As the Rugby Championship unfolds, the traditional scrum battles are falling by the wayside, sparking major concerns among rugby purists. Former Wallabies coach Ewan McKenzie, a front-row veteran, is vocally disappointed with how referees are handling, or rather mishandling, scrum engagements. His frustration is echoed by Japan's head coach, Eddie Jones, who also spots a worrying trend in the officiating of this crucial aspect of the game.
During the early rounds of the Championship, referees seemed to turn a blind eye to collapsed scrums, instructing scrum-halves to 'play on' rather than resetting the scrum. This approach has led to a significant drop in scrum penalties and contests, with South Africa and New Zealand each awarded just three penalties, and none for Australia and Argentina. "There's no reward for having a dominant scrum," lamented McKenzie. "You might as well put back rowers in the front row."
"There's no contest anymore. The scrum contest is just gone. There's nothing in it."
McKenzie pointed out that this shift not only devalues the scrum but could reshape rugby union fundamentally, pushing teams to adapt by selecting players not for their scrummaging skills but for other attributes, potentially diminishing the game's diversity in player roles and skills.
Eddie Jones highlighted a specific instance involving his team, Japan, where their scrum dominance was overlooked by the referees, a move he perceives as part of a broader agenda by World Rugby to reduce game stoppages. "It starts as a small thing and then becomes the norm," Jones explained, concerned about the long-term impact on the sport.
"Every time on their first put in, they'll do a second shove and try and milk a penalty. That's how they try to exert their dominance. Well, you're not getting those opportunities anymore."
Both coaches agree that while aligning referees globally is challenging, it's crucial for preserving the integrity and identity of rugby union. Jones, reflecting on recent trends in other areas of the game, such as the handling of deliberate knock-ons, called for World Rugby to take decisive action to address these shifts before they become entrenched norms that could alter the game irreversibly.
As the conversation about scrum dynamics continues, it's clear that the issue is not with the referees themselves but with how the game is managed at higher levels. The hope is that World Rugby responds with measures that maintain the scrum as a competitive and valued part of rugby union, rather than allowing it to fade into obscurity.
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As the Rugby Championship unfolds, the traditional scrum battles are falling by the wayside, sparking major concerns among rugby purists. Former Wallabies coach Ewan McKenzie, a front-row veteran, is vocally disappointed with how referees are handling, or rather mishandling, scrum engagements. His frustration is echoed by Japan's head coach, Eddie Jones, who also spots a worrying trend in the officiating of this crucial aspect of the game.
During the early rounds of the Championship, referees seemed to turn a blind eye to collapsed scrums, instructing scrum-halves to 'play on' rather than resetting the scrum. This approach has led to a significant drop in scrum penalties and contests, with South Africa and New Zealand each awarded just three penalties, and none for Australia and Argentina. "There's no reward for having a dominant scrum," lamented McKenzie. "You might as well put back rowers in the front row."
"There's no contest anymore. The scrum contest is just gone. There's nothing in it."
McKenzie pointed out that this shift not only devalues the scrum but could reshape rugby union fundamentally, pushing teams to adapt by selecting players not for their scrummaging skills but for other attributes, potentially diminishing the game's diversity in player roles and skills.
Eddie Jones highlighted a specific instance involving his team, Japan, where their scrum dominance was overlooked by the referees, a move he perceives as part of a broader agenda by World Rugby to reduce game stoppages. "It starts as a small thing and then becomes the norm," Jones explained, concerned about the long-term impact on the sport.
"Every time on their first put in, they'll do a second shove and try and milk a penalty. That's how they try to exert their dominance. Well, you're not getting those opportunities anymore."
Both coaches agree that while aligning referees globally is challenging, it's crucial for preserving the integrity and identity of rugby union. Jones, reflecting on recent trends in other areas of the game, such as the handling of deliberate knock-ons, called for World Rugby to take decisive action to address these shifts before they become entrenched norms that could alter the game irreversibly.
As the conversation about scrum dynamics continues, it's clear that the issue is not with the referees themselves but with how the game is managed at higher levels. The hope is that World Rugby responds with measures that maintain the scrum as a competitive and valued part of rugby union, rather than allowing it to fade into obscurity.