Australia coach John Connolly wants the value of drop goals reduced from three points to one to prevent the game being dominated by kicking.
Connolly said the whole purpose of rugby was for teams to try and score tries but the three points available for drop goals was persuading teams to take the easier option.
Connolly, whose Australia team was beaten by South Africa last week following two late drop goals, said he did not want drop goals banned altogether but said they be reduced to just one point, as in rugby league.
”I don’t want this to come across as a case of sour grapes, but I believe field goals should be reduced to just one point,” Connolly wrote in his weekly column with Sydney’s Sun-Herald newspaper.
”In saying that, I’m taking nothing away from South Africa’s Francois Steyn, who showed incredible courage and skill to slot two late field goals to beat Australia at Newlands last weekend. To lose in those circumstances was extremely tough. And it’s worth stating that, over the years, I’ve been on the right side of the ledger more often than not.
”But rugby is about scoring tries and I can see a bigger focus on field goals if the laws are unchanged.”
Drop goals have played the deciding role in some of the biggest matches in international rugby over the past 15 years.
South Africa beat New Zealand in the 1995 World Cup final after a drop goal in extra time from Joel Stransky then England beat Australia in the 2003 World Cup final when Jonny Wilkinson landed a drop goal in the last minute of extra time.
Decisive drop goals from Rob Andrew helped England reach the World Cup final in 1991 and knock defending champions Australia out of same competition four years later.
England were eliminated from the 1999 World Cup when South African flyhalf Jannie De Beer booted a record five drop goals in their quarterfinal in Paris.
Ironically, Australia, who have often been on the wrong end of matches decided by drop goals, went on to win the 1999 World Cup after Stephen Larkham booted a 50-metre drop goal in their semifinal against South Africa at Twickenham.
”I wasn’t complaining then! But on a serious note, I would prefer to see the law changed,” Connolly said. – Reuters