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Gatland backs extra time call to avoid repeating 2017 series tie

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Warren Gatland has suggested extra time should be allowed if this Saturday’s third and final Lions Test versus the Springboks ends in a draw at the end of normal time in Cape Town to avoid a repeat of the 2017 shared series with the All Blacks.

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Players and fans from both sides were left disappointed in Auckland four years after the deciding Test finished in a 15-all stalemate following Owen Farrell’s late penalty leveller and the decision by French referee Romain Poite to reverse his initial decision from the restart to give the All Blacks a penalty for a Ken Owens infringement.  

It resulted in the bizarre scene of respective skippers Sam Warburton and Kieran Read lifting the trophy together while both teams sat in on an unusual joint post-game team photograph. 

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Despite the gap of four years in between tours to take care of all business surrounding this latest Lions tour, there is no scope for extra time to be played by referee Mathieu Raynal if this weekend’s latest series decider is a draw at the end of 80 minutes.  

With this repeat stalemate in mind, Gatland has been quoted in the UK Telegraph saying he would like a change in the regulations before this Saturday’s game gets underway to ensure extra time can be played if needed. “Maybe that is something that someone can talk about over the next few days, about whether we do potentially go to extra time if it is a draw. That is not a bad idea.”

The original Lions tour agreement has undergone significant changes since the tourists arrived in South Africa with alterations to the match schedule and venues. But with relations with the Springboks now at an all-time low following last week’s Rassie Erasmus behaviour and also the South Africans claiming Gatland damaged the integrity of the tour with his TMO query, it is difficult to see both factions reaching an agreement to allow for extra time.

There have been just two tied Lions series previously, in 1955 in South Africa and four years ago in New Zealand. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen described the 2017 tie as like “kissing your sister” while suggestions from Gatland that the Lions should reassemble that November to play the All Blacks in the UK in a fourth Test decider were ignored.  

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Trevor 28 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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