 Jonny Wilkinson could be kicking fewer penalties in future |
The number of penalties in Test matches could be cut under new International Rugby Board proposals. Leading coaches and administrators agree that the penalty is playing too big a part in Tests.
They are recommending penalties should only be awarded for foul play while technical offences should be penalised by a free-kick.
However, the earliest date any proposals could be ratified by the IRB council is November.
In the knock-out stages of last year's World Cup, England kicked 15 penalty goals and scored only two tries.
In the final, when England beat Australia 20-17, 24 of the 37 points were scored by penalty goals and only one of those was awarded for foul play.
"It's a bit unfair to lose a Test match because of a technical offence, so what we have agreed to do is look at whether some of what are now penalties may become free kicks," said IRB chairman Syd Millar.
Limiting penalties to Law 10 offences would mean penalties for punching, stamping, obstruction, time-wasting and repeated technical offences.
But only around a third of penalties awarded in international matches are for those misdemeanours.
MMIX
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