Scrums - the dinosaur of Rugby evolution.

[Parra]

RL does not need scrum resets. RL does not need scrum penalties. These are not good things. RL does not need scrums.

 

[coolumsharkie]

Isnt this what the AllStar games should be for. Rather than that power play which i think is stupid idea and will never be implemented in the NRL, they could try an alternitive to the scrum. Or try and fix it up.

Just out of curiosity do you remember what they trialled in last years game?

 

[joshreading]

Why can't the scrum be 'held' for four seconds (or something like that) from the moment the half picks up the ball? The only prob could be that early 'breaks' would need another penalty.

Similar to Union calls, the ref could call - feed - scrum - break.

 

[gUt]

Because it looks stupid.

 

[Butters]

Just out of curiosity do you remember what they trialled in last years game?

Kick in your own half of the field and regather = tackle count reset.

Neither team attempted it i'm pretty sure.

 

[Pierced Soul]

Kick in your own half of the field and regather = tackle count reset.

Neither team attempted it i'm pretty sure.

correct. shame no one tried it, but reality is unless you're losing and need to get up the field its seen as too risky a play

but it would have been nice to see them tinker with the scrums for the all stars game as it's something which may actually eventuate

 

[Kiwimation]

Just out of curiosity do you remember what they trialled in last years game?

Kind of my point really. That kick in your own half never happened. No one used. But there is always scrums in a game of league so you would have a good chance to test ideas.

 

[firechild]

correct. shame no one tried it, but reality is unless you're losing and need to get up the field its seen as too risky a play

Manly were leading in the GF and Glenn Stewart grubbered inside his own 20m. But on the whole, yes it is a risky play and that is the beauty of it, high risk and high reward.

 

[eozsmiles]

If scrums are to stay then their purpose must be to promote attack. Here are a few simple options that could be implemented immediately that MIGHT get teams to attack from scrums. Some sound a bit silly but maybe something radical is needed. I don't know if a straight hand over is the go.


- The defending team can only have forwards in the scrum, backs in the backline? Attacking team can line up as they want?

- Defence stands back 20m rather than 10m?

- 6 points rather than 4 points for a try straight from the scrum?

- Try from a scrum gets two shots at goal?

- Ref waits an extra second to yell "out", holding the scrum together longer?

- The ball must be passed three times from a scrum when in opponents half? Sounds like mini-league.

- Defensive team has 7 players in the scrum?

 

[Titanic]

Bring back scrums (put it in the centre of the tunnel using both hands to feed it and no pushing or striking before the ball's in PLUS bring back the settling-in period).

 

[coolumsharkie]

Some great ideads there, except for the one that gives the ref more power or more reasonds to c**k it up or even cheat

 

[Parra]

- Defensive team has 7 players in the scrum?

There is a mention in Sean Fagans book "Pioneers of the Game" of an era where teams could decide how many players to pack into a scrum and what formation to use. NFL terms like 3-3 or 3-2 were used. A team could decide whether to contest the scrum, or provide a player in cover instead.

Not that RL should do this now - but it is interesting to see where things have come from and useful to understand why elements of the game are the way they are now. There have been many changes since the scrum variables of circa 1908

 

[Masoe_eats_babies]

Replace scrums with a line of scrimmage.

Would that work in Rugby League? I can just imagine the introduction and the game being marred by brawls

Dirty stuff is so rife in the game that every scrimmage someone would take offence at something and we'd end up with a line of players carrying on and probably throwing punches at each other

 

[POPEYE]

Not too hard to figure out why scrums are still in the game but they are messy.

No longer a contest for the ball but still the best way of keeping forwards out of play so the backs don't fall asleep.

Any other way of keeping the forwards out of play would look less manly and we can't have that so if you don't like it watch something else

 

[gypsy]

we'd end up with a line of players carrying on and probably throwing punches at each other

How's this a problem?

 

[The Engineers Room]

- The defending team can only have forwards in the scrum, backs in the backline? Attacking team can line up as they want?

How can you tell who is playing where?

 

[Andrew78]

Have a tap instead with the defence having to go back 20 metres instead of 10. Make a rule that you have to pass the ball two or three times to stop it just being a hit up.

 

[JB]

Have a tap instead with the defence having to go back 20 metres instead of 10. Make a rule that you have to pass the ball two or three times to stop it just being a hit up.

Defence is still spread out though. No matter where the attacking team spread the ball, their still going to be running into numbers. Packing a large number of the players on the park in a small area to create room for the other half to attack with is still a paramount and overlooked purpose of scrums.

 

[siv]

Problem I have had since we made the scrum a non contest

is that we now have forwards runnin gas first receiver or defending as key defender

when a scrum is set

 

[Butters]

Problem I have had since we made the scrum a non contest

is that we now have forwards runnin gas first receiver or defending as key defender

when a scrum is set

That'd still be possible with contested scrums. When i played for club all the teams in our comp contested the scrums, but we still had the lock and 5/8 swap places for a defensive scrum.