Speed up scrums with a 20-second scrum clock
Roar Rookie By klestical, 18 Jul 2011 klestical is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Rugby Union, Rugby union rules, Samoa rugby, wallabies
Rugby has increased dramatically as a spectacle over the last couple of years; however the Wallabies-Samoa game reiterated that more needs to be done. While the second half opened up, in what were difficult conditions, the first half saw a large number of penalties and errors – thanks largely to an ill-disciplined Samoan outfit.
One particularly frustrating part of the game and most rugby games is the amount of time being taken up by scrums taking away from the game itself.
Setting up a scrum can take almost an entire minute of play. In England, the situation has led to broadcasters issuing a ‘scrum clock’, which, knowing northern hemisphere-style rugby, means a large period of the game is lost to collapsed scrums and resets.
‘Scrum Improvement’ is in constant discussion. In fact, there is talk of removing the ‘hit’ – where opposing teams come together instead.
According to the head of referees, Paddy O’Brian, this could occur sooner than thought, considering that no new rules need to be applied and that it is merely a reapplication of the old rules.
Including such a notion means that my idea for scrummaging has the potential to work.
What if you issued a scrum clock, with a set period of time to pack the scrum. The team with the ball has say, 20 seconds to get up, pack and get the ball into the scrum.
This would ensure that time spent scrummaging is minimised. There is therefore less emphasis on perfect technique to maximize power to get over the advantage line and therefore the possibility of a reset is reduced.
I also think it would make scrums safer. Above all, it would stop me swearing at the television.
What do you think, Roarers?
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- Explore:
- Rugby Union, Rugby union rules, Samoa rugby, wallabies
July 18th 2011 @ 7:01am
ptovey01 said | July 18th 2011 @ 7:01am | Report comment
So what your saying is that the wallabies lost cause the scrums took up too much time. The wallabies were pathetic. Elsom needs a heart. The acting was beaten. Why were there so many scrums. Cause they couldn’t hold the ball. Scrums are a part of the game. Don’t make mistakes and there are no scrums. So it’d clear. The scrums aren’t the problem. It is the pathetic nature of the wallabies play and the softness of the play in general.
July 18th 2011 @ 9:31am
klestical said | July 18th 2011 @ 9:31am | Report comment
mate there’s another article on this site if you want to carry on about the game.
July 18th 2011 @ 7:47am
Dave said | July 18th 2011 @ 7:47am | Report comment
I love the idea of a scrum clock, 20 seconds could be a bit short though. If one team is not ready to scrum by the time the clock winds down it should be a free kick to the other side. I don’t think you need to get rid of the hit though, the teams would just have a certain time frame in which to be set up and ready to scrum and then the ref calls the engagement.
There will always be an incentive for perfect technique though, you only need a limit on the amount of time between calling the scrum and starting the scrum. There will still be plenty of reason to scrummage.
Why stop there, throw in a lineout clock. Also scrap the one metre gap at lineouts, everyone closes up the moment the hooker throws anyway.
Watching people line up shots at goal is also boring, so stick a clock on that.
Maybe an injury clock? If the player needs to be down for more than a certain amount of time (ie such that it stops play, think of all those guys who need a wee calf massage whenever their team is struggling) he should go off and it should be treated like a blood bin.
July 18th 2011 @ 8:25am
turbodewd said | July 18th 2011 @ 8:25am | Report comment
Im not actually a rugby fan but watched some of the Aus v Samoa game. I was surprised how much time the scrums consumed. Scrums arent a contest (i.e a joke) in the NRL (really its a brief moment for the backs to have some space) but when they are a contest they drag on in rugby.
And why are shoulder charges banned in rugby? That doesnt compute.
July 18th 2011 @ 9:35am
klestical said | July 18th 2011 @ 9:35am | Report comment
I found that the samoans were slow to everything yesterday and I’m surprised they weren’t penalized (even though they were warned on a few occasions). A scrum clock would at least stop this from happening.
And yes, I don’t see why shoulder charges aren’t allowed either. If it was a safety issue, the NRL would have banned them.
July 18th 2011 @ 12:53pm
RedsNut said | July 18th 2011 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
NRL is all about bashing the other side as hard as you can, anyway you can, and cause damage if you can.
July 18th 2011 @ 3:36pm
vaguely said | July 18th 2011 @ 3:36pm | Report comment
It is a safety issue and I have seen injuries in the NRL come from shoulder charges.
I like shoulder charges, but they have the potential to be dangerous, especially in Rugby where there is more technique in the tackle on both sides than in League (not a swipe at League)
League is moer about the big hit, so shoulder charges suit but I wouldn’t be suprised if they were banned from the game within 5 or 10 years.
Now, back to the main point.
Get rid of the hit, it’s not the point of the scrum.
Now, make the 9 put the ball in straight.
=
Scrum fixed.
It still might not be great to watch, but that’s not the point.
July 18th 2011 @ 1:09pm
allblackfan said | July 18th 2011 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
Shoulder charges are banned in rugby union because they are dangerous. Simple as that. Dangerous to the tackled player as well as the tackler
Any doctor worth their salt will tell you that.
July 18th 2011 @ 11:37pm
C.K said | July 18th 2011 @ 11:37pm | Report comment
Totally agree. Glad they are banned in Rugby.
