Why don’t we have bonus point system?

By Donal Lenihan

Monday, February 08, 2010

ONE has to wonder if there was a conscious decision in the second half at Croke Park, with a healthy lead of 15 points, to shut up shop and not reveal too much of Ireland’s attacking arsenal so early in the championship.

If so, it could prove a costly approach for if this championship is eventually decided on points differential then a return of +18 points against the worst side in the tournament could prove crucial.

Make no mistake, this Italian side will concede points by the truck load before this season’s Six Nations reaches its climax. If the four-try bonus system was in operation it would have forced Ireland to play with greater width in order to secure the additional point offer and would surely have added to the game as a spectacle. I would love if someone within the Six Nations committee would explain just why they are so reluctant to introduce this refinement.

When one reflects on Ireland’s championship performances last season the third quarter was the period when the team put the foot to the floor and all the damage was done. Think back to Murrayfield and in particular the Millennium Stadium when Ireland manufactured two excellent tries by Tommy Bowe and Brian O’Driscoll in the crucial 10- minute period after the break.

On this occasion whether by accident or design there was no effort to pick up the tempo of the game which played into the hands of a very limited Italian side.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, February 08, 2010