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http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23217,00.html
By Peter Jenkins
August 08, 2007
MAJOR Rugby World Cup matches including the final will be decided by a goal-kicking competition modelled on the football penalty shootout if extra-time fails to produce a winner.
The International Rugby Board has decided that five shots at goal - by different players - from three positions along the 22m line will be the ultimate tiebreaker for all knockout games at the tournament in France starting on September 7.
The decision marks a shift in position on the tiebreaker policy used at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. To split a deadlock during the knockout stages four years ago, teams were to contest a drop-goal competition.
Two 10-minute periods of extra-time will follow any draws in a quarter-final, semi-final or the final in France, with a further 10 minutes of "golden point" to be played if the deadlock remains.
The goal-kicking shootout will be implemented if sudden-death extra-time expires without a score, involving only players who were on the field at the conclusion of regulation time.
Australia has three goalkickers with experience in its projected run-on side - Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau and Lote Tuqiri - while Adam Ashley-Cooper is also capable.
Chris Latham would likely be a fifth choice ahead of Stephen Larkham, if they all stayed on the field.
The 1995 and 2003 Rugby World Cup finals both went to extra-time to find a champion, and Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill said last night that he was disappointed an even more "heartbreaking" scenario could await a title contender in France.
"Personally, I would rather just see them keep playing until someone scores and wins," he said.
"We had this debate when I was in football, about the brutality and the unfairness of a shootout.
"There were suggestions that maybe players could be taken off as extra time wore on, in a bid to create more space and opportunities to score. It might be preferable to a shootout.
"At the same time, in terms of the World Cup, I understand the issues that surround broadcasting. There is the question of 'how long could this go on for?'
"In terms of compromise, you do have to bring it to a halt at some stage. I just think playing until you have a result at least gives you a definitive winner.
"Too many people walk away broken hearted from a penalty shootout."