By Kerry Fothergill

A stir was caused amongst Six Nations rugby fans, when it was announced there would be a new point system, due to be trialled in February.

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So what is this new system causing such a wave?

Well, it isn’t really that new. At club level they already operate under a similar system.

Basically, four points are awarded to the winning team, a draw earns the teams two points and an unbeaten team will be awarded a further three points. Bonus points will be awarded if a team scores four or more tries, and if a team lose within seven points.

So a winning team could receive five points and the losing team could obtain two points under this new system.

The reason for this, quite simply is, an effort to encourage and reward try scoring and attacking play.

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The worry is that the beauty of the final Saturday, when the majority of the championships have been decided, will be ruined.

But will this really encourage teams to go for more tries?

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In the 2015/16 season, World Rugby trialled a different point system in the Principality Premiership in Wales. Here the change involved the scoring system rather than the points awarded on the conclusion of the game.

A try changed from five points to six, the conversion stayed at two points. A penalty kick and drop-goal changed from three points to two, and a straight eight points was given if a penalty try was awarded, meaning no conversion was needed.

If the Chiefs behind the Six Nations really want teams to focus on attacking rugby, surely a change in scoring will do this more than what they have proposed.

The trail in the Principality Premiership had the desired impact with there being 177 more tries in the 2015/16 season than in the season before.

So instead of possibly messing with the climax of the Six Nations tournament with the change in the points awarded. Perhaps a change in the scoring system would have the desired affect, without taking away the suspense of Super Saturday.