How do Rugby World Cup bonus points work, and did England or Australia get any today? – The Sun

THE Rugby World Cup is here and England are chasing a first triumph for 16 years.

We all remember that magic night back in 2003, but first the Red Rose must negotiate Pool C – in which bonus points might prove crucial.

How do you get a bonus point in the Rugby World Cup?

RUGBY World Cup teams receive four points for a win, two points for a draw and nothing for a defeat by more than eight points.

A team will receive ONE extra point if they score four or more tries in a single match, and ONE extra point if they lose by eight or less.

The system is similar to the one used in the Six Nations, which saw Wales record the Grand Slam earlier this year.

In a Six Nations first, bonus points were awarded in 2017 in what was designed to be a three-year trial run.

But due to its overwhelming success in encouraging attacking, engaging rugby, that trial has now been scrapped and the system brought in permanently.

Teams get four points for a win and zero for a loss.

That means the most points a winning team can get is five, while a losing team can still pick up up to two points.

Two points are given if a match is tied, meaning teams involved in drawn matches get three points if they score four tries.

Australia picked up a bonus point against Uruguay as they scored seven tries in Oita.

England also secured their bonus point more at least four tries in their clash against Argentina.

REACHING the knockout stage and negotiating through the pool's is the goal for all 20 nations in the World Cup.

But even with bonus points, things can get tight at the top of the groups.

The following criteria will be followed in order to separate two teams if they finish on the same points after their pool matches:

The winner of the match between the two teams
Difference between points scored for and points scored against in all pool matches
Difference between tries scored for and tries scored against in all pool matches
Points scored in all pool matches
Most tries scored in all pool matches
Official World Rugby Rankings as of 14 October 2019