New Zealand’s Super Rugby teams will be able to replace red-carded players and drawn matches may be decided by a golden-point tiebreaker.
The law trials will take placewhen the country’s domestic competition starts on June 13, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) said on Tuesday.
“There are no winners when a player is red carded, but paying rugby fans, players and coaches want to see a fair contest. Replacing a player after 20 minutes strikes the right balance,” NZR’s Head of Professional Rugby Chris Lendrum said.
It’s a similar setup in Ireland’s Gaelic Games, whereby the Black Card was issued to players who, individually would not play any further part in the game but could be replaced, keeping the offending team at a full capacity.
If a match is tied after regular time, the first team to score by a drop goal, penalty kick or try during a 10-minute extra time period will be awarded the win.
5 times Lewis Moody earned his ‘Mad Dog’ nickname
1. The Tuilagi scrap
The insane fight between Alesana Tuliagi and Moody broke out after a mid-air tackle by Tuilagi on Mark Cueto. The ballsy England back-rower didn't back down from the HUGE Samoan.
As a result, Moody became the first England player to be sent off at Twickenham, and only the fourth to be dismissed in international rugby.
Moody was later suspended for nine weeks at a disciplinary hearing, while Tuilagi received six weeks for his part in the incident.
2. When he fought Martin Johnson
Moody's desire to impress on his return after injury in 2004 caused a flare-up with Tigers captain Martin Johnson in training last week.
"It was my first session and I was extra keen, trying to do everything and hit everything," Moody told The Sun.
"Tempers flared and 'Johnno' and I had a little coming together. He gave me a little dink and I gave him a little dink - but his hurt a lot more!
"It's just typical training ground stuff. You need that friendly rivalry."
3. Playing through illness
Moody was diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel disease called ulcerative colitis in 2005, but kept his condition secret while continuing to play top-level rugby.
Symptoms can include diarrhoea, pain, anaemia, fatigue and sometimes inflammation of the joints, skin, liver and eyes.
Moody even moved house to be closer to the training ground because of his feelings of urgency, which are common to sufferers of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Playing through that sort of pain is mad, but heroic.
4. This epic team talk
To nobody...
5. This attempted block
You know it must hurt if Mad Dog is down...
Who needs eyes anyway?
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