Bonus point system will see teams taking risks - Vern Cotter

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter is backing teams to take more risks in the upcoming Six Nations 2017 tournament, which will see bonus points introduced for the first time.

The system was introduced with an intention to push the teams to play attacking game as they will be eligible for an additional point if they manage to score four or more tries while a team losing by less than seven points will be awarded a losing bonus point.

Cotter, who will head to France in June to take charge of Top 14 side Montpellier said teams will need to adapt quickly to the new system tried out at the international level.

"Are the bonus points going to change the way teams play? I think it will, you will probably see a few more risks in the game and that may open up.

"We've got players who like to take the initiative, and if you take the initiative the opposition have to adapt. So the idea is to make sure we take as much initiative as possible and make the teams adapt.

"If Stuart Hogg can make teams adapt, he has got a good step, and Finn (Russell) is making teams do that in the PRO12. You need a big mobile forward pack that is going to knock people backwards, it's important we have loose forwards that can carry and defend.

"Does it come to a penalty, do you take a lineout or the three points? You may find a few more lineouts are taken."

Scotland will kick start their 2017 Six Nations campaign with a clash against Ireland at Murrayfield on 4th February.