England scrum-half Andy Gomarsall has backed calls for drop goals to be devalued.

The International Rugby Board is investigating several new playing laws to encourage attacking play, with the worth of a field goal possibly dropping from three points to two.

Speaking in Sydney at a sponsor's engagement, Gomarsall agreed rugby league was leading the way in promoting running football and union must follow suit if it did not want to be left behind.

"We are all canny people in rugby, so whatever law comes in we are always going to try to cheat the system somehow," he said.

"But I think that certainly something needs to be done, whether it be through points or whether it be through rule changes.

"It certainly hasn't done rugby league any harm.

"Back home rugby league turned to a summer sport and the rule changes there helped enormously and that sport is being watched by many more people.

"I don't think you can beat the atmosphere when it's 17-all going into the last five minutes, I think it's pretty special, but certainly I'm not running away from the fact that something needs to be done, whether it's the drop goal devalued.

"I think it's a special skill - it won us the World Cup in 2003 so I'm not complaining - but going forward that could be the case that it's possibly one or two points or the try is more points.

"Therefore it means teams are going for the try."

Asked how England team-mate, 2003 World Cup hero and drop goal specialist Jonny Wilkinson would feel about such a change, Gomarsall smiled: "I don't think he would be happy with that, would he? It's a debate that could go on and on."

Gomarsall refused to be critical of England coach Brian Ashton despite team-mates Mike Catt and Lawrence Dallaglio voicing their concerns over his methods following the Red Rose's World Cup final loss to South Africa.

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