Rugby Australia wants to strike the right balance between introducing some variations in their proposed Super Rugby replacement tournament and preparing players for Test matches under current rules.
A number of innovations have been flagged for the proposed 12-week competition which RA aims to start in early July.
They’re continuing to look at five and six team models made up of the four current Australian Super Rugby franchises plus the Western Force and possibly Japan’s Sunwolves.
A scrum clock to address the vexing long-term issue of the amount of time taken to set scrums is one of a number of initiatives being considered.
‘We feel we want to zero in on some variations that could attract and be entertaining and exciting and also pave the way for the future,” RA general manager of professional rugby services Ben Whitaker said.
“But we are also mindful that this is Super Rugby.
“It also needs to lend itself to selecting a Wallabies team to play later in the year, so there’s a bit of a balance there.
‘I will say that the stakeholders involved in looking at Innovation have been fantastic in putting time into it.
‘It’s really encouraging to see the options that they have provided, particularly off field, access to players and coaches, which is very exciting.”
The scrum clock would potentially be one way of trying to increase the amount of time the ball is in play.
“A lot of fans, a lot of media, a lot of players have looked at ways of limiting down time in the game, picking up the speed, which ultimately leads to greater fatigue as well,” Whitaker said.
“The scrum is such an interesting situation where you’ve got to be mindful of players’ safety at the same time.
“The referees have a watch, we just want to make sure that the the idea of setting a scrum or engaging a scrum within 60 seconds of the mark being set, is something that is consistently applied.
“The players and the coaches at the moment are all in agreement that they want that and, other than situations where you feel that it is unsafe to apply that law, that’s what we will be doing in this competition.
“Whether there is a clock up on the big screen or not, TBC.”
Poco Loco
Roar Rookie
Woops, correction - "If the rules were changed to provide a free kick only with No option for another scrum for scrum infringements, then I believe we would see a lot less scrum resets."
Poco Loco
Guest
Scrums I believe were origionally set to as a means to provide the opportunity for a team to gain possession after a minor infringement. It has since been weaponised as a means to milk a penalty. If the rules were changed to provide a free kick only with on option for another scrum for scrum infringements, then I believe we would see a lot less scrum resets. The incentive would be to get the ball out quick to take advantage of the wider spaces available with the forwards tied up in the scrum. Ball feeds should also be straight rather than into the feet of the second row so that there is the possiblity of a contested between the hookers. This change does not mean that there will be no contest in the scrum and use of the black arts because good hooking/scrumaging can see the defensing team gaining the ball through the scrum or by scrum infringement forced onto the other team. Where things get tricky is with 5 m scrums. Here maybe the current rules prevail where penelties with the option of a scrums be retained so that the spectical of a pushover try or penalty try remains to be enjoyed.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yeah, back when the attacking scrum called the engagement you had a bit of a race to be there and be set up so the oppo couldn’t get the jump on you. As refs took over and waited for everyone to be ready then it all slowed down
jeznez
Roar Guru
The worst is when people are complaining about how long it’s taking to pack the scrum and meanwhile it’s one of the glory hounds having a breather and getting a dab of the old magic sponge!
Machooka
Roar Guru
Oh, I know, I know, jez... this is just so silly for words eh. Besides when do people expect the members of the 'fat club' to get a break? Ffs they only get 60 or so minutes to ply their trade before those in the coaching box decide to hook 'em. Meanwhile those flashy buggers in the backline get to swan around for a full 80! :silly:
Highlander
Guest
I have just watched games from 87, 95 and 2012 Scrum resets have been a part of our game forever, 4-5-6 at a time Major difference is the speed at which the players prepare to scrum The almost run in formation to the mark, then reform and hit the mark quickly I can live with that level of reset speed Article to follow if the world calms down for a bit Scrum clock will simply be games by the weaker scrum
jeznez
Roar Guru
I find this whole concept silly. The biggest reason it takes a long time between whistle and scrum set is the number of players who decide to seek injury attention right next to where the scrum is going to be set. This is driven by the general guide to 'play on' if someone has a minor injury and gets attention during a game except when it's going to impact play. All a scrum clock will do is have players going down on the line of touch or some other silly thing to force a stoppage at lineout, or they'll fake a more serious injury so that they can still go down at scrum time.
Horseflesh
Guest
A possible theory for the number of scrum resets in the modern game is the jerseys. They're tight as buggery and very slippery...designed to be hard to grab when tackling. Remember the old baggy cotton jerseys. All members of the pack could get a really good fistful of jumper when binding and packing. Modern jerseys don't offer much of an anchor point for binding. Something to think about fixing. Another thing worth considering is that looseheads should be able to put their outside hand down to keep the scrum up. Many spinal injuries of young players could have been avoided if loose head props could have kept the scrum up. Not to mention that the game would move along as they'd be less resets. A bloke I went to uni with has been in a wheelchair for thirty years as a result of a scrum collapse that might have been avoided.
Jeansyjive
Roar Rookie
Rapid rugby had the scrum clock and for line outs too from memory.
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
I prefer the idea of a scrum clock over adding scrum time at the end of a half or game, and think the TMO should probably hold responsibility for keeping time. I'd also like to see the referee giving his scrum commands like a metronome, but that's just a pet peeve. Ultimately, though, I don't think any of these law changes will solve the problem of multiple resets. I suspect the solution to that issue will only be found through the whistle.
Walter Black
Guest
I am all for speeding up the game and your suggestions seem quite reasonable but we need to be careful that Rugby doesn't become to much like League. A clock on the scrummage sounds like the NRL's shot clock to me. We need to speed up the game without losing Rugby's unique identity.
Skip
I think the simplest way to speed up rugby is to change the protocol for substitutions and injuries. 1. Substitution should be made by an Assistant Referee behind the play with no stoppage. The AR could hold up an illuminated sign with the player's number. 2. No stoppage for an injury. Unless a player is seriously injured play should go on. Every time a player goes down on one knee to tie up his shoelace the game stops and 27 medics and water carriers come onto the field. Lineout - if hooker is injured someone else can throw in. Scrum - if Prop is injured and requires medical attention the referee may stop the game, If the prop needs to tie a shoelace or replace a contact lens game plays on. If Prop can not join scrum referee awards a free-kick to the opposition. In Waratahs vs South African teams, my ruff calculations indicate these changes could equate to around 79 minutes of more ball in play