The Six Nations countries are reportedly considering a proposal to include a bonus-points system in future tournaments.
The world's oldest international championship is the only major tournament not to include bonus points for scoring four tries or losing by a margin of seven points or less as in the World Cup and the southern hemisphere's Rugby Championship.
The Six Nations member unions have long resisted change, insisting that the long history and success of the tournament were proof that following modern benchmarks was not necessary.
However, according to the Observer, a consultation paper has been prepared for the six countries to consider bringing the competition in line with world standards.
Under the traditional system teams get two points for a win and one for a draw as opposed to four for a win and two for a draw under the bonus-point method. The bonus system reduces the chances of teams finishing level on points (they are currently separated by points difference) and increases the potential permutations on the last day, which is attractive to commercial partners.
The bonus point system was first introduced in 1995 in New Zealand to encourage attacking play throughout a match and to discourage repetitive goal-kicking.
France's domestic leagues are an exception to the global standard. Instead of a bonus point being awarded for four tries, Top 14 and ProD2 teams must win by scoring at least three more tries than their opponents to earn an extra league point.
Those opposed to the bonus-point system argue that it would make it possible for a team to win the Grand Slam yet finish second in the table if their closest rival claimed maximum bonus points. It would also be possible for a team that was whitewashed to avoid finishing at the bottom of the table.
England are believed to be one of the unions in favour of a debate on the proposal.
"We have resisted the change for the past 10 years, but there is pressure to join the mainstream, not least from commercial partners, because it would potentially increase permutations in the table at the end of the season," an RFU member told The Observer
"But the bottom line is that it is the system that people have become used to."
Comments
lawynd says...
Has anyone actually considered how unlikely it is that the Grand Slam winners would finish second? It would require:
- 1st place team to obtain a try-scoring bonus point in four wins and a losing bonus point against the Grand Slam team, for 21 points.
- Grand Slam team to not register any try-scoring bonus points, for 20 points.
Not only does it seem unlikely, but dare I say it, a team that scores four tries in four out of five games sound like worthier winners to me than a team that may have just scraped some victories...how many people here would have been comfortable last year with an English Grand Slam that included those two games against Scotland and Italy? Didn't think so.
Posted 11:34 06th January 2013
kybone says...
melkdave-'it would make for a clearer championship' How the hell have you come to that conclusion? It would make for a championship where the team that wins every game might not win the title!! Yeah, clear as mud!
Posted 11:29 06th January 2013
jimmy88 says...
Sarebbe sbagliato passare a questo sistema. Il Sei Nazioni è perfetto cosi' com'é
Posted 11:21 06th January 2013
kybone says...
startledwombat- Don't be a moron. None of the sides have been in favour of using the bonus point system, not just England. I like the bonus point system and it would certainly add an extra dimension to the championship, but the first time that a team won Grand Slam and failed to finish top everyone would be up in arms. It only stands to reason, how can a team win the Grand Slam and not be champions? This is the reason that we haven't had bonus points up to now.
Posted 10:34 06th January 2013
Maubec says...
I'm not sure this is a good idea : Six Nations is a pure win or lose competition. No matter if it's by 15 or only 1 point.
What will happen when a grand slam winner will finish second ? It'll look ridiculous.
Six Nations doesn't need this. It's not a league, it's more a northern test series.
But perhaps I'm too old fashioned : to my opinion, goal average is a bad idea. I preferred when teams could finished level on points at the end of the championship.
Because of that win or lose's spirit which is the DNA of this tournament.
Posted 10:29 06th January 2013
melkdave says...
Well i cant see it doing any harm ,and it would make for a clearer championship,and more exciting final weekend .
Posted 10:26 06th January 2013
NHsaints says...
Interesting Idea, not too sure about it though...it would seem fair that a more attacking team would be more likely to win.
Posted 09:55 06th January 2013
ChrisInCrete says...
Paragraph 4: "...bringing the competition in line with world standards"
Paragraph 5: "...attractive to commercial partners"
1. There's a World Standard?
2. Does you really think that the 6 Nations has a problem with commercialisation?
In my little humble opinion, the system is fine. Don't tinker with it
(the argument will go on and on and then there will be permutations that a team wins the championship not having won the most matches...).
Obviously the bright young wunderkids are on the job again.
Posted 09:51 06th January 2013
startledwombat says...
Nice to see that resistance to this idea has changed now that England have discovered how to score tries.
here's a tweak: a point gets deducted for every drop goal.
Posted 09:25 06th January 2013