Quote: Big Graeme "That was what I was thinking.'"
You and bramleyrhino are correct: "After a try is scored, the scoring team MAY take a kick at goal"
It happened during the 80s in a SoO game. 1 game all and in the decider, NSW were ahead by 7 points, Queensland scored a try with about 1 minute left. Wally Lewis told the ref he didn't want a kick at goal. NSW kicked off and Lewis immediately put a kick to the corner, Queensland were inches from victory before the NSW winger made the ball dead and won the game.
There was much discussion about the decision but it was agreed to be correct and a smart move on Lewis's part. Mind you, I've long maintained that to play the game at the highest level, you should know the rules inside out. Something we seem to sadly lack over here. In fact the only British coach I've ever known study the laws and ask particular questions, in regard to aspects of play, has been a young John Kear, when he was coaching Cas 'A'.
Leeds 'A' v Cas 'A' at Headingley: Kear came into my dressing room before kick off and asked a couple of questions.
The first was about downtown kicks and the Leeds full back's propensity for trapping the ball with his foot, rather than taking it on the full. I told him that providing the chasing players were outside the ten, as soon as the Leeds full back touched the ball, it was play-on.
The second (and more controversial) regarded the play the ball on the fifth tackle. At this time, the tackled player could still play the ball forwards. Kear asked what would be my decision, if the Cas player, at the 5th tackle, stood, played the ball forward and the Leeds player picked it up (a natural reaction). My decision was, penalty to Cas because the Leeds player handled the ball before it cleared the ruck.
Kear had obviously done his homework and studied the Laws of the Game. Thankfully Cas never tried the seconf scenario, otherwise Harry Jepson would've had my balls, Kear & I were probably the only two people in attendance who knew what the correct decision would be.