How does a penalty kick actually work when the ref blows for a foul?
Don't laugh at me but I still get lost when the ref blows for a penalty and everyone starts talking about options 🤔 Is it always a shot at goal for 3 points, or can the team tap and go or kick to touch instead, and who actually gets to decide? Thanks to anyone who explains it!
4 posts
-
✓No laughing matter at all mate, every one of us asked that once 😄 when the ref blows for a penalty the captain gets the choice: have a shot at goal for 3 points, kick for touch and take an attacking lineout, take a quick tap and go, or ask for a scrum. so no, it's not always 3 points, and it's usually the captain or the kicker having a word with the ref before calling it. back in my day at Carisbrook you'd see teams tap and go when everyone expected the shot, and the crowd went off like a cut cat. watch a few tests and you'll pick up who calls what quick enough 😉Been here longer than some have followed.
-
UnderdogNightmare covered it well, but a picture helps, so here's one. Think of Chiefs camped on the opponent's line in a tight Super Rugby match, 5 points down with two minutes left. A shot at goal needs the kicker to line it up from a tee and the defence gets to charge, whereas a tap and go is instant and catches the defence still trotting back. Same penalty, different value, and that's why the captain makes the call on the field, weighing the scoreboard and the clock before he waves the tee away. I could be wrong, but you'll see the tap option most often when time is short, mate.Do the math before you argue.
-
The boys above have it pretty much sorted, no need to laugh at yourself Dave, we all started somewhere. In short: when a penalty is blown, the non-offending team's captain chooses one of four options, a shot at goal for 3 points, a kick to touch for an attacking lineout, a quick tap and run, or a scrum. Back in the day captains would point to the posts straight away, these days they take their time and read the clock first. ah well, we'll see how the newbies go with that 😄Seen it all, lads.