From the touchlines: Bonus points
Shaun Edwards, who along with Warren Gatland has spearheaded Wales' revival, thinks it's time to introduce bonus points to the Six Nations, as has been done in other competitions.
Edwards suggests that one bonus point should be awarded for four or more tries scored, and another for losing by seven points or fewer. He would also like to see the value of a win doubled from the present two points to four.
On the face of it, his case is compelling. Open, attacking rugby would be rewarded, and there would be less incentive for sides to grind out drab wins by using stifling and negative tactics. The English Premiership has already benefited from the bonus system, and Edwards believes the Six Nations would be similarly enhanced.
But there are strong arguments against his proposal. For a start, the Six Nations is a much shorter tournament in which teams play each other only once, leading to an unfair imbalance between home and away matches. Such distortion would be unavoidable, unless the format were to be expanded to include home and away fixtures between all sides.
More worryingly, under the proposed bonus scheme a team could do the Grand Slam and still not win the championship. Take 2002, when France won all their games, beating England in the decisive encounter. Had Edwards' bonus scheme been in operation, their positions would have been reversed with each side finishing on 21 points. England, with five bonus points, would then have won the title on a superior try count, as well as points difference. This clearly would have been ridiculous, and embarrassing.
Last year, Ireland, not France, would have won the title, which went to Les Bleus on a marginally better points difference.
The introduction of points difference to settle the title has been a success, but a bonus system would threaten a venerable old tournament which has stood the test of time - and is heading for a thrilling climax this season.
Is Shaun Edwards right? Is it time to introduce bonus points to the Six Nations? Which team would lose out or benefit most? We want to hear your views...
P.S. You piece of *hit
Posted by: George | 19 March 2008 at 00:02
Taffman - don't post in capitals - it gives me a headache!!
Posted by: George | 18 March 2008 at 23:59
MAYBE I GOOD IDEA BUT WHAT WORKS WELL IN DOMESTIC CLUBS GAMES MAY NOT WORK ON THIS LEVEL DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF GAMES PLAYED. I THINK THEY SHOULD LOOK AT DOING AWAY WITH DROP GOALS AND THAT WOULD STOP TEAMS WINNING BY JUST THE ODD POINT OR TWO(HOW MANY GAMES HAS ENGLAND WON LIKE THIS ) AND WOULD MAKE THEM PLAY MORE ATTACKING RUGBY .
Posted by: taffman | 02 March 2008 at 10:42
forget bonus points -- its bonus pints i'm interested in
Posted by: Phil, oxford | 01 March 2008 at 23:18
Shaun Edwards is right...as for comment as to how to settle the scenario in 2002 when england and france would have both had 21 points, there's an easy solution. Base the final positions on result between the teams, not on tries scored or points difference...
Posted by: Jimburbs | 01 March 2008 at 18:57
im with "jimboyo" lets encourage teams to play exciting rugby and stop boring old england relying on one private school butt basher to win their games for them.
more points for more trys equals more entertaining rugby, which is what we all want to see, c'mon wales
Posted by: rich | 01 March 2008 at 11:25
Leave it as it is - after all the 6 Nations is a cup competition and if the points winner in the course of the game didnt become the cup winner, that would defeat the object a bit. But it is a great idea in the premiership as it makes for more attacking,and exciting rugby.
Posted by: Jenny | 29 February 2008 at 22:58
Yeah...Shaun's right. Bonus points would stop England boring their way to boring wins they don't deserve. C'mon Wales.
Posted by: Jimboyo | 29 February 2008 at 18:07