Scrums.

[Ron Doran]

Why do we have scrums these days?
The ball never goes into the tunnel despite being under the refs. nose.
A handover would seem more appropriate.

[wiggydoran]

Phil clarke got asked this question last year. He said scrums give the opportunity for the attacking team to have a go at a defensive line that as less members of the team in it.

Seems like a fine way of restarting the game to me. Ok it is not traditional scrum but it is better then tapping. The odd one goes againest the head.

[Kiwiseddon]

It offers a minor variation in the defensive line and different options for an attack. I don't really have an issue with scrums in League because I can't be bothered with all the faffing about they do in Yawnion.
Watching the Heineken cup recently I remember watching one scrum that took over five minutes to get sorted and ended up with a penalty to the attacking side. It all seemed like a pantomime to me.

League is a very simple game in essence and I think having things like scrums, 40/20s etc keep it interesting. What I would like to see more of is attacking sides utilising the scrum to launch one off attacking plays where there is the room to run some complicated link play. It seems that someone just takes a hit up far too often.

Scrums will stay because they pack down and the ball is out within about 5 seconds. No mess and very rarely penalties. They're okay for me.

[TonyH]

It doesn't have to go into the tunnel, you can feed it directly through your props legs when it is your head and feed. Never stops me striking for the ball from hooker though.....

[markill]

I suppose the game is catching up with the idea that it changes the shape up of the defensive line - I mean quick strong tackling forwards are now taken out of the scrum and put in the line with centres and full-backs making up the scrum, which also makes scrums quicker to break up and cover in defence.

It gives the players a short breather though, which is beneficial to their overall energy levels and so the overall performance they can give.

Whilst they aren't a 'scrum' in the traditional sense i see no reason to take them out of the game - it varies things up still. We see enough tap restarts where a full defensive line isn't broken after all the whistle the refs use.

[Ron Doran]

Am I behind the times with the scrum?
Have the rules changed or just evolved. The scrum half had to put the ball into the tunnel from the side where the ref. was stood.
Makes a mockery of the specialist position of hooker.

[markill]

Am I behind the times with the scrum?
Have the rules changed or just evolved. The scrum half had to put the ball into the tunnel from the side where the ref. was stood.
Makes a mockery of the specialist position of hooker.

the specialist position of hooker really now is about speed and skills around the dummy-half position rather than influencing the scrum. the physique of hookers has changed, their role has and the game has.

[Ron Doran]

I don't really mind the scrum, but no one has yet answered 'Have the rules changed?'

[Nezza Faz]

I don't really mind the scrum, but no one has yet answered 'Have the rules changed?'

Ron, they've EVOLVED, with the way the game has gone in last 10 years or so.

[exile in Tiger country]

I don't really mind the scrum, but no one has yet answered 'Have the rules changed?'

As others have said the way the game is played has changed. We still see the occasional contested scrum,there is nothing in the rules to prevent it, but most teams choose not too.


On a related note, I usually baulk at copying Aussie ideas, but I do lke the fact that in the NRL if a team packs the scrum to stop the clock, they have to stay packed down or the clock starts again.