^ what is your suggestion to fix that Wamberal?
I'd like to see a rule introduced as follows; at scrum time, if the ball is available to the halfback or number 8 that it must be played, teams can't hold the ball in..
^ what is your suggestion to fix that Wamberal?
There's a perfect game for you that does just that.Scrums need to remain, as a means of restarting play quickly and safely, not to milk penalties.
Teams intentionally use the scrum to milk penalties, if that's not negative tactics then what is? Whilst some people will enjoy watching continuous scrum resets until a penalty try is awarded, I can assure you a greater number of people will enjoy it more if a try is scored via that set piece, whether that's through forward or backs.
Scrums need to remain, as a means of restarting play quickly and safely, not to milk penalties.
If the rule was trial'd that the team must play the ball if available to the number 8 or halfback, what would be lost to the game? Because there are definitely positives but so far the only negative is the loss of penalty tries.
There's a perfect game for you that does just that.
What would be lost?! Real scrums!Scrums need to remain, as a means of restarting play quickly and safely, not to milk penalties.
If the rule was trial'd that the team must play the ball if available to the number 8 or halfback, what would be lost to the game? Because there are definitely positives but so far the only negative is the loss of penalty tries.
- at least 1m back from last feet of ruck , get some space between them
What would be lost?! Real scrums!
Watching that Brumby scrum on Fri nite was a thing of beauty. The way the Rebels scrum fell apart against them was something that sets rugby apart from every other game on the planet.
Only issue with holding the ball in scrums is teams that do it for a fourth, fifth, sixth shove and so on. They hold it in there so long that a collapse is inevitable. Then they get a scrum reset and try again. The Italians come to mind when thinking of this tactic.
Refs need to call use it more often for scrums that have been stationary for the 5 or so seconds. If it then collapses, tough luck to the team who left it there.
Rugby prides itself on the concept that everything remains a competition for the ball, once the ball is anchored at the back of the scrum the competition is over, it's a flaw within the rules which teams have learnt to exploit.
The Laws specifically state a scrum is for restarting play QUICKLY, Law 20. I don't see how keeping the ball at the number 8's feet conforms with the quickly bit. Nor the slow setting up of the front row, then second row, etc.
So we have to get rid of mauls too?
Slim, mauls actually feature the very rule which I'm proposing scrums should have, the use it or lose it rule.
(e)
When a scrum remains stationary and the ball does not emerge immediately a further scrum is ordered at the place of the stoppage. The ball is thrown in by the team not in possession at the time of the stoppage.
(f)
When a scrum becomes stationary and does not start moving immediately, the ball must emerge immediately. If it does not a further scrum will be ordered. The ball is thrown in by the team not in possession at the time of the stoppage.
Rugby prides itself on the concept that everything remains a competition for the ball, once the ball is anchored at the back of the scrum the competition is over, it's a flaw within the rules which teams have learnt to exploit.