July 18th 2011 @ 3:01pm
liquorbox said | July 18th 2011 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
because the shoulder is a pointed attacking body part wher use in a shoulder charge. By wrapping your arms you remove the “point” of the shoulder and lessen injuries. Look at you own shoulders, if your arm is by your side the shoulder joint is at a 90 degree angle and has a point, if you bring your arms up parrallel to the gound the point disappears.
The question is why would League continue with a style of play that can cause injury so easily? or another way, why dont the allow elbows to the face?
July 18th 2011 @ 10:10pm
klestical said | July 18th 2011 @ 10:10pm | Report comment
I don’t think it is as big of a safety issue that you guys are suggesting. The ‘cannonball’ tackle has only just arisen and yet it has already been banned due to its ability to completely wreck legs. I bring this up, because the banning of this tackle proves that player safety is still absolutely paramount. Therefore, if shoulder charges were dangerous, there is no doubt they would have disappeared as well.
Despite the increasing speed, size and technique of players, they are still legal…
as long as there is a reiteration to make sure they are not head high, I don’t see the problem
July 18th 2011 @ 10:13am
Bakkies said | July 18th 2011 @ 10:13am | Report comment
The reason why Samoa gave away a lot of penalties was because they contested at the breakdown.
July 18th 2011 @ 3:37pm
vaguely said | July 18th 2011 @ 3:37pm | Report comment
And had thier hands all over the ball…
Not having a go, they deserved the win, if you can get away with it you should do it
July 19th 2011 @ 1:18pm
Bakkies said | July 19th 2011 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
If we started with a proper openside we would have done the same thing.
July 20th 2011 @ 1:51am
vaguely said | July 20th 2011 @ 1:51am | Report comment
It’s been said that the Force have the best back 3 in the comp. Surely Hodgson would be part of that ‘best’?
July 18th 2011 @ 10:34am
JVGO said | July 18th 2011 @ 10:34am | Report comment
Scrum clock, line out clock, penalty clock, injury clock. All good ideas. There was too much down time in the game yesterday.
July 18th 2011 @ 12:47pm
Nat said | July 18th 2011 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
Did anyone else notice the other obvious time waster in the Samoa test when the linesman stuck out his flag for an infringement and the ref beckoned him over. He seemed to walk in slow motion to the centre of the pitch to talk to the ref. After the exciting and frantic play preceeding it seemed to take forever for him to get his few minutes in the spotlight. Surely he can be told to run. He only has a few hundred thousand people waiting for him to get there so that they can resume their entertainment, not to mention that it totally killed the build up of excitement and suspense in that part of the game.
July 18th 2011 @ 5:09pm
Rabbitz said | July 18th 2011 @ 5:09pm | Report comment
And they have radios…
July 18th 2011 @ 1:11pm
allblackfan said | July 18th 2011 @ 1:11pm | Report comment
Here we go again; Wallabies lose and everyone calls for rule changes!!
July 18th 2011 @ 2:11pm
Gary Russell-Sharam said | July 18th 2011 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
I don’t really think the subject had anything to do with the Wallabies losing to Samoa, AB fan. The reason for the post was to curtail the time wasted in setting scrums. I am leaning towards getting the hit out of the game and the tiresome “crouch touch pause engage”. The best solution to all this is to engage the packs like they do in Juniors and then call “scrum”, the push comes on and then the halfback puts the ball in and away we go. Save time, save injury, and save the collapsed scrums. I agree with a clock on kicking for conversion, I actually thought that the ARU had a time clock in place on this already (like 1 minute) and I agree that there should be a time clock on the throw in at the lineout (like 20 seconds from the time they form)
July 18th 2011 @ 2:25pm
Dave said | July 18th 2011 @ 2:25pm | Report comment
Lineout clock should be from the time it goes out, it’s all the farting around before they form it that eats up the time.
If you make them fold into the scrums they will not wait for you to say scrum. The moment they engage the scrums it will be on, ball or no ball.
July 18th 2011 @ 5:11pm
Rabbitz said | July 18th 2011 @ 5:11pm | Report comment
Then you penalise for pushing before the feed, simple. It has been done like that before.
July 18th 2011 @ 9:30pm
Red Chief said | July 18th 2011 @ 9:30pm | Report comment
Dave, this is what Graham Henry is currently pushing for. The hit, while nice to watch when it comes off, is unneccessary, and should be removed.
July 18th 2011 @ 3:23pm
Bakkies said | July 18th 2011 @ 3:23pm | Report comment
Samoa played the ref and the clock perfectly. The Wallabies lifted for a period towards the end and had superior fitness. The Samoans had to slow the play down which they also did at the breakdown
July 18th 2011 @ 3:59pm
Chris said | July 18th 2011 @ 3:59pm | Report comment
Scrums really are problematic in both rugby codes – a laughable joke in league and a boring waste of time in union. There was an interesting theory posted (I think) on this website a little while ago – union scrums have become a mess since jerseys became skin tight and slippery. This meant that front rowers aren’t able to bind onto their opposition, which inievitably leads to collapsed scrums that aren’t really anyone’s fault. THis happens a few times, the referee (along with everyone else) gets sick of it and give a penalty. And because its all messy the penalty has usually been mostly based on guesswork.
Bring back cotton jerseys!
July 18th 2011 @ 10:03pm
klestical said | July 18th 2011 @ 10:03pm | Report comment
I agree Chris, or keep the tight jerseys but have them with super grippy sides.