LETTER: World Rugby allows scrums to be boring, dangerous
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JEFF Probyn says it takes a long time to learn the ‘dark arts' of the scrum while David Flatman claims everyone loves a scrum.
Well, not everyone, David.
Regarding Probyn's observation, he means it takes a long time to learn how to cheat effectively in the scrum.
We seem to ignore or, at best, conveniently forget that the scrum was simply a means of restarting the game after one team had made an error.
World Rugby has made scrums a mess and a very time-consuming one at that.
One-dimensional play
For years now, the feed has been crooked as scrum-halves are allowed to put the ball into the second row. Why the hooker is still referred to as the hooker bewilders me. The hooker does not and cannot ‘hook' and has not done so for an eternity.
The scrum has become a means of trying to win a penalty – nothing more. And worse, it often takes ages to complete as each team vies for the upper hand during set-up.
The scrum, understandably, was where the bigger and heavier players would be found, but the reliance on weight, power, muscle and, above all, force, have gone off the Richter scale in recent years and to the game's detriment.
The scrum has become a bore as has the rolling maul and its part in winning pushover tries.
Pundits, players and coaches regularly argue that winning the set-piece is essential if your team is to get the upper hand and win. This is sadly true, but how depressing is that!
The game has become somewhat one dimensional and, compared to years past, nowhere near as pleasing on the eye.
Player safety
Rightly, World Rugby is concerned about maintaining players' safety and that should be a priority.
But in an age where power and size are predominant and ‘big hits' are celebrated, is safety really a priority? Really?
And the modern scrum and all that it entails plays a huge part in denying that objective.
The increase in numbers and profile of former players taking legal action after sustaining serious and life-threatening conditions as a result of playing rugby would also strongly suggest that the game has much to learn about maintaining player safety.
The huge reliance on power in today's game does the game no good at all and may eventually lead to its demise if no strong action is taken.
My solution? For a start, cut the number of replacements from the current eight to no more than five or preferably four. This includes a maximum of three forwards and each of the front, second and back row being represented.
In years past, replacements were only permitted after a doctor's assessment that the player was no longer fit enough to remain on the pitch. Would a return to that rule be so bad?
Changes required
Personally, I would like to get rid of the scrum altogether.
After a knock on or forward pass, why not allow the opposition to restart with a free tap? The game would be all the better for it.
A lot of the dangerous power will be reduced over a period of time. The game would have greater attraction for smaller players and become quicker, freer-flowing and with a greater emphasis on flair and skill and less on brute force and power.
If World Rugby wishes to retain the scrum, then let's get serious about why it was employed in the first place and have the ball going into the middle enabling the hooker to hook and challenge for the ball.
Oh for a return to an age where most of the tries were scored by backs and half-backs…
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