6 Nations to introduce bonus points in 2017

6 Nations wrote:The Six Nations Council today announced the introduction of a bonus points system in the RBS 6 Nations, The Women's Six Nations and the Under 20s Six Nations Championships.
Read more at http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/news/30434.php#4Yb3FfZqxK5XQ8cY.99

This system will be implemented on a trial basis in all three Championships in 2017 and will be reviewed post Championships.

As part of their review of the Championships, the Council took the decision to implement a bonus point system to encourage and reward try scoring and attacking play.

Competition points will be awarded in all matches on the following basis:

(i) The Union that wins the Match shall be awarded four Match Points or (if it scores four tries or more in the process) five Match Points.

(ii) The Union that loses the Match shall be awarded no Match Points or (if it scores four tries or more in the process or loses by a margin of seven points or fewer) one Match Point or (if it scores four tries or more in the process and loses by a margin of seven points or fewer) two Match Points.

(iii) Unions that draw a Match shall each be awarded two Match Points and any of them that scores four tries or more in the process shall be awarded a further one Match Point.

(iv) A Union that wins all five of its Matches (a "Grand Slam") shall be awarded a further three Match Points.

Pat Whelan, Chairman of the Six Nations said: "We have been looking at the feasibility of a bonus point system for a while and examining what kind of bonus point system would work best, given the unique properties and format of our Championships.

"We needed to ensure that whatever bonus point system we selected would work with the already proven structure of the Championships and would serve to materially improve what is already there.

"We are happy that the system that we have decided to trial is the one best suited to our Championships and we are delighted to be going ahead with this new development.

"We believe that the initiative will enhance our competitions for fans, teams, broadcasters and all of those for whom the Championship means so much."

John Feehan, Chief Executive of Six Nations said: "The drama and excitement of the last weekend of the RBS 6 Nations Championship is unique and is, more often than not, driven by a number of teams on equal Championship points all competing for first place on the table.

"It is important for us to ensure that any bonus point system which is implemented would not, in any way, take away from this unique dynamic.

"At the same time, we are also conscious that we must reward try scoring and an attacking style of play that will deliver more tries and greater rewards for fans and players alike.

"We are very excited about the potential that this new development will bring to the Championships and we look forward to trialling it next February and March."
Read more at http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/news/30434.php#4Yb3FfZqxK5XQ8cY.99

123456789 wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

123456789 wrote:no doubt that the introduction of bonus points will not in any way shape or form prevent running rugby.

I am just being a touch pedantic, but I can imagine scenarios where a team would choose not to run the ball due to bonus points on offer.

For example - A side is 12 points up with two minutes to go and get a penalty in the opponents 22m perhaps 15m from touch - so one you expect to make. Previously they may have kicked to the corner as the win was secure and another try is always good, however with just two tries they opt to kick the penalty to absolutely ensure the opponents are unable to get an LBP

Yeah that's fair enough, I didn't think of that. It also begs the question of if there's five minutes to go and you are 8 points behind do you go for a try to set up a grandstand finish or do you take three and play for the losing bonus point.

Gooseberry wrote:


For balance .. the same couldve happened under the old system if you just needed to lose by a certain amount to get a position in the table.

Ditto Flys consiracy theory

The Great Aukster wrote:The try bonus point gimmick does not necessarily encourage tries. Points difference keeps teams trying to score more points, but once a side has secured the bonus point and won the game they sometimes switch off to preserve players.

Griff wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:The try bonus point gimmick does not necessarily encourage tries. Points difference keeps teams trying to score more points, but once a side has secured the bonus point and won the game they sometimes switch off to preserve players.

This is very true. Two seasons ago when we had that great super Saturday with Wales (v Italy), Ireland (v Scotland) and England (v France) all in with a shout of the title it was points difference that was key. Wales went all out first game and got a cricket score but stupidly went a bit too loose and let Italy score a couple of late tries and that (if memory serves) meant we finished 3rd instead of 2nd in the end. If we were just after a try bonus point we would probably have stopped playing at full whack much earlier in the game. Much less of a spectacle then for the fans. As it was it ended up a belter with the full 80 mins being used to try to get as much score as possible. The same then happened in the Ireland and England matches.

An another note, they talk about wanting to increase entertainment and spread the game. However, the BBC article quotes figures for attendance in the Tri Nations/4 Nations since bonus points came in. They've seen a fall of roughly 12% since bonus points while the 6N has stayed relatively stable with around a 1% fall in the same period. Yes there are other issues that affect attendance but thought that was rather telling. Where have all of these super entertained fans gone?

marty2086 wrote:Think the change is to address the so called gulf between the 6Ns/NH and the RC/SH as they are deemed to be more attacking and the NH teams less so

SecretFly wrote:Look, it's clear.  Some side evidently started this ball rolling on this organisational change by first of all claiming/moaning they were the best side in any given year even though they didn't win..................... "The best side ain't getting a chance to win!"

There are perhaps two sides that would have the balls to make such a claim over the last six or seven years and kick up a behind the scenes boardroom storm about it.

Griff wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Look, it's clear.  Some side evidently started this ball rolling on this organisational change by first of all claiming/moaning they were the best side in any given year even though they didn't win..................... "The best side ain't getting a chance to win!"

There are perhaps two sides that would have the balls to make such a claim over the last six or seven years and kick up a behind the scenes boardroom storm about it.

England and Ireland! Tell me it's true!

Cyril wrote:

Griff wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Look, it's clear.  Some side evidently started this ball rolling on this organisational change by first of all claiming/moaning they were the best side in any given year even though they didn't win..................... "The best side ain't getting a chance to win!"

There are perhaps two sides that would have the balls to make such a claim over the last six or seven years and kick up a behind the scenes boardroom storm about it.

England and Ireland! Tell me it's true!

I reckon one of them is Georgia...

Griff wrote:Sarcasm?!

Griff wrote:I meant more to do with Fly's claim that it was one of the current lot moaning over potentially winning it previously if we'd had bonus points (moral victories . So obviously not Georgia as they're not in it! Yet...

Griff wrote:Just read a good point online: if the 6N organisers are trying to encourage entertainment and try scoring why award the winner an extra 3 free points when they (potentially) win it with 5 standard borefest victories without picking up BPs?! It's a solution to a problem that is only a problem because of the bonus points they've brought in!

SecretFly wrote:If you defend too much now in any game, and if you do it well, and because it's not televisual... it's a minus 2 points.  So really, it's better all round for all sides just to let each other score 4 tries each and then start the real game after that.

Cyril wrote:Anyone seen the scores in the some of the Top14 this weekend? I think they're already looking out for those bonus points!

Pau 40 Clermont 35
Grenoble 37 Montpolier 51

SecretFly wrote:

Cyril wrote:Anyone seen the scores in the some of the Top14 this weekend? I think they're already looking out for those bonus points!

Pau 40 Clermont 35
Grenoble 37 Montpolier 51

Well that's the danger.  I didn't see either game but just going on the score, I'd say there was little or no defending done.  It's a style.  It can be entertaining now and again.  But if rugby became too much like that every week, I'd begin to think I was watching League...and I've tried watching that on and off over the years but have never been able to get through even one full game.  I find it too shallow a game.  My brain turns off.

Exiledinborders wrote:

SecretFly wrote:If you defend too much now in any game, and if you do it well, and because it's not televisual... it's a minus 2 points.  So really, it's better all round for all sides just to let each other score 4 tries each and then start the real game after that.

I have never really understood why a game with poor defences and lots of tries is considered good.