Sir, – The scrum in rugby union remains an infuriatingly unsatisfactory component of the game. Despite the rule change of the referee’s dictum “Crouch, touch, pause and engage” to the revolutionary new command of “Crouch, touch, set”, the main purpose of the scrum – getting the ball rapidly back into play – rarely happens. Collapse of the scum is a frequent outcome. The referee then makes a decision, often based on dubious analysis, that the collapse was either deliberate and caused by one or other team; caused by the ground conditions; or, infrequently, that both sides contributed equally.
Of course the latter ruling might indicate indecision by a referee, a trait that must be avoided at all costs. Moreover, a scum collapse frequently happens when the oval ball is not even in play. Then, we are presented with the somewhat nauseating image of victorious props leering at their opponents as they are congratulated by their team members. Is this wrestling or rugby? Now, so long as injury does not result from a scrum collapse, none of this would matter except that a penalty is awarded to the “victors” in this decision.
If the scrum took place anywhere 50m from the goalposts, converting the penalty results in a three-point reward. Three points based on a frequently arbitrary decision by the official. Is this the best we can do with the rules of rugby?
It was not always so. There was a time when the outcome of the scrum was largely based on the skill of a hooker. – Yours, etc,