Scrums Scrums Scrums

Last week I mentioned how people shouldn't be "trying to fix the game". So this week I'm going to be a hypocrite and talk about how I would fix the game. Although crucially I'm going to do so by not fundamentally throwing the sport itself under the bus, instead I'm going to discuss how I think the decade long problem with scrums can be sorted out, by not changing any laws at all.

Everyone loves a good scrum right? Totally not boring spectacles that 90% of the time end in a penalty.

Okay, let me preface this, when I say "not changing any laws", what I actually mean is making use of the laws which World Rugby have recently brought into the game in a combination to help alleviate the two biggest problems with scrums, which are:

• Nearly every scrum needs to be reset at least once, many take numerous attempts
• Scrums rarely restart the game, instead are just a factory for penalties

Why do referee's actively look for a penalty?

The latter problem could be fixed by advising referees - and assistant referees - that not all scrums should end in a penalty. While yes there are plenty of illegal activities taking place between the front rows in nearly every scrum, the fact that penalties are so readily awarded has only exacerbated the problem. Because players, and coaches, know that they can readily win penalties from a scrum, they actively make an effort to win them at every scrum.

Encourage referee's to get the ball used rather than blow the whistle, even if the front rows have collapsed, then fewer penalties will be given. Slowly, but steadily, teams will realise the penalty well has dried up and will stop looking for them. The ball will come out of the scrum in a positive manner more often, and everyone is happier (everyone except our school front-rowers).

This fix can only really come about but completing the first bullet point on our list. The key to avoiding endless reset scrums is, by quite simply using the laws we've been given. Two are fundamental to my proposal

1. The ball must be hooked by the attacking team.
2. If the ball is at the back of the scrum it must be used.

Let's break it down, the scrum is set, the scrum half puts the ball in (with a legal allowance to be closer to his own team), the attacking team hooks the ball (as per the law), the ball gets to the back of the scrum, where it is reachable by the number 8 or scrum-half. All I've written here is exactly how scrums are meant to work, and the fact they aren't is because the laws aren't being followed by referees or players. Either a ball isn't being hooked - at which point free kick to the opposition - or the ball isn't being used by the attacking team  - another free kick to the opposition.

So by the referees actually imposing the laws, enforce that the hooker actually does their job, and when the ball is at the back of the scrum tell them to use it, the ball should come out more often. There will be arguments over it to start with, every change is met with resistance, but eventually, players will adapt to the "new" laws and the game will evolve. What this will ultimately achieve is that the ball will come out of scrums in a positive manner, teams will actually use strike moves from scrums, and potentially more amazing tries. 

Super Rugby has used the scrum as an actual attacking weapon for years, it should be by everyone.

Both of these proposed fixes work hand-in-hand, fewer penalties mean teams will actively get the ball out, getting the ball out quickly means less need to give penalties. And neither of these fixes require any "law trials" or anything, they both just require the use of the letter of the law that World Rugby have already developed and introduced to the world. 

So that's what I think can be done to overcome the endless, boring monotony, of watching a scrum in modern professional rugby. Scrums still have a place and I'd never want to see scrums descend into the pointless farce that rugby league still calls a "scrum". Don't change the game, just play it right, simple.

Agree, disagree, let me know what you think, or if you have any other suggestions?