Nd,grid);
+    WilsonLoops<Gimpl>::StapleAll(Staple, U);
+    WilsonLoops<Gimpl>::RectStapleAll(RectStaple, U);
 
     GaugeLinkField dSdU_mu(grid);
     GaugeLinkField staple(grid);
 
     for (int mu=0; mu < Nd; mu++){
-
-      // Staple in direction mu
-
-      WilsonLoops<Gimpl>::Staple(staple,Umu,mu);
-
-      dSdU_mu = Ta(U[mu]*staple)*factor_p;
-
-      WilsonLoops<Gimpl>::RectStaple(Umu,staple,U2,U,mu);
-
-      dSdU_mu = dSdU_mu + Ta(U[mu]*staple)*factor_r;
+      dSdU_mu = Ta(U[mu]*Staple[mu])*factor_p;
+      dSdU_mu = dSdU_mu + Ta(U[mu]*RectStaple[mu])*factor_r;
 	  
       PokeIndex<LorentzIndex>(dSdU, dSdU_mu, mu);
     }
diff --git a/Grid/qcd/utils/WilsonLoops.h b/Grid/qcd/utils/WilsonLoops.h
index 516158d0..04359ebf 100644
--- a/Grid/qcd/utils/WilsonLoops.h
+++ b/Grid/qcd/utils/WilsonLoops.h
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ public:
   }
 */
   //////////////////////////////////////////////////
-  // the sum over all staples on each site
+  // the sum over all nu-oriented staples for nu != mu on each site
   //////////////////////////////////////////////////
   static void Staple(GaugeMat &staple, const GaugeLorentz &Umu, int mu) {
 
@@ -300,6 +300,10 @@ public:
     for (int d = 0; d < Nd; d++) {
       U[d] = PeekIndex<LorentzIndex>(Umu, d);
     }
+    Staple(staple, U, mu);
+  }
+
+  static void Staple(GaugeMat &staple, const std::vector<GaugeMat> &U, int mu) {
     staple = Zero();
 
     for (int nu = 0; nu < Nd; nu++) {
@@ -335,6 +339,16 @@ public:
     }
   }
 
+  /////////////
+  //Staples for each direction mu, summed over nu != mu
+  //staple: output staples for each mu (Nd)
+  //U: link array (Nd)
+  /////////////
+  static void StapleAll(std::vector<GaugeMat> &staple, const std::vector<GaugeMat> &U) {
+    assert(staple.size() == Nd); assert(U.size() == Nd);
+    for(int mu=0;mu<Nd;mu++) Staple(staple[mu], U, mu);
+  }
+    
   //////////////////////////////////////////////////
   // the sum over all staples on each site in direction mu,nu, upper part
   //////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -713,8 +727,8 @@ public:
   ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
   // Hop by two optimisation strategy. Use RectStapleDouble to obtain 'U2'
   ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-  static void RectStapleOptimised(GaugeMat &Stap, std::vector<GaugeMat> &U2,
-                                  std::vector<GaugeMat> &U, int mu) {
+  static void RectStapleOptimised(GaugeMat &Stap, const std::vector<GaugeMat> &U2,
+                                  const std::vector<GaugeMat> &U, int mu) {
 
     Stap = Zero();
 
@@ -780,15 +794,6 @@ public:
     }
   }
 
-  static void RectStaple(GaugeMat &Stap, const GaugeLorentz &Umu, int mu) {
-    RectStapleUnoptimised(Stap, Umu, mu);
-  }
-  static void RectStaple(const GaugeLorentz &Umu, GaugeMat &Stap,
-                         std::vector<GaugeMat> &U2, std::vector<GaugeMat> &U,
-                         int mu) {
-    RectStapleOptimised(Stap, U2, U, mu);
-  }
-
   static void RectStapleUnoptimised(GaugeMat &Stap, const GaugeLorentz &Umu,
                                     int mu) {
     GridBase *grid = Umu.Grid();
@@ -887,6 +892,26 @@ public:
     }
   }
 
