What's the point of the scrum...

[dasNdanger]

...if the ball's never fed in straight?




das

 

[lynam1104]

This is going to be next seasons crack down point, the IRB have said they want Refs to look out for it now.

 

[psychic duck]

When and why did they just decide to start ignoring a rule that is still in the law book.

And do the referees need to wait for next season to look out for it. It is still in the law book right now this season. I just don't understand how this just came to be suddenly ignored in the first place.

 

[lynam1104]

Because that the way the IRB and rugby works ever season they get on the Refs back about a certain law. break downs in 2011, Tip/Dangerous tackles in 2012 they don't seem to be able to get all the Laws enforced properly, I don't why I've just noticed its the way they do it.

 

[dasNdanger]

If the ref cam is following the referee's line of vision, then one thing I've noticed is he doesn't seem to look at the feed, but instead seems to be looking more at the overall formation - the bind, I suppose - and I'm pretty sure I've caught a ref or two checking out a few bums, too. If I recall correctly, the ref used to bend over and watch the feed, but maybe I'm thinking of something else.


das

 

[cardassian]

It's being looked at in U15 schoolboy rugby quite hard in NZ at the moment. Ref's are addressing it before the match and are penalising for not straight feeds during games.

 

[McTallshort]

Its always been penalised at grass roots level its only in the pro game where they have made it a "hit" contest

 

[j'nuh]

When and why did they just decide to start ignoring a rule that is still in the law book.

And do the referees need to wait for next season to look out for it. It is still in the law book right now this season. I just don't understand how this just came to be suddenly ignored in the first place.

Can't say for certain, but I'd guess that prolonging the time spent in current scrums by properly feeding the scrums is likely to just cause more resets and more frustration all round. Whilst the scrums are unstable, it may be safer to just ignore the feed. Given how systematically most referees allow players to get away with it when less obvious offenses are routinely punished probably means that the IRB are just letting this go until the engagement rules change and scrums have regained stability.

 

[BIB]

It's been bothering me as well.

Let's face it the only thing the apposing scrum can do at the moment is shove or wheel it to get any advantage. This hardly ever happens because the ball is rapidly sent back to the scum half and it's out before the apposing scrum can do anything.

Maybe the powers that be have decided that there's no real advantage to the feeding side if it's a straight feed as the ball would be 50/50 ball so they've turned a blind eye to this ruling.

What will they change it to if they decided to change the rule? The halfback can feed the ball in at an astute angle so the front row can easily hook it back? Don't think so. Better to leave it.

 

[cardassian]

Maybe the powers that be have decided that there's no real advantage to the feeding side if it's a straight feed as the ball would be 50/50 ball so they've turned a blