IRB act to improve scrum spectacle

[smartcooky]

And about time too!!!

In addition to expressing their support for the scrum engagement sequence, the coaches also gave their backing to the IRB's policy of the strict application of scrum Law, including ensuring straight put-ins. The coaches also support the IRB policy which mandates that referees should crack down on illegal front row binding with a collective emphasis on ensuring that the tight head prop binds on the body of the loose head prop and not the arm and the loose head prop adopts the correct body position and binds on the body of the opposition tight head.

Haven't I been saying this all along?!

Correct binding is the cornerstone of the scrum, and it has been neglected for far too long. That neglect is the direct root cause of most of the scrummaging problems plaguing the modern elite game.

 

[Seaton]

The momentum is also referring to getting into position, the initial hit will also determine position if you get my drift, you win the initial hit, then you are someway to winning the scrum because you have assumed the dominant scrum position.

I see where you are getting at, but I just disagree with it, because I think it does more harm than good, because I find that when even just one side (ie my side) takes the hit, the amount of times the scrum collapses is nearly a negligeble (argh, sp.) amount, and by taking the less aggressive approach, it allows me to get a long-arm bind, where-as my opponent has to suffice with grabbing my jersey, as he was concentrating on his 'hit'. In my view it is far more beneficial to have a good bind (especially when your opponents is poor) than this 'hit'.

It is quite dissapointing when I hear other people moaning about collapsed scrums, it sounds as though I'm missing out on all the fun