Super Rugby to change the try bonus point

SANZAR is expected to announce a significant change to the Super Rugby bonus points system with teams set to be rewarded for scoring three more tries than their opposition.

In a bid to promote more free-flowing rugby for the entire duration of a match, the SANZAR board met on Thursday to discuss a radical proposal which would result in the abolition of the bonus point awarded when a team scores four or more tries.

Instead, Super Rugby teams will notch up an extra point if they score three or more tries than their opposition in a match, meaning bonus points will not be determined so easily and early on like in previous years.

There have been occasions when teams have racked up their four tries and, knowing they cannot gain anything more from the match, have brought in a number of substitutes from around the 60-minute mark.
However, the new bonus points system will hopefully encourage sides to stick with their best 15 players for longer and prevent lopsided contests.

There is also speculation, according to a South African report, that referees' microphones will be broadcast around the ground so fans can listen to exactly what is being said by those in charge.

The bonus-point system has been adopted from the French Top 14 competition, which has had great success in recent years with the point-scoring system.

Whilst greater attack is the desired outcome, a resolute defensive effort is needed to maintain the three-try buffer.
Meanwhile, the bonus point awarded to teams who come within seven points of their opponent will remain, such is the plan to reward close contests.

CraigS1874 wrote:And as a side note about the southern hemispherem argentina put on twitter last night they hope to play Oz at twickers in the RC. All about the money

The Great Aukster wrote:Yet another example proving how intellectually challenged the administrators of the game are. Are four tries not enough entertainment for the crowd? How many are enough 40 v 36?

How ridiculous is this:
"the new bonus points system will hopefully encourage sides to stick with their best 15 players for longer and prevent lopsided contests." Eh?? A team that has already scored four tries is fairly lopsided in most contests, so keep the "best 15" on for longer just to make it even more lopsided! Obviously the guys that came up with this played before the concussion protocols.

If anything needs changed it is the losing bonus point, that is patently unfair. If a team gets within seven the winner should forfeit a point to give to the loser. That would make the decisions at the end of games far more interesting, but alas those with the vision of a blind cave fish have seen the future and think it's basketball.

Notch wrote:I'm just relieved they haven't decided to legalise pulling down the maul again. That was the very worst law experiment I can remember (I know there are those who vocally disagree).

RDW_Scotland wrote:

SANZAR is expected to announce a significant change to the Super Rugby bonus points system with teams set to be rewarded for scoring three more tries than their opposition.

In a bid to promote more free-flowing rugby for the entire duration of a match, the SANZAR board met on Thursday to discuss a radical proposal which would result in the abolition of the bonus point awarded when a team scores four or more tries.

Instead, Super Rugby teams will notch up an extra point if they score three or more tries than their opposition in a match, meaning bonus points will not be determined so easily and early on like in previous years.

There have been occasions when teams have racked up their four tries and, knowing they cannot gain anything more from the match, have brought in a number of substitutes from around the 60-minute mark.
However, the new bonus points system will hopefully encourage sides to stick with their best 15 players for longer and prevent lopsided contests.

There is also speculation, according to a South African report, that referees' microphones will be broadcast around the ground so fans can listen to exactly what is being said by those in charge.

The bonus-point system has been adopted from the French Top 14 competition, which has had great success in recent years with the point-scoring system.

Whilst greater attack is the desired outcome, a resolute defensive effort is needed to maintain the three-try buffer.
Meanwhile, the bonus point awarded to teams who come within seven points of their opponent will remain, such is the plan to reward close contests.

So will this lead to teams carrying on attacking once the 3 try buffer is achieved, or will it place even greater emphasis on defence?

Also, I'm assuming the losing team will no longer get a BP for scoring 4 tries? That would be a shame, as now the only motivation a losing time now has (other than getting within 7) is to stop the other team getting a BP!

Like most rugby rule changes I suspect we won't fully see what happens until some games are played.

RDW_Scotland wrote:
Also, the comparison with the Top 14 isn't a good one - you can hardly say that is a free flowing attacking league!