Rule changes on the cards?

...Recently we have seen rule changes experimented with in the Aussie domestic competition and calls by New Zealand to adopt a review system .

...So what rule changes may be seen in the near future ?

New rule changes the Aussies  have adopted domestically..

  Penalty and drop goals now are only worth two points, while conversions have been increased to three in one of several exciting new law variations which ARU chief Bill Pulver hopes will one day be adopted internationally.

''The points change was really designed to accentuate the way we want the game played - smart, creative running rugby,'' Pulver said .

''So two points for a penalty goal, a field goal, three for a conversion. In effect, eight for a converted a try.

''So you'd like to think instead of key times in a game people kicking for goal, they'd kick for touch and play on.''

  ...Other law variations being trialled during the competition include:

- being able to kick to touch and continue with a lineout if a team is awarded a penalty after halftime or fulltime;

- time limits for scrum formation and kicks at goal;

- and instead of a four-try bonus-point system, the winning team being awarded a bonus point for finishing three or more tries ahead of their opponents.

Rule changes being proposed by NZ...

...All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says the concept of being able to challenge a Test referee has stalled in the offices of the International Rugby Board.

The methodology would be similar to that used in cricket and tennis, whereby the coach or captain of a side could contest a decision and would lose the chance of another challenge if they got it wrong.

Hansen told NZ Newswire on Sunday that he and other leading lights in New Zealand had collaborated three years ago to devise a challenge system that was more in keeping with the spirit of rugby.

Hansen voiced the benefits of introducing such a system after several contentious decisions were made during New Zealand's 24-21 win over England at Twickenham.

 The points as they stand has worked for a long time, no need to change it, a well executed drop is a hard thing to do, why diminish it? Penalties are there for a reason, if teams infringe it should cost them pints.

We aren't bloody well playing rugby league. If you want to improve the game simplify the laws and reduce the chance of differing interpretations.

Those that don't like Rugby Union don't have to play it.

Rooinek, too many suggestions are trying to take away from what rugby union is.

It is a unique game with its own complexities and many different ways to skin a cat, if it becomes a hybrid of League I will walk away.

 Every facet of rugby union has its own nuances and the scoreboard as infinite permutations.

It is the only game you can watch where you can join at halftime, read the score board and not know what happened in the first half as there are many different ways you can get to 12, 15, 20 or whatever.

 The only rule that spoils the game is the red card rule....eg Bismarck against NZ last year or Warburton at the RWC. If a player gets a second yellow or a red, the team should serve it for 10 minutes and the player should be banned from the game. But another player should be allowed on to make it a fair contest after 10 minutes. As it stands now you are punishing the spectators.

The other rule which is broken is the forward pass rule. It is at the whim of the ref, who simply cant judge if hands were "going backwards". The amount of drift varies directly with the length of the pass but can't exceed the speed of the passer. A simple bit of software should be able to calculate and illustrate the drift line for TMO....a nice red line viewers can see would be good. In time refs will adapt to this visually and call it quite accurately at various levels of the game.

No need to change the scoring.

The game is in perfect balance right now....the scoring changes are stupid even if you agree the principle. Wh y make a conversion 3 points....simply make a try 6 if you want to stress running the ball. Making a conversion worth more than a penalty which on average is a harder kick is so stupid it could only have come from Australia.