Can Varsity Cup change the game of rugby?

If you havent heard by now, this article will shed some light on ' The Varsity Cup Rugby Tournament', http://bit.ly/xLJPb9 with regards to the claim of ensuring a bigger and better tournament. The crux of the article is the following paragraph, which could revolutionalize the game of rugby as we know it.

"The organizers said; the value of points would be switched around, with a conversion worth 3 points, and penalty kicks and drop goals worth 2."

Some would term this as a 'master class move', by the rugby brains of South Africa, in an attempt to REWARD try-scoring teams.

Someone has to start, I'm excited that we are the guineu pigs and as a rugby fan in my opinion; a much needed change to move rugby in the right direction.

A simple example would be using the official International Rugby Board (IRB) point-scoring system in which a try is worth 5 points a conversion 2 and a penalty and drop goal worth 3.
The Sharks score three tries (15 points) and one conversion (2 points) in an entire 80 minute match, the Stormers score no tries but kick five penalties (15 points) and two drop goals (6points).
Stormers win it 21 -17 having scored NO TRIES.
In the new experimental point-scoring system a try is worth 5 points a conversion 3 and a penalty and drop goal worth 2. The Sharks score three tries (15 points) and one conversion (3 points), the Stormers score no tries but kick five penalties (10 points) and two drop goals (4 points).
The Sharks win 18-14 and rightfully so, gone with this desease of kicking teams to victory without scoring any tries.

Granted, we might see teams more eager to give away penalties than conceding tries and there might be more yellow cards issued but skillful rugby wins in the end. In due course, the teams will become accustomed to the new point system and will definitely yield for some qualitative Varsity Cup Rugby.

The news has me really excited about Rugby, so much so that I will probably watch the whole tournament and not just the final stages, just to see how this system is put through its paces. Who knows, come April the IRB might just incorporate it in international rugby in time for the end of year tour.

Jade Christopher Bentley Adams (JCBA)

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