Bonus Points System Review

‘Bonus-point change bizarre’

• 22 Jan 2016

 182  2Todd Blackadder

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has questioned Super Rugby's new bonus-point system.

Sanzar is set to announce that the four-try bonus-point system will be scrapped, with teams now needing to score three tries more than the oppostion to a secure a bonus point.

The losing bonus point for teams who come within seven points of the opposition will remain. 

Blackadder says this was decided upon without any consultation with the 18 teams. 

'There hasn't really been a lot of consulting, to be honest, which is disappointing. We just got flicked an email,' said Blackadder. 

'It's bizarre that we have to score three tries more than anyone else. It will be really interesting when it comes to on-field decisions. But it is what it is. Like anything we will ask our players to adapt and get on with it,' he added. 

I think this is a good idea. It will favour teams with stronger defences. How can a team that loses 25-50 get a bonus point? It is absurd. It rewards mediocrity. 
Some of the SuperXV tries scored are soft- especially once teams empty their benches at the end of matches. 
If a team is winning 40-10 by the 55th minute, they take off their top players and combinations. Defences fall apart. The opposition then gets a few turnovers at the end of the match and scored soft tries. 
Also, as good as the New Zealand teams are at attacking- sometimes their defences are weak once games open up. The new Zealand derbies sometimes seem more like the YMCA(new Zealand curry cup).  So their teams can sometimes get thrashed- but they still get a bonus point out of it.
The Stormers a few years ago would have undoubtedly benefited from this points system. They might not get many bonus points- but their competitors would also get less. 
The YMCA are the ones that will suffer the most from this. 

 Well unfortunately that is the way of the world we live in today.......reward mediocrity.
It is prevalent in all avenues of life today from education to sport.
Shame but acceptable to all it appears.