2016 Rugby Championship

Stargazer

This has just been posted on the NZRU website: 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
Changes for the Rugby Championship 
 ALLBLACKS.COM 23 JUN 2016 
 SANZAAR has confirmed that the modified bonus point system that was introduced into Super Rugby this season will be adopted for The Rugby Championship, and that the first ever Rugby Championship Test Match will be staged in London. 
 The Rugby Championship tournament in 2016 will therefore see the four-try bonus point replaced by a bonus point awarded to a team finishing three or more tries ahead of its opponent. The bonus point for losing by seven or fewer points remains unchanged. 
 SANZAAR has also announced the match schedule and kick-off times for The Rugby Championship that will include for the first time a match played at Twickenham Stadium on the 8th October 2016 between Argentina and 2015 Championship winners Australia. This is a nominated home match for Argentina that will play its other home matches in Salta and Buenos Aires. 
 The Twickenham match will be the final game of the Championship and could have a huge bearing on the outcome of the tournament. Argentina will be keen to reverse its loss to the Wallabies at the same venue in the 2015 Rugby World Cup semi-final. 
 The Rugby Championship will be played across six weekends/rounds and will also for the first time include a match at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa. 
 SANZAAR CEO, Andy Marinos stated, â€œSANZAAR EXCO reviewed the bonus point system implemented into Super Rugby this year and believed it had a significant impact in rewarding the more dominant teams, created a competition for the full 80 minutes and is providing a reward system that recognises both attack and defence.â€ 
 â€œHaving witnessed some of the most exciting and complete 80-minute games in the history of the competition this season, spurred on by the introduction of the new bonus point system, we believe that across the SANZAAR tournaments, for the sake of the players, broadcasters and the fans, we should have consistency in terms of the tournament points system.â€ 
 â€œWe look forward to the continuation of similar, exciting and impactful rugby in the Test Matches of the 2016 Rugby Championship.â€ 
 â€œSANZAAR is also delighted to be playing in two new cities this year with Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit and Twickenham in London hosting Championship matches,â€ added Marinos. 
 The Rugby Championship 2016 
 Competition points will be awarded in all matches on the following basis: 
 Win 4 points Draw 2 points Loss 0 points for loss of more than 7 points Bonus 1 point for loss by 7 points or less Bonus 1 point for 3 tries or more than opponent
</blockquote>
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.allblacks.com/News/29361/changes-for-the-rugby-championship'>http://www.allblacks.com/News/29361/changes-for-the-rugby-championship</a>

SabalomG

Does anybody like the new bonus point system?

nzzp

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sabalom Glitz" data-cid="590821" data-time="1466669858">
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Does anybody like the new bonus point system?
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<crickets chirping>

Bones

I don't have a problem with it.

MiketheSnow

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sabalom Glitz" data-cid="590821" data-time="1466669858">
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Does anybody like the new bonus point system?
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I like it.

DMX

Hurts ABs and NZ super teams.

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sabalom Glitz" data-cid="590821" data-time="1466669858">
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Does anybody like the new bonus point system?
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</blockquote>
 
I prefer it to the old system where a 48-43 loss was worth the same as a 3-3 draw.

MiketheSnow

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="DMX" data-cid="590867" data-time="1466681823">
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Hurts ABs and NZ super teams.
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How so?

gollum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MiketheSnow" data-cid="590883" data-time="1466693934">
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How so?
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At a guess, we can often score 4 tries while losing. At a Super level the Canes have done that for years. Also we have tended to score 4 tries but leak them too when winning, so a lot of our wins have been BP wins because we've scored 4, but we leaked 3. In contrast the Boks rarely got a 4 try bonus, but also rarely leaked many. At a guess we've probably banked more 4 try BP in the TriNations than the rest put together.
 
You can see that last weekend where we scored 5 (BP in old system) & then leaked 3 (so no BP in new system)

MiketheSnow

I'm sure there will be teething troubles in the transition period but it'll even itself out I think.

Hooroo

I like it better than the previous version.

SammyC

I also like it, better than the old system in my opinion.

taniwharugby

not that fussed really, either way TBH...
 
In super rugby 2013 there were 81 BPs (BP1 41 and BP2 39) after 14 rounds
In super rugby 2014 there were 73 BPs (BP1 38 and BP2 35) after 14 rounds
In super rugby 2015 there were 89 BPs (BP1 45 and BP2 44) after 14 rounds
In super rugby 2016 there were 80 BPs (BP1 39 and BP2 40) after 14 rounds

Hooroo

three more teams but.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="590909" data-time="1466720816">
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three more teams but.
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takes it down to 70 if you remove the 10 BPs from those 3 teams, although as I am sure know it wouldn't be quite that straight forward, given most teams that have played them have received a BP they may not have received otherwise....
 
I was just putting the stats up to shows the variance in previous years when it was as it had always been,and cos stats are awesome for showing stuff that is meaningless :)

SammyC

Your stats aren't really relevant though.
 
As mentioned above, it removes the situation where a loss with 2 bonus points gives the same points as a draw. I don't think that's fair.

taniwharugby

not my stats bro, they come from a website...I just posted them, they prove loads of stuff about stuff!

Hooroo

Also the circa 14 x 3 extra games played which is another circa 42 games to have bonus points after 14 rounds.

nzzp

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="590914" data-time="1466721657">
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Your stats aren't really relevant though.
 
As mentioned above, it removes the situation where a loss with 2 bonus points gives the same points as a draw. I don't think that's fair.
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</blockquote>
 
I have no issue with it. 2 points is fark all -- if you score 4 tries, and get within 7, then why the hell not? The 4 try bonus point incentivises running open rugby. The 3 try margin emphasises dominant victories. With the 4 try, losing teams are playing to get a point, rather than deny someone else a bonus point.
 
I was OK with the 4 try, and not particularly fussed about the 3 clear try rule. We'll see how it goes though.

Provincial Stalwart

It's probably not that relevant - the last time the competition was decided on bonus points was 2005 (NZ won, after it and SA went 3-1) while in 2004 all three teams went 2-2. Over 6 games, the likelihood is probably the same that bonus points settle the champion.
 
nzzp is right - the systems emphasise different things (more try-scoring vs. dominant wins). Both are equally valid victories which still encourage try scoring (you still have to score at least three tries to be in contention). The new system to be strikes a better balance between try scoring and rewarding good defence - the old system is biased towards try scoring. However, a team can have what I would still consider a dominant win in terms of tries scored (3 tries to 1 or 4 tries to 2) and still not get rewarded.
 
Without advocating even more change before this one has an effect, moving to 6 point tries and 2 point penalty goals would certainly incentivise try-scoring and reduce the likelihood of losing bonus points.

The Silver Fern

2016 Rugby Championship