Anyone interested in the idea?
I will give you the thoughts on the subject as Gerry Thornly sees it
"One final thought. The argument against introducing a bonus points scoring system as applies in virtually every other competition in the world, even in the World Cup during the pool stages, is that it goes against the wonderful traditions of the Five/Six Nations, and that conceivably, a team could win a Grand Slam and not be crowned champions.
The odds on the latter are, it has to be said, somewhat remote, for it would require the Grand Slam winners to pick up five wins without a solitary bonus point, with one of the beaten foes to pick up a bonus point in that game, and win all their other four with try-scoring bonus points.
Besides, it could be written into the rules that if a team wins all five games they are automatically declared champions regardless of bonus points.
In any event, were the Six Nations to have a bonus points system, Wales would be on 16 points (four wins, no bonus), Ireland would be next on 13 (two wins, one draw, two try bonus, one losing bonus), ahead of England on points difference (three wins, one losing bonus), France would be on 12 (two wins, one draw, one try bonus, one losing bonus), with Scotland on two losing bonus points and Italy on one losing bonus point.
In other words, instead of a fait accompli for the Welsh, any one of four teams could still in theory win the championship. Ireland would still be in with a chance if they beat England, and Wales lost to France. It would certainly have made for a more interesting finale. Oh well."
For me, maybe im an old fashioned git, but i like the six nations as it is. It unique in is scoring system 2 point for a win, 1 for a draw. Nothing else. LOL
Thoughts?
Bonus Points in the Six Nations?
posted on 15/3/12
If tradition mattered shouldn't it still be the 5 nations or even just the home nations?
posted on 15/3/12
Wilsbowski
Indeed! a fair point.
posted on 15/3/12
To counter Thornley's point though, it would lead to much more open rugby and drive sides to push for more bonus points, so I don't think that using this years really makes sense, or indeed any previous year, however, I think their should be a much more sweeping review of Northern Hemisphere rugby as follows:
(1) Season starts with two five nations tournaments, with Georgia, Romania, Spain and Russia added to the mix. Each side plays each other home and away on 8 consecutive weekends, with 1 up, 1 down at the season end. Try and losing bonuses included
(2) Club season starts two weeks later and plays through the summer concluding in September
(3) Two weeks later autumn internationals complete the season
Radical? Yes! Insane? Possibly Beneficial? Maybe
posted on 15/3/12
Indeed, radical, ans with a logical spine to it. Tho Rugby is a Sport played on soft ground, so the summer thing.... Is dangerous. Not to say that stadiums should have a ability to keep the ground in playable condition, but schools rugby on a sun backed pitch in the height of summer, would just leave a bunch of kids injured and a bunch of parents really pee'd off
posted on 16/3/12
I like it the way it is.
I don't like losing bonus points, teams can play negative rugby in the hope they pick up a losing bonus point.
If its not broke, don't fix it.
posted on 16/3/12
There would be no harm surely in using bonus points as a silver medal, in a separate column that is, and using it rather than points difference which is grossly unfair given the home/away imbalance and weather condition determination. Alternately, perhaps a grandslam should be worth 5 points on its own, which would mean a GS winner could never lose the tournament on bonus points.
We've had some pretty compelling rugby in this 6N without bonus points to be fair.
posted on 17/3/12
CobNob.
The point being that this would be a hell of a weekend if there had been bonus points, the top 4 teams would still have a realistic chance of winning the championship thus making it more exciting for the fans.
"If its not broke, don't fix it."
Thats quite simply a matter of perspective. Because there are perfectly valid arguments on both sides. So evidently it may not be broke, but that does not mean you cant make it better.
GG
"We've had some pretty compelling rugby in this 6N without bonus points to be fair."
Again thats perspective, i read an article last week in the paper which stated its been a dull 6n's other than some good halves of rugby, the only exciting game was Eng v Fra. With the perspective Grand Slam champions apparently have not been that good more lucky to be meeting opposition at the right time.
Personally I have quite enjoyed this Championship, after we lost the first game, i have had time to sit back and enjoy the championship with no real expectations of winning anything. So for me its been pretty good.
posted on 17/3/12
Don't mind the idea of bonus points, but you should only get a losing bonus point for scoring 3 or more trys.
posted on 19/3/12
Wales - 20
England - 18
Ireland - 13
France - 12
Italy - 5
Scotland - 3