Rugby-Penalty shootouts introduced for tied Super finals

[Joe Mac]

15:14 21Jun11 RTRS-Rugby-Penalty shootouts introduced for tied Super finals
SYDNEY, June 21 (Reuters) - Super rugby matches in the three-week playoffs starting this weekend will be decided by penalty shootouts if the teams remain deadlocked after extra time, governing body SANZAR said on Tuesday.
Teams that play to a draw in regular time would be given two 10-minute periods of extra time, then another 10-minute period of "sudden death" if needed, in which the first team to score would be awarded victory.
Should the score remain level after the "sudden death", the teams would have a kicking competition, SANZAR said in a statement.
Teams would each nominate five players to take shots at the posts from set positions on the 22 and 15-metre lines with victory awarded to the most accurate kicking side.
"Previously, if there was no winner after extra time the honours would be shared," a SANZAR spokesman told Reuters.
The finals of the southern hemisphere provincial competition kick off this weekend with the Auckland Blues hosting the Sydney-based New South Wales Waratahs on Friday in an elimination final.
Seven-times champions the Canterbury Crusaders host another knock-out final against the Durban-based Sharks in Nelson, New Zealand, on Saturday.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by John O'Brien; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
((ian.ransom@thomsonreuters.com; +61 3 9286 1447; Reuters Messaging: ian.ransom.reuters.com@reuters.net. For the Reuters sports blog Left Field go to: http://blogs.reuters.com/sport))

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Keywords: RUGBY SUPER/TIEBREAKERS

 

[Sully]

I think that sucks. But every other way probably sucks as well.

 

[DPK]

Will Martyn Williams agree with this?

[video=youtube;kmIzYvh9Dys]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmIzYvh9Dys[/video]

 

[Brumbies Guy]

Sounds very unlikey to happen anyway.

 

[Scotty]

I think that sucks. But every other way probably sucks as well.

A drop off similar to what happens in touch football is the way to go. One play from each team leaves the field every 2 minutes in extra time. Take it down to a minimum of 5 forwards and 4 backs so set pieces can still happen. Some one will score pretty quickly, and at least it is still a team game, not the individual skills penalty kicks.

 

[light]

Luckily the Reds have Quade!

 

[ChargerWA]

A drop off similar to what happens in touch football is the way to go. One play from each team leaves the field every 2 minutes in extra time. Take it down to a minimum of 5 forwards and 4 backs so set pieces can still happen. Some one will score pretty quickly, and at least it is still a team game, not the individual skills penalty kicks.

That would be awesome.

Anything is better than a draw or a replay.

 

[yourmatesam]

What a joke. There are better ways than this to decide a game of Rugby after 100mins.

I think the first try scorer is the way to go. Anything is better than a penalty shootout.

 

[Blue]

So recognised place kickers:

Reds:
Quade
?

Tahs:
Beale
Turner?
?

Blues:
McAlister
Brett
Munro

Stormers:
Grant
Duvenhage
Aplon
Rose

Sharks:
Lambie
Frog
?

Saders:
Carter
?

 

[Blue]

That would be awesome.

Anything is better than a draw or a replay.

A fistfight with last man standing would be excellent in comparison.

 

[Godfrey]

I don't like this idea at all - nor any ideas that resolve it in any other way than 15 vs 15.

Reds would probably go:

Harris
Quade
Lucas
Fainga'a
Lance or Genia.

 

[dobduff11]

Tapuai as well, Lance is imo a better kicker than Fainga'a.

 

[tigerland12]

Has this ever happened in a major game apart from the Cardiff vs Leicter one?

I don't really like it, as it isn't skill that decides the result, but who cracks under pressure first. But it rarley happens, so eh

 

[#1 Tah]

Tahs have:

Beale
Turner
McKibben
Tom Carter (lets face it, is there anything he cant do?)
TPN (he made one in Piggies V Princesses)

 

[Epi]

Genia can kick - seen him take over the kicking last year with QC (Quade Cooper) off the field...

I love it - I know it's unlikely but would love to see it.. not sure I'd like to see my team beaten in a shootout though....

 

[Scarfman]

Could be a Steve Waugh moment. What could be better than beating South Africa / New Zealand / England to win the World Cup? Tieing with them and winning on penalty shootout!

 

[ACT Crusader]

A fistfight with last man standing would be excellent in comparison.

We've got Sonny Bill.....

 

[Ruggo]

Just play the game the next weekend. I know it's old fashioned.

 

[RuckinGoodStats]

Will be interesting I'm the only one around that has a probability of place kicking success programme that shares it publically. i.e. you guys, so it will be interesting if it comes down to that, and its a big IF. Of course there should be a better way to sort it, the ball is oval not round!

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Hate the idea and it's one of the many reasons I stopped watching the Football World Cup. However, I think that the possibility of a shootout may encourage some teams (the ones without great place kickers) to try and win the game in extra time. The negative teams will do the opposite of course, but rugby is a moderately high scoring game, with several ways to score points. I'd be pretty surprised if it ever came down to penalties to be honest.