Rugby union is far from perfect and rules on trial in Australia must be taken ...

The headline change is that the value of a conversion has been raised from two

to three and at the same time penalties and dropped goals have gone the

other way, from three to two.

This is nothing new because the Varsity Cup in South Africa has been using the

same scoring structure in recent years. And while I am not convinced that

any alteration to the scoring system is needed – when you watch a thriller

like the Saracens/Wasps

34-28 at the weekend, you would certainly wonder why – there have

been some interesting results.

I am not just talking about New South Wales Country Eagles’ 31-2 victory over

the Greater Sydney Rams. It was 2-2 at half-time. That certainly makes you

look twice. Two?

Overall in the Varsity Cup there has been a 40 per cent increase in the number

of tries and a 20 per cent decrease in the number of penalty attempts.

In Australia in the first two rounds of eight matches there were just three

penalties kicked (from five attempts) and there were 65 tries scored. The

obvious reaction to the changes in the number of points is to assume that

more professional fouls will be committed. That, however, does not appear to

have been the case, with referees urged to issue yellow cards immediately if

cynical defenders opt to concede two points rather than eight.

And because three points are given for a conversion (rather than two, with six

for a try, as suggested by many), goal-kicking is still considered

important. For instance the Canberra Vikings lost to Perth Spirit 28-23

mainly because Christian Lealiifano missed three conversions. And, yes, that

is the same Lealiifano who plays for Australia. He had been released from

the Wallaby squad to play in that match. He is not alone. For instance, Will

Genia and Joe Tomane played in the NRC last weekend. It is no tinpot

competition.

We do have to be wary of southern hemisphere agendas in these matters,

especially in Australia where rugby union is always having to battle hard

for its status, but these changes emanated first from spectator responses

and were then filtered by a panel of experts including current Australia

coach Ewen McKenzie, one of his predecessors, Bob Dwyer, ex-international

referee Wayne Erickson and former player Rod Kafer.

It would be intriguing if such a process were undertaken in this country. I

would certainly not quibble with many of the other referee interpretation

changes currently in operation in the NRC.

For example, a time limit of 30 seconds for setting a scrummage and further

reduced time limit for goal kicks, ‘not-straight’ throws permitted at the

line-out if the opposition does not contest, and scrum-halves allowed to

take a quick tap from a wider area behind the mark and not just on the mark.

Yes, rugby union can be a complicated game and I hope that I have not lost you

in that last paragraph, but, even to those well versed in its intricacies,

it is still nowhere near a perfect game.

It is constantly evolving, and, while there should never be tinkering for

tinkering’s sake, we should not blithely ignore such trials either.

Some of these changes will go beyond the NRC, I am sure.

Rugby union is far from perfect and rules on trial in Australia must be taken ...