Drop the DG?

[SimplySimon]

I'm guessing that all of the people on here wanting the DG reduced in points have tried and failed to kick them on many occasions!

Last season I had no match to referee, so had a run-out for my old club's 3rd XV. We lost the game 41-20, hardly a surprise as the 3rd's hadn't even scored a try in their previous games that season, but I (ex-first team prop, still 18 and half stone at the time!!) was playing outside half!

There was no way on this planet that the opposition expected me to drop back into the pocket, especially not when the pocket was the 10m line (OK, I admit I though it was the 22 when the idea of a DG sprung to mind!). 3 points later, I was picking the oppo flanker, who had collapsed in fits of giggles when he saw me take the shot, and was wondering why we were off to the half-way for a re-start!

Keep them, they are a part of our glorious game - reduce the points makes it yet closer to rugby league (no offence meant to our RL colleagues, but its just a different sport!)

[Ovey]

There was no way on this planet that the opposition expected me to drop back into the pocket, especially not when the pocket was the 10m line (OK, I admit I though it was the 22 when the idea of a DG sprung to mind!). 3 points later, I was picking the oppo flanker, who had collapsed in fits of giggles when he saw me take the shot, and was wondering why we were off to the half-way for a re-start!

Now I would pay to see you repeat that! Maybe you can show me in this afternoons' warm-up! ;-)

[OB..]

Having said that, I also believe that the PG should also drop to 2 points as well.

There is absolutely no connection at all between the points values for drop goals and penalties.

If you make the value of a penalty too low, then players will happily give them away to prevent tries, and we will presumably have a lot more yellow and red cards. I don't see that as improving the game.

If you make the value too high, teams will try to goad the opposition into penalties rather than trying to score tries. People already complain that a game was won on penalties rather than tries. I don't see that as inmproving the game either.

The value for a penalty depends on the value of a try; a balance is required, and the present one looks quite good to me.

A drop goal has none of the above effects. The only effect of decreasing the value would be to reduce to temptation to take a shot. Which for me would very emphatically improve the game.

(I think we just about all agree on removing the exemption for an unsuccessful drop goal attempt?)

[All The Time Ref]

(I think we just about all agree on removing the exemption for an unsuccessful drop goal attempt?)

I think so.

[dave_clark]

has chopped commented? i bet he'd disagree

[chopper15]

Reference #1, Dave.

[dave_clark]

fair play

i still wouldn't put it past you to change views mid thread

[Donal1988]

IMO there is nothing wrong with the dropped goal. I don't feel it is over used. I have seen this arguement in some British newspapers, discussed on the BBC forum and now here.

I believe it is borne out of the frustration of the neutral fans who saw Italy lose to Ireland.

[OB..]

IMO there is nothing wrong with the dropped goal. I don't feel it is over used. I have seen this arguement in some British newspapers, discussed on the BBC forum and now here.

I believe it is borne out of the frustration of the neutral fans who saw Italy lose to Ireland.

I have been against the over-use of attempted drop goals for very many years. Blaming it on one match ignores the fact that the argument is not a new one. Quite a few of us thought Janie de Beer's 5 DG exhibition was farcical, for example. Joel Stransky, who dropped a goal to win the RWC, said on South African TV that he thought the matter should be looked at with a view to reducing the impact of drop goals (Naas Botha disagreed). Etc.

[Robert Burns]

1 Point if in oppositions 22
2 Points if in oppositions half
3 Points if in your own half
5 points if in your own 22

Where the ball touches the ground before it's kicked determines where it is, on a line invokes the lower points.

Scrum option offered for all misses.