"I think the scrum is in a good place at the moment"

YOU’VE GOT to love a scrum. I probably wouldn’t have a job if there weren’t scrums – and our game would be more like rugby league! But really, the scrum is the epitome of rugby’s mission statement: to be a game for all shapes and sizes. Well, you see all sorts in the set-piece and what an identity to have. Being in there, you are part of a highly technical, but also incredibly physical, unique part of sport.

The beautiful thing is that someone could be the strongest in the gym, the biggest man, but it doesn’t necessarily translate to being able to scrummage. Because it has a technique base. Now obviously it helps if you’ve got big men who are technically very good. Look at a lot of the South African teams, they generally are. And with that mix, it’s generally a lot harder to face.

The other interesting thing is that, while within the scrum it’s very confrontational – it’s me versus you – you are also still right in there with your mates.

The problem you find is that in trying to make the scrum safer, which I agree with, you can risk taking it too far. Because no matter what the best intentions are with the changes you bring in, teams out there are all still working on ways to gain an advantage.