A bonus point system which will reward try scoring has been approved for the Rugby World Cup in Australia in October-November.

The International Rugby Board confirmed that teams will be awarded an extra point if they score four tries or more or lose by less than seven points in pool matches.

The same system has been used for several years in the southern hemisphere Super 12 Series.

The format has been approved by the five-man board of Rugby World Cup Ltd comprising Malcolm Phillips (England), Rian Oberholzer (South Africa), Jacques Laurans (France) and Mike Miller (International Rugby Board).

It could play a decisive part in deciding tightly-contested groups such as Pool A, which includes Australia, Ireland and Argentina, Namibia and Romania, and Pool D, which comprises New Zealand, Italy, Wales, Canada, Tonga or South Korea.

Only two teams qualify from each of the four pools of five teams for the quarter-finals.

Team managers will have a chance to air their views fully at a meeting in Sydney in two months' time.

One consequence of introducing bonus points might be that sides will field their strongest available line-up throughout the group stages to ensure a maximum tally.

The opening game between Australia and Argentina is in Sydney on October 10.

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