The scrum has collapsed. That is not just a statement on the endless time-wasting and confusion among players and referees that brings half the scrums in the modern game to their knees – it is a statement about the survival of the scrum as a sacrosanct part of Rugby Union.
The scrum in its current form is being slammed from all sides – and it deserves to be. The main reason is that watching front row forwards and their pack colleagues take a knee, have a rest and a drink – as well as a chat with a water-carrier coach – is as boring as watching paint dry.
When, eventually, they are coaxed into forming a scrum by the referee, the purgatory for fans continues when it collapses in a heap and has to be reset.
This can happen three or four times more before the referee spots a front row technical infringement and awards either a penalty or a free-kick.
The upshot is that the scrum is incomplete, and often adds nothing to the contest, and yet players rush in from all corners of the pitch, to back-slap a prop or hooker lucky enough to win the penalty lottery.
By that time, four or five minutes of the match have been wasted. There have been suggestions that a way of handling these Mogadon minutes is to stop the clock, but that is not a viable solution unless you are interested in matches that last for 180 minutes, rather than 80, because it does not discourage the dawdling.
The Rugby Paper’s postbag, as well as comment forums on rugby social media, is overflowing with complaints from supporters who are deeply disillusioned with the degrading of the scrum, especially the recent law change that allows crooked or ‘favourable’ put-ins, when the scrum-half is able to sidestep towards his own hooker.
Esta historia es de la edición April 19, 2020 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición April 19, 2020 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Morris hat-trick lifts Steelmen
HOOKER Ieuan Morris came off the bench to settle matters for Ebbw Vale at Carmarthen Quins with his stunning second half hat-trick completing a 39-11 victory in Super Rygbi Cymru.
Joe keen to follow in family footsteps
JOE Ford is leading the charge to take Doncaster Knights to the promised land but says they have a long way to go before that becomes reality.
Robson keen to make it to the top with Coventry
COVENTRY ended the first five-match block of fixtures as the Championship’s only unbeaten side and full-back Charlie Robson has his sights set on promotion, and eventually playing for England.
Hancox joins the 200 club
AFTER 10 years of donning the red, black and yellow shirt for Bournemouth, skipper Grant Hancox made his 200th appearance this month after their Regional 2 South Central clash against Winchester.
Bear keen to be a big hit Down Under
FORMER Cornish Pirates back row Bear Williams has flourished in making the difficult transition from rugby union to league and has plans to play in Australia’s NRL. `
To play in two World Cups was a dream
RUGBY started quite late for me.
Call time on this pantomime ploy
THIS 60-second shot clock twaddle. If we must continue to plough down this blind alley it needs to apply from the moment the referee awards the penalty. If the authorities are going to put some stick about at least do it properly and with conviction.
Coetzee's pulling his weight again
WHETHER he starts or comes off the bench, Jaco Coetzee is just happy to be contributing fully to Bath’s revival after an injury-hit start to his career in blue, black and white.
Murray's on a wing - and a prayer ...
BLAIR Murray began the week ‘in a state of shock’ at having gone from nowhere on one side of the world to the starting grid for the autumn Tests on the other.
We need to kick on after winning at last
Paul Rees talks to Ethan Grayson who heard from two rugby legends after he helped Newcastle end their 25-match losing run