+  static void RectStaple(GaugeMat &Stap, const GaugeLorentz &Umu, int mu) {
+    RectStapleUnoptimised(Stap, Umu, mu);
+  }
+  static void RectStaple(const GaugeLorentz &Umu, GaugeMat &Stap,
+                         std::vector<GaugeMat> &U2, std::vector<GaugeMat> &U,
+                         int mu) {
+    RectStapleOptimised(Stap, U2, U, mu);
+  }
+  //////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+  //Compute the rectangular staples for all orientations
+  //Stap : Array of staples (Nd)
+  //U: Gauge links in each direction (Nd)
+  /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+  static void RectStapleAll(std::vector<GaugeMat> &Stap, const std::vector<GaugeMat> &U){
+    assert(Stap.size() == Nd); assert(U.size() == Nd);
+    std::vector<GaugeMat> U2(Nd,U[0].Grid());
+    for(int mu=0;mu<Nd;mu++) RectStapleDouble(U2[mu], U[mu], mu);
+    for(int mu=0;mu<Nd;mu++) RectStapleOptimised(Stap[mu], U2, U, mu);
+  }
+
   //////////////////////////////////////////////////
   // Wilson loop of size (R1, R2), oriented in mu,nu plane
   //////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/tests/debug/Test_iwasaki_action_newstaple.cc b/tests/debug/Test_iwasaki_action_newstaple.cc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d5996b99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/debug/Test_iwasaki_action_newstaple.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+    /*************************************************************************************
+
+    Grid physics library, www.github.com/paboyle/Grid 
+
+    Source file: ./tests/Test_iwasaki_action_newstaple.cc
+
+    Copyright (C) 2015
+
+Author: Christopher Kelly <ckelly@bnl.gov>
+Author: Peter Boyle <paboyle@ph.ed.ac.uk>
+
+    This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+    GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+    with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+    51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+
+    See the full license in the file "LICENSE" in the top level distribution directory
+    *************************************************************************************/
+    /*  END LEGAL */
+#include <Grid/Grid.h>
+
+using namespace std;
+using namespace Grid;
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// PlaqPlusRectangleActoin
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+template<class Gimpl>
+class PlaqPlusRectangleActionOrig : public Action<typename Gimpl::GaugeField> {
+public:
+
+  INHERIT_GIMPL_TYPES(Gimpl);
+
+private:
+  RealD c_plaq;
+  RealD c_rect;
+
+public:
+  PlaqPlusRectangleActionOrig(RealD b,RealD c): c_plaq(b),c_rect(c){};
+
+  virtual std::string action_name(){return "PlaqPlusRectangleActionOrig";}
+      
+  virtual void refresh(const GaugeField &U, GridSerialRNG &sRNG, GridParallelRNG& pRNG) {}; // noop as no pseudoferms
+      
+  virtual std::string LogParameters(){
+    std::stringstream sstream;
+    sstream << GridLogMessage << "["<<action_name() <<"] c_plaq: " << c_plaq << std::endl;
+    sstream << GridLogMessage << "["<<action_name() <<"] c_rect: " << c_rect << std::endl;
+    return sstream.str();
+  }
+
+
+  virtual RealD S(const GaugeField &U) {
+    RealD vol = U.Grid()->gSites();
+
+    RealD plaq = WilsonLoops<Gimpl>::avgPlaquette(U);
+    RealD rect = WilsonLoops<Gimpl>::avgRectangle(U);
+
+    RealD action=c_plaq*(1.0 -plaq)*(Nd*(Nd-1.0))*vol*0.5
+      +c_rect*(1.0 -rect)*(Nd*(Nd-1.0))*vol;
+
+    return action;
+  };
+
+  virtual void deriv(const GaugeField &Umu,GaugeField & dSdU) {
+    //extend Ta to include Lorentz indexes
+    RealD factor_p = c_plaq/RealD(Nc)*0.5;
