Kicks may decide the final result

Tonight’s Rugby World Cup final between the Black Ferns and England at Eden Park could be decided by a kicking competition.

If the teams are level after 80 minutes of regular time, the following processes determine the winner: extra time, sudden death and a kicking competition.

If the scores remain tied after sudden death, a kicking competition will determine the winner.

The kicking competition is essentially a shootout like in football.

Five players are nominated to kick from three different areas – in front of the posts and 15 metres to the left and right of the posts – and sudden death will be required if the scores from the shootout remain level after five kicks from each team.

The same order of kickers would be used in sudden death.