The 2017 Six Nations will begin at the start of February, with this season's tournament being the first to feature a bonus point system.
The new scoring will see teams who register four or more tries being awarded a bonus point, while teams who lose by seven points or fewer will also be given a bonus point.
Andy Farrell believes that the British and Irish Lions are in with a good chance to beat New Zealand in 2017, and that the new scoring system will play a part in preparing the team for the 10-match tour.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Farrell outlined that the bonus point system will be good training during the Six Nations to help teams get up to the pitch they need to be at to beat the All Blacks, given it has been part of the Rugby Championship since the mid-1990s.
"We have been in front against them (New Zealand) with teams I have been involved with and they are masters at the comeback, staying calm and being clinical," he told The Telegraph.
"The way to score that bonus-point try is exactly like that - staying calm, being clinical, not being frantic, and going about your job as you should do rather than being too emotional. It will create excitement as it goes, you'll know what you need to do along the way, but you still won't get away from the fact that you need to win.
Farrell also noted that it encourages an attacking style of rugby, and that's something that the current Ireland set up are working towards ahead of the tournament.
"It is good for us because we want to play a good attacking style of rugby in Ireland, we have shown that with the tries we have scored of late. I believe it is going to be good for us, but everyone knows that you have to score points against New Zealand."
Although Farrell was involved with wins over New Zealand in his time with England and recently with Ireland in Chicago, he highlighted that the task that lies ahead for Gatland's side is a daunting one.
"I have had a lot more losses than wins against the All Blacks and people very kindly pick up on a couple of wins," he stated.
"They were two special team performances in those [games]. The overriding thing for me with the wins we have had over them, either for England or for Ireland, was that when we played them again the second time they became a bit of a different beast. And that is what Lions rugby is all about."
Via The Telegraph
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