+    RealD factor_r = c_rect/RealD(Nc)*0.5;
+
+    GridBase *grid = Umu.Grid();
+
+    std::vector<GaugeLinkField> U (Nd,grid);
+    std::vector<GaugeLinkField> U2(Nd,grid);
+
+    for(int mu=0;mu<Nd;mu++){
+      U[mu] = PeekIndex<LorentzIndex>(Umu,mu);
+      WilsonLoops<Gimpl>::RectStapleDouble(U2[mu],U[mu],mu);
+    }
+
+    GaugeLinkField dSdU_mu(grid);
+    GaugeLinkField staple(grid);
+
+    for (int mu=0; mu < Nd; mu++){
+
+      // Staple in direction mu
+
+      WilsonLoops<Gimpl>::Staple(staple,Umu,mu);
+
+      dSdU_mu = Ta(U[mu]*staple)*factor_p;
+
+      WilsonLoops<Gimpl>::RectStaple(Umu,staple,U2,U,mu);
+
+      dSdU_mu = dSdU_mu + Ta(U[mu]*staple)*factor_r;
+	  
+      PokeIndex<LorentzIndex>(dSdU, dSdU_mu, mu);
+    }
+
+  };
+
+};
+
+// Convenience for common physically defined cases.
+//
+// RBC c1 parameterisation is not really RBC but don't have good
+// reference and we are happy to change name if prior use of this plaq coeff
+// parameterisation is made known to us. 
+template<class Gimpl>
+class RBCGaugeActionOrig : public PlaqPlusRectangleActionOrig<Gimpl> {
+public:
+  INHERIT_GIMPL_TYPES(Gimpl);
+  RBCGaugeActionOrig(RealD beta,RealD c1) : PlaqPlusRectangleActionOrig<Gimpl>(beta*(1.0-8.0*c1), beta*c1) {};
+  virtual std::string action_name(){return "RBCGaugeActionOrig";}
+};
+
+template<class Gimpl>
+class IwasakiGaugeActionOrig : public RBCGaugeActionOrig<Gimpl> {
+public:
+  INHERIT_GIMPL_TYPES(Gimpl);
+  IwasakiGaugeActionOrig(RealD beta) : RBCGaugeActionOrig<Gimpl>(beta,-0.331) {};
+  virtual std::string action_name(){return "IwasakiGaugeActionOrig";}
+};
+
+
+int main (int argc, char ** argv)
+{
+  Grid_init(&argc,&argv);
+
+  Coordinate latt_size  = GridDefaultLatt();
+  Coordinate simd_layout= GridDefaultSimd(Nd,vComplexD::Nsimd());
+  Coordinate mpi_layout = GridDefaultMpi();
+  std::cout << " mpi "<<mpi_layout<<std::endl;
+  std::cout << " simd "<<simd_layout<<std::endl;
+  std::cout << " latt "<<latt_size<<std::endl;
+  GridCartesian GRID(latt_size,simd_layout,mpi_layout);
+
+  GridParallelRNG   pRNG(&GRID);
+  pRNG.SeedFixedIntegers(std::vector<int>({45,12,81,9}));
+  LatticeGaugeField U(&GRID);
+
+  SU<Nc>::HotConfiguration(pRNG,U);
+
+  //#define PRD
+#ifdef PRD
+  typedef PeriodicGimplD Gimpl;
+#else
+  typedef ConjugateGimplD Gimpl;
+  std::vector<int> conj_dirs(Nd,0); conj_dirs[0]=1; conj_dirs[3]=1;
+  Gimpl::setDirections(conj_dirs);
+#endif
+
+  typedef typename WilsonLoops<Gimpl>::GaugeMat GaugeMat;
+  typedef typename WilsonLoops<Gimpl>::GaugeLorentz GaugeLorentz;
+
+  GaugeLorentz derivOrig(&GRID), derivNew(&GRID);
+  double beta = 2.13;
+  IwasakiGaugeActionOrig<Gimpl> action_orig(beta);
+  IwasakiGaugeAction<Gimpl> action_new(beta);
+
+  double t0 = usecond();
+  action_orig.deriv(U, derivOrig);
+  double t1 = usecond();
+  action_new.deriv(U, derivNew);
+  double t2 = usecond();
+
+  GaugeLorentz diff = derivOrig - derivNew;
+  double n = norm2(diff);
+  std::cout << GridLogMessage << "Difference " << n << " (expect 0)" << std::endl;
+  assert(n<1e-10);
+
+  std::cout << GridLogMessage << "Timings orig: " << (t1-t0)/1000 << "ms,  new: " << (t2-t1)/1000 << "ms" << std::endl;
+  
+  Grid_finalize();
+}
diff --git a/tests/debug/Test_optimized_staple_gaugebc.cc b/tests/debug/Test_optimized_staple_gaugebc.cc
index 63822378..51628ab0 100644
--- a/tests/debug/Test_optimized_staple_gaugebc.cc
+++ b/tests/debug/Test_optimized_staple_gaugebc.cc
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
     Grid physics library, www.github.com/paboyle/Grid 
 
-    Source file: ./tests/Test_padded_cell_staple.cc
+    Source file: ./tests/Test_optimized_staple_gaugebc.cc
 
     Copyright (C) 2015