How does the Rugby World Cup points system separate teams tied on the same points?
It's been quite a Rugby World Cup tournament so far. Tier 2 nations have really stepped up and shown their improvements more than ever before. It's been a highly competitive tournament, and leads us to the possibility of teams finishing on the same amount of points at the end of the pool stage.
Take this example. Should Italy beat Ireland with a bonus point, and Ireland then bounce back and beat France by more than seven points, and Italy back up that win with another bonus point victory over Romania - then all of Italy, France, and Ireland would finish the pool stages on 14 points.
How does the Rugby World Cup points system separate teams tied on the same points?
According to the Rugby World Cup points system rules, based on the official website - this is how two teams tied on the same points will be separated:
1. The winner of the Match in which the two tied Teams have played each other shall be the higher ranked.
2. The Team which has the best difference between points scored for and points scored against in all its pool Matches shall be the higher ranked.
3. The Team which has the best difference between tries scored for and tries scored against in all its pool Matches shall be the higher ranked.
4. The Team which has scored most points in all its pool Matches shall be the higher ranked.
5. The Team which has scored most tries in all its pool Matches shall be the higher ranked.
6. Should the tie be unresolved at the conclusion of steps 1 through 5, the rankings as per the updated Official World Rugby World Rankings on October 12, 2015 will determine the higher ranked Team.
Of course, the first tiebreaker according to the Rugby World Cup points system that separates teams tied on the same points only applies if two teams finished on the same points - much in the same way that two of England, Wales, and Australia could.
Very similar to the Six Nations, the second tiebreaker that separates teams tied on the same amount of points. Therefore, if three teams finish on the same points, the team who have the best points difference finish on top. The protocol then dictates that the remaining two teams tied on the same amount of points will revert back to their head-to-head match-up to separate the teams, and not continue with the team who has the best points difference.
Three teams can finish on the same amount of points in three pools.
See Also: Here's How The Bonus Points System Will Work For The Rugby World Cup
Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
