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Watch: Has Will Greenwood revolutionised rugby with 'unmissable' drop kick?
By Online Editors
Former World Cup-winning England and British and Irish Lions midfielder Will Greenwood may have just set a new drop kicking trend.
The 46-year-old has developed a new technique to execute the drop kick, a technique of which he described as "unmissable" on Twitter.
In similar fashion to an American football-style field goal, Greenwood's adaptation of the kick sees a teammate drop the ball onto the ground in a backward motion as the kicker lines up the ball from a metre or two behind before launching it towards the posts.
Greenwood claims the drop goal is legal as long as the player dropping the ball ensures that the ball is being dropped backwards, meaning a knock on cannot be called.
Greenwood was part of the England side that claimed the 2003 World Cup title via a last-minute Jonny Wilkinson drop goal during extra time in the final against hosts Australia.
The scoring mechanism has traditionally been used as a vital way of securing victory in the knockout stages of previous World Cups.
Six drop goals have been scored in the previous eight World Cup finals, with Dan Carter the most recent to successfully convert one during the All Blacks' 34-17 win over Australia in 2015.
Many expect this year's World Cup in Japan to be one of the most competitive tournaments ever given the recent success of the likes of New Zealand, Ireland, England, South Africa and Wales.
With that in mind, the next world champion could again be determined by a drop goal, and Greenwood might have just invented the way in which the next title-winning drop goal could be slotted in Yokohama on November 2.
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Latest Comments
Set pieces are important and the way teams use them is a great indication of how they play the game. No team is showcasing their revolution more than the Springboks. This year they have mauled less and primarily in the attacking third. Otherwise they have tended to set like they are going to maul and then play around the corner or shove the ball out the back. They arent also hitting the crash ball carrier constantly but instead they are choosing to use their width or a big carrying forward in wider areas. While their maul is varied the scrum is still a blunt instrument winning penalties before the backs have a go. Some teams have chosen to blunt their set piece game for more control. The All Blacks are kicking more penalties and are using their powerful scrum as an attacking tool choosing that set piece as an attacking weapon. Their willingness to maul more and in different positions is also becoming more prominent. The French continue to play conservative rugby off the set piece using their big bruisers frequently. The set piece is used differently by different teams. Different teams play different ways and can be successful regardless. They can win games with little territory and possession or smash teams with plenty of both. The game of rugby is for all types and sizes and thats true in the modern era. I hope that administrators keep it that way and dont go further towards a Rugby League style situation. Some administrators are of the opinion that rugby is too slow and needs to be sped up. Why not rather empower teams to choose how they want to play and create a framework that favours neither size nor agility. That favours neither slow tempo play or rock n roll rugby. Create a game that favour both and challenge teams to execute their plans. If World Rugby can create a game like that then it will be the ultimate winner.
Go to commentsA new axis at 10, 12 & 13 is needed. And to start blooding young players who may be good enough to win us a world cup rather than stick with known players who won't.
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