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Controversial Super Rugby rule could be introduced for Wallabies-Lions series
By Jon Newcombe
Rugby Australia chief Phil Waugh says “constructive conversations” have taken place with the British & Irish Lions management about using a golden point should the teams win one Test apiece and the deciding third Test ends in a draw.
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While improbable, this scenario happened in New Zealand in 2017 when the All Blacks won the first Test 30-15 before the Lions squared the series with a 24-21 win in Wellington.
The third Test ended 15-15, and to some, the sight of the opposing captains, Kieran Read and Sam Warburton, lifting the Lions Series trophy jointly made for an awkward and anti-climactic conclusion.
The popularity of the Super Rugby ‘superpoint’ (commonly referred to as a golden point in the northern hemisphere) has also been a factor behind the discussions. In the case of a draw after 80 minutes in Super Rugby matches, teams play 10 minutes of “superpoint” extra time, with any score immediately deciding the winner.
Waugh said Rugby Australia was keen to make the Lions tour as fan-friendly as possible and they put the idea on the table when the two parties met in London recently.
“We’ve had some really constructive conversations. That’s got to go to the Lions board around whether it’s a drawn series, or you decide it through golden point or extra time,” Waugh told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Our preference, if we put the fans at the centre of everything we’re doing, I think that the familiarity that everyone has with ‘superpoint’ and the interest for that in our market is a good guide.
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“Obviously, we will be making sure both parties agree. But I think that if you’re thinking about some fan engagement, that’s certainly very appealing.”
Lions Test Series fixtures:
1st Test: July 19th, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
2nd Test: July 26th, MCG, Melbourne
3rd Test: August 2nd, Accor Stadium, Sydney
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A drawn series feels like a loss anyway, so may as well go the extra and get a true result.
What happens if the 1st or 2nd test is the draw. Waugh only mentions the 3rd test as a draw. Not sure this is very well thought out.
Not sure anyone in the Northern Hemisphere has ever used the expression “golden point!” Daft idea anyway! Let’s say Lions win six tries to two in first test (Irish forwards, Scots backs!) and have a player sent off in second test (English prop, it’s inevitable!) and lose by a point. Final game ends in unlikely draw and it’s a children’s next drop goal is the winner scenario! The whole event will look ridiculous! Best of luck to Australia…!
Aggregate scores, surely.
The last drawn series would have been 66-54 in AB’s favour.
Or just play it safe and don’t let Romain Poite blow deciding test matches.
“Kieran we have a deal” Poite
A draw is a perfectly acceptable result. I get it’s deflating but it’s a legitimate result. Another dumb idea is having the Brumbies tour match against the Lions go up against State of Origin 3, a potential series decider.
It won’t be needed
Sorry Aus - prove me wrong!