ENGLAND and France have been sent into extra time sudden death in the Autumn Nations Cup final. Despite some huge scores in the group games and first knockout stage, recent clashes have been more closely-fought and 80 minutes may not be enough at Twickenham. Should it finish all square in normal time, there will be […]
ENGLAND and France have been sent into extra time sudden death in the Autumn Nations Cup final.
Despite some huge scores in the group games and first knockout stage, recent clashes have been more closely-fought and 80 minutes may not be enough at Twickenham.
Should it finish all square in normal time, there will be 20 minutes of extra time, before ten minutes of sudden death to decide a winner.
But what happens if it remains a draw after that?
After sudden death, it goes down to a kicking competition – think rugby’s version of a football penalty shootout.
Each team nominates five players to take the kicks, so you can expect George Ford and Owen Farrell to be among those for England.
The teams take it in turns to shoot from different angles of the pitch, with each kicker only allowed one attempt.
There are two attempts from the centre of the pitch, looking towards the sticks – often considered the easiest of places.
Another two will be taken from the left and one on the right of the sticks.
Once each kicker places the ball on the tee, they have one minute to take it, or it will be noted down as an unsuccessful kick.
Should both teams be level on kicks scored after the five, they roll back around on a sudden basis.
For example, the first kicker will take the first kick again and so on until a winner is declared.
Three matches have reached extra time – but never gone to the kicking competition stage.
England beat Australia in the 2003 final, thanks to Jonny Wilkinson drop kick, while South Africa won against New Zealand in the 1995 showpiece in extra time.
The Springboks were once again going over the 80-minute mark four years later, but they ended up on the losing side against Australia.
However, Leicester Tigers and Cardiff Blues famously needed the kicking competition to decide the winner in their 2009 Heineken Cup semi – with Leicester the eventual victors.
