Mick Cleary reviews the changes put in place by Premier Rugby in order to open up the Premiership in The Daily Telegraph.
"Premier Rugby revealed on Monday that it took emergency steps to improve try-scoring rates in the Guinness Premiership and ensure that the stilted style of rugby that so marred the opening months is not seen during the end-of-season run-in.
"Try rates had dropped by an astonishing 38 per cent, prompting Premier Rugby to call a summit meeting with the Rugby Football Union on Feb 24. As a result of what Premier Rugby chief executive, Mark McCafferty calls "a seminal moment", in relations between the two bodies, four measures were agreed to encourage teams and referees to free up play.
"The initiatives were used for the first time during last weekend's Premiership matches, notable for an upturn in try-scoring. aracens ran in seven tries against Newcastle, having previously only scored 16 in 16 league matches."
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