Scrums have been a source of serious injury, which is why the ‘Crouch-Touch-Pause-Engage’ was instituted. This has made the engagement safe and reduced spinal injuries.
However, this over-management of the engagement has sterilised it. In the just completed pool rounds of the Rugby World Cup, referees blew a penalty for about 50% of scrums.
Just look at Bryce Lawrence in the Australia versus Ireland match; he blew a penalty for around 75% of the scrums.
After watching the 1987, 1991 and 1999 Rugby World Cup matches on Fox Sports, it stared me in the face, how the front row used to come together when they were ready.
I noticed the extreme difference in referee’s expectations; we’ve gone from player-managed to referee over-managed.
Blowing up scrums takes away the contest for the ball, conflicting the scrum’s purpose; restarting with a contest for the ball.
Sterilising the engagement has successfully reduced the amount of serious spinal injuries, a good thing. Adding the pause in 2010, however, has created another level of management.
Especially in community rugby, an expectation the front row will be of a high skill level to maintain their position does not represent reality.
The extended pause shown by most referees in the World Cup, will hopefully not be morphed into community rugby, as it places too much power in the referee’s mouth to blow an infringement for early engagement, shoulders below hips, no touch and so on.
Now that the scrum is safer, the highest number of spinal injuries is occurring at the tackle.
Am I facetious in waiting for the IRB to filter down directives to have a sterilise tackle, watering down the opportunity for players to fight for possession?
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