The new scrum law changes are a complete waste of time
Once again, World Rugby has seen fit to tweak the laws of the game. Six new amendments were announced today, with a couple of typically confusing ruck interpretations dominating discussion.
However, it’s the ones around the scrum that should really be getting questioned – mainly because they are so completely unnecessary.
Here’s how they are explained by the governing body:
Law 20.5 & 20.5 (d) 5: The scrum-half must throw the ball in straight, but is allowed to align their shoulder on the middle line of the scrum, therefore allowing them to stand a shoulder width towards their own side of the middle line.
Law 20.9 (b): The number eight shall be allowed to pick the ball from the feet of the second-rows.
Law 20: Once the ball touches the ground in the tunnel, any front-row player may use either foot to try to win possession of the ball. One player from the team who put the ball in must strike for the ball.
If there was any more evidence needed that there are too many people with a legal background and too much time on their hands involved in the upper levels of rugby, this is it. None of these changes will make the slightest bit of difference to the way the game is played, and are responding to issues in the game that simply don’t exist.
Scrums have come a long way since the days of 16 guys simply crashing into one another like some sort of medieval battle. Back then, when contesting for the ball by opposing hookers was actually a thing, the above changes might have made sense.
But it hasn’t been like that for a long time, basically since the dawn of the professional era. Scrums are still an incredibly important part of the game, but possession changes at the discretion of the referee rather than any fleet-footed work by a hooker. A powerful eight man shove will draw a penalty on either defence or attack, and the rare tightheads that happen are won by simply walking over a static ball.
It’s time the lawmakers stopped trying to make out that the feed of the ball into the scrum is some sort of sacred part of the game. It smacks of resentment against rugby league and the fact that the 13-man code treats scrums as an excuse to have a quick rest.
As a fan, ask yourself when the last time you saw a ref ping a halfback or hooker for a feed or striking infringement? As a player, when was the last time this even got pulled up in lower grades?
When it comes to the number eight picking the ball up at the back, it’s hardly as if the extra milliseconds they’ll get from this change will revolutionise the game. Let’s face it, a quick look at any scrum anywhere will show you that most number eights are doing it anyway.
You can add these to the seemingly endless waste of time rules and amendments of rugby, like the change from place kicking to drop kicking kick-offs (what exactly did that achieve?), the annoyingly bureaucratic protocol between referees and TMOs that doesn’t actually mean anything anyway, or what actually constitutes offside.
Instead of wasting their own time trying to over-govern something that should be just a regulation way to restart play, how about the lawmakers focus on something that needs it. Because we all know there’s one big issue they don’t seem to want to deal with.
Comments on RugbyPass
It’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
4 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
2 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
4 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
2 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
4 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to comments