Cape Town - Frustrated by the Stormers’ inability to rack up bonus points? Well, those days may finally be over.
Super Rugby controlling body Sanzaar (an extra “A” has been added to accommodate new full partner Argentina) announced on Tuesday that the bonus point system for scoring tries has been tweaked following their AGM in Sydney in January.
Instead of having to score four touchdowns to gain a try bonus point, teams will be required to score three tries more than their opponents to get the extra log point.
So, if for example the Stormers score three tries and the Bulls zero, the Cape side will gain a bonus point. But if the Bulls score one try, the Stormers will need four to get the bonus.
In addition to the bonus-point law variation that will be implemented by Sanzaar in Super Rugby this year, teams will also be able to choose to have a lineout if they win a penalty after time is up on the clock. In the past, penalties couldn’t be kicked out to touch to set up a lineout if the 80 minutes had elapsed.
Both law variations are set to help the Stormers, who have traditionally had a strong driving maul from lineouts. But more importantly, their bonus-point drought may be a thing of the past.
The Newlands faithful have often bemoaned the lack of try bonus points from the Cape side over the years, as Allister Coetzee’s team struggled to score four tries. The Stormers garnered just two last season, two in 2014, one in 2013, zero in 2012, four in 2011 and four in 2010.
While they ended second on the log in 2010 and 2011, and top in 2012, the lack of bonus points in 2013 saw them miss out on the playoffs by four log points to the Cheetahs, and they crashed to 11th position in 2014.
They were fortunate to reach the playoffs last year as a disastrous season for the South African teams saw none of the local sides ending in the top six on the log. So the Stormers qualified only by virtue of being conference champions - they had 45 log points, compared to the 46 of the Crusaders, who missed out on the playoffs as a result.
This is despite the fact that the Stormers won one game more than the Crusaders and the fifth-placed Brumbies (10 to nine).
The Stormers have scored three tries on occasion, so the new law variation, coupled with their normally rock-solid defence, could see the Cape outfit being awarded with many more bonus points than before.
Also, the pre-season talk from interim head coach Robbie Fleck has been one of positivity and implementing a more attacking game plan in 2016, as director of rugby Gert Smal seeks to overhaul the Stormers’ conservative playing style.
So, now the incentive to push for more tries has been put down in black and white for the Stormers, starting on February 27 against the Bulls at Newlands (5.05pm kickoff).
Sanzaar chief executive Andy Marinos believes that the bonus-point change is a positive one that will promote attacking rugby. “These law amendments, while subtle in nature, will help Super Rugby’s continuing evolution as the best provincial competition in the world,” he said.
“The change to the bonus point, which has been widely discussed throughout the past week as one potential innovation, has now been formally approved by the Exco for the 2016 season.
“By implementing this change, we expect to see more attacking and competitive rugby as teams will be asked to keep their foot down for the full 80 in order to claim the try-scoring bonus point, which we have seen used to great effect in France over the past few years.
“In addition to this, permitting teams to opt for a lineout after time has expired serves to disincentivise opponents from infringing and aims to reward sides that are particularly strong set-piece exponents which, when coupled with the previously mentioned changes, encourages more attacking and competitive rugby.”
The Stormers won their first pre-season match 40-15 over the SWD Eagles in George at the weekend, and will complete their Super Rugby preparations next Saturday, February 13 with a game against new Argentine side Jaguares at Newlands (4pm kickoff). The match won’t be televised, and tickets at R50 went on sale at noon on Tuesday. Season tickets won’t be valid for the friendly.
@IndyCapeSport