Statistics In laparoscopic TME the percentage of involved CRM is estimated 7%. To detect a reduction to 3% with a two-sided level of significance of 5% and a power of 80% a total of 1098 patients is needed. Randomisation will be in a 2:1 ratio in favour of the TaTME procedure. It will be stratified for T-stage, preoperative radiotherapy, height of the tumour, gender and BMI. All analyses will be on intention-to-treat basis.