THERE is a growing concensus – at last – that the scrum, rather than being a collapse-fest in which front rows try to con penalties out of referees, is actually capable of providing great attacking ball.
With 16 forwards concentrated in a tiny area of the pitch, there are acres of space to be exploited from ball heeled quickly to the No.8, and multiple attacking options available to scrum-halves, backs and back rows.
However, there remains a serious sticking point which referees who have been schooled to allow crooked feeds have not worked out.
It’s this: For the scrum to ...