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Anyone missing scrums?


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21 minutes ago, Bearman said:

 

Adrian Morley on Our League game Saints v Wakey thinks scrums will return at some point.

Is he right?

Anyone missing them?   I'm not

They will return.

Which is a shame as they are a complete waste of time.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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Yes and no.

Yes because there is a real risk that our sport is perceived as one dimensional to those who don't see the tactical subtleties and they do represent an attacking opportunity for innovative teams.

No because they were an embarrassment. 

"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

"If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris

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There is no reason scrums have to be the embarrassment they’ve become , it was pure neglect from all involved . They were allowed to disintegrate . Have scrums with forwards in and binding properly , hell even pushing ,  and the ball fed properly in the middle with hookers striking for the ball in a contest . They’re a good attacking opportunity , but apart from that it’s sad they’ve become just a silly looking way to restart 

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1 hour ago, The Frying Scotsman said:

Yes.

Watched the York v Wigan cup tie and there was the perfect opportunity for York to take the lead from a scrum, but they instead had a tap restart against a fully set Wigan defensive line. Obviously they didn't get over. 

Seeing the NRL teams using the scrum so well says it all. They need to come back.

I completely agree.

Scrums with forwards (rather than anyone), properly binding to take them out of the game for more than a second. Allow the backs some space to run into.

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1 hour ago, DavidM said:

There is no reason scrums have to be the embarrassment they’ve become , it was pure neglect from all involved . They were allowed to disintegrate . Have scrums with forwards in and binding properly , hell even pushing ,  and the ball fed properly in the middle with hookers striking for the ball in a contest . They’re a good attacking opportunity , but apart from that it’s sad they’ve become just a silly looking way to restart 

Might as well plough through this again.

A striking contest between hookers never made sense and never will make sense. It means the front rows don`t bind, and without binding there is no scrum. You might as well just gather 12 players together to walk around a bit then haphazardly pile on top of one other.

What should be feasible is the half feeds his own hooker, with the non-feeding team binding and pushing as the feeding team attempt to channel the ball out. And the ball would only be back in play if the hooker`s foot had made contact with it. If the non-feeding team don`t bother pushing, that`s their choice.

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2 hours ago, The Frying Scotsman said:

Yes.

Watched the York v Wigan cup tie and there was the perfect opportunity for York to take the lead from a scrum, but they instead had a tap restart against a fully set Wigan defensive line. Obviously they didn't get over. 

Seeing the NRL teams using the scrum so well says it all. They need to come back.

In Australian games I still haven`t got used to there being no scrum after the ball has gone into touch. You`re expecting something different to start the set, and the heart sinks as you realise the ref is organising a slow-motion handover - "where do you want it? markers lock in, wait, hold, wait, go 1" . Followed by a perfunctory first tackle settler.

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2 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

In Australian games I still haven`t got used to there being no scrum after the ball has gone into touch. You`re expecting something different to start the set, and the heart sinks as you realise the ref is organising a slow-motion handover - "where do you want it? markers lock in, wait, hold, wait, go 1" . Followed by a perfunctory first tackle settler.

Exactly right, it's been a terrible move to further remove scrums from the game. Fails to reward a good kicking game that allows a quality half to give their side a rest, removes opportunities for exciting and unique attacking play and continues the trend toward touch footy by having 90% of restarts as identical.

Was a startling decision to remove them IMO after last years successful rule change whereby teams could decide whereabouts on the field the scrum could be packed. That change led to good teams such as Melbourne implementing plays off scrums more than ever before and giving a chance for skill and speed to be demonstrated with more open field on offer. Sadly I don't see it getting changed back in the NRL, I certainly hope once covid ceases to be a factor SL doesn't follow suit.

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10 hours ago, Barley Mow said:

Scrums with forwards (rather than anyone), properly binding to take them out of the game for more than a second. Allow the backs some space to run into.

I'd agree if they could be properly contested as it frees up the rest of the field for the backs to do their stuff.

But I can't see it happening anytime soon. The farcical scrums we used to have is the only stick any critics of our otherwise wonderful sport can use to beat us with.

                                                                     Hull FC....The Sons of God...
                                                                     (Well, we are about to be crucified on Good Friday)
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10 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Might as well plough through this again.

A striking contest between hookers never made sense and never will make sense. It means the front rows don`t bind, and without binding there is no scrum. You might as well just gather 12 players together to walk around a bit then haphazardly pile on top of one other.

What should be feasible is the half feeds his own hooker, with the non-feeding team binding and pushing as the feeding team attempt to channel the ball out. And the ball would only be back in play if the hooker`s foot had made contact with it. If the non-feeding team don`t bother pushing, that`s their choice.

Fair enough 

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1 hour ago, Davo5 said:

They need to come back & follow the NRL model,form them in the middle of the pitch,enforce the binding until the ball comes out which has resulted in some great attacking plays.

And they will. Just need to maintain the charade a little bit longer.

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Scrums are the perfect example of something being allowed to deteriorate because rules aren't applied and it is easier just to ignore the consequences. The play the ball is another. Enforcing playing the ball with the foot isn't difficult to do. Enforcing binding in the scrum and at least feeding to the middle Channel even to your own hooker, rather than 2nd row or loose forward, isn't difficult to do. Its these little details that Super League in particular is poor at, particularly compared to the NRL.

These things are also easy to fix. Warn clubs and players that there will be no more tolerance. Give workshops etc if needed before implementation to reduce penalties. If players don't adhere then penalise every infringement, it will entirely be their fault. They will soon learn.

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8 minutes ago, Damien said:

Scrums are the perfect example of something being allowed to deteriorate because rules aren't applied and it is easier just to ignore the consequences. The play the ball is another. Enforcing playing the ball with the foot isn't difficult to do. Enforcing binding in the scrum and at least feeding to the middle Channel even to your own hooker, rather than 2nd row or loose forward, isn't difficult to do. Its these little details that Super League in particular is poor at, particularly compared to the NRL.

These things are also easy to fix. Warn clubs and players that there will be no more tolerance. Give workshops etc if needed before implementation to reduce penalties. If players don't adhere then penalise every infringement, it will entirely be their fault. They will soon learn.

Exactly 

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