AUSTRALIA’S NEW NATIONAL Rugby Championship has seen much try-scoring in the opening two rounds as teams embrace the competition’s trial law variations, aimed at enhancing exciting play.
Round one last weekend saw 35 tries in four games, while fans attending second round fixtures this weekend have witnessed many more instances of players dotting down.
The NRC is in its inaugural season, involving nine professional teams and acting as the third tier of the game in Australia. The competition is seen as an ideal stepping stone for young players, with the likes of Samu Kerevi and Lopeti Timani already marking their quality.
Chief among the trial law variations is the reduction of the value of penalty goals and drop goals to two points, with conversions now worth three points in an effort to ensure teams quick-tap or kick to touch when awarded penalties.
Other changes include a 30-second time limit to set and feed scrums, an allowance for crooked throws in the line-out when the opposition team does not compete, a larger area for taking quick-tap penalties, and a reduced time limit for place kicks [60 seconds for conversions, 45 seconds for penalties].
The ARU asked rugby fans around Australia to vote for the law variations they wanted to see, taking in suggestions from 6,000 people. From there, an expert panel made up of Bob Dwyer, Wayne Erickson, Rod Kafer and Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie decided on a final short-list.
IRB officials signed off on the changes before the NRC began and it is understood that the Australian organisers would like to see some of the variations leading to international law changes.
For a full run-down on all the law variations in the NRC, click here, then let us know what you think of this trial in Australia.