With a win against the feed coming around about as often as Halley’s comet, the validity of the rugby league scrum has been argued for some time.
However, on the back of the Warriors’ surprise tactic of actually pushing, the scrum has seen something of a resurgence.
I’m all for contested scrums to be part of the game again, but there’s definite concern.
Watching the Saints versus Panthers match last weekend, the Dragons gave a surprise push which the Panthers pack were clearly not anticipating. The result was a downright dangerous collapse of bodies.
I have no issue with the Dragons making a play with a scrum push, but when it occurs unknowingly, the potential for serious injury arises. With 600-plus kilos pushing in a pack when the other six are off guard, a lot can go wrong.
In an age where player safety has become paramount, the NRL need to address just what role the scrum should play in the game. I’d love to see real scrums back in the game, but I’d also love to see more creative sweeping backline movements used off scrums too. Not giving the ball some air through the hands off the first play of the scrum defeats the purpose of the scrum with all the forwards out of the play.
But I digress..
If this trend continues, where only the odd scrum is contested and only one forward pack is expecting a push, then how long will it be before we see another tragic spinal injury?
The NRL has a choice of three outcomes to decide on.
(a) Abolish scrums altogether.
(b) Keep scrums non-contested (as they have been for years) but ban the unexpected pushing.
(c) Make all scrums contested.
The NRL needs to be proactive and make a decision. It would be criminal to only act in the wake of another tragic injury.
Come on NRL, sort out the scrum issue once and for all.
Ra
Guest
So everyone will be on their guard in their own quarter. The Warriors tried it against the Broncos too but the Broncs were up to it. Leave it as it is I say, players will rise to it on the paddock and interfering pen pushers who haven't laced on boots for a long time don't need to be involved.
Tobias Zulaikha
Roar Rookie
I think most fans had thought that pushing in a league scrum had already been banned as we hadn't seen one since at least 1987. "endless rule changes and banning everything" - okay, I can see you really love your sarcasm. Look, I get your point about feeling that the game has gone soft. I for one miss the shoulder charge and didn't see it the need to ban it entirely, so long as it didn't make contact with head of an opponent. As far as the scrum being "an action that another sport seems to manage well" - that is spot on, and they manage it well because it is heavily focussed at training, where as in league it isn't as it's not nearly as big a part of the game. . I'm not talking crazy rule changes here, just for the NRL to clear up and state what the role of the scrum should be before some poor player suffers another career-ending injury, that's all. If you can't see my point about it being a potential risk when one team pushes unexpectedly after decades of scrums being uncontested, then we will just have to happily agree to disagree.
AdelaideWill
Guest
Perhaps the onus should be on the team not pushing in the scrum to at least bind enough that they don't get pushed over.If you want to use your "no pushing" scrum then why would you bother calling it a scrum? Im not worried about the welfare of the players engaging in an action of the game they are paid very well to play. We are not talking about high shots, chicken wing tackles or spear tackles, that are violent acts and not part of the rules. We are talking about an action that makes up one of the rules of the game and an action that another sport seems to manage well. What is next? No jumping because someone might bump into someone? Articles like yours are the reason the NRL is become so sterile with your endless rule changes and banning everything (yes you did mention banning pushing in a scrum).
Tobias Zulaikha
Roar Rookie
AdelaideWill, if only you could comprehend the content of the article, then perhaps you wouldn't feel the need to write with such sarcasm. "the modern game is already embarrassing enough without fans calling scrums dangerous" - I actually never once said scrums are "dangerous", merely pointing out that when one forward pack pushes unexpectedly in the scrum, it creates a dangerous situation, one that can easily be avoided if the NRL sorts out the scrum issue. Clearly, you couldn't care less about the welfare of players, which is a shame if you consider yourself a fan of the game. The only thing "embarrassing" here are your comments.
AdelaideWill
Guest
Take the quick tap and move on.. the modern game is already embarrassing enough without fans calling scrums "dangerous". In fact they should drop the team to 6 players on the field, no kicking or scrums and handing the ball over after 5 touches.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Just make the forwards stand in a circle 20m in from the side line on the first play and have a tap I think, if keeping the forwards together in one place is so important (it isn't).
In Brief
Guest
Here's an idea. Steal the three man scrum from rugby 7s and have contested 3 man scrums. . The number of resets will be minimal, the risk of injury will be minimal and it will add an element of contested possession. Only 3 forwards are out of the play, but that's better than none.
The Barry
Guest
I agree with this article. The scrums fall apart badly when one team pushes and it is only a matter of time until someone is injured. We can't go back to fully contested scrums with the re-packs and scrum penalties. It will slow the game down too much. I think there's a lot to be said of a situation that takes six defenders out of the line and it's a shame more coaches don't take advantage of the situation with attacking set plays. So as ridiculous as it sounds the best option is uncontested scrums and outlawing pushing.
Tobias Zulaikha
Roar Rookie
Yes they did, and that's exactly my point. Since the Warriors' gave it a go, other sides have started doing the unexpected scrum push. I'm just raising the issue that it is highly dangerous, and that the NRL need to act before a player gets seriously injured.
Barge Arse
Guest
Didnt Souths put on a great push against Manly just over a week ago and win against the head?
Fairy fairfax
Roar Rookie
The league can either make it a simple handover or a contested scrum. But here's betting they will find some middle-of-the-road solution that will piss everyone off - especially the remaining fans.
jg
Guest
Scrums arent taken seriously by the clubs and players, the lock never puts his head in. They are a waste of time!
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
there's a very good reason why scrums are not contested, and that is that when they were contested it was a total dog's breakfast with most scrums either needing to be reset or penalties given for infractions. Given that forwards seemed incapable of learning and playing to the rules of scrums the best option was to make them non contested and get them over and done with. I agree that the 'surprise' push could be dangerous so just ban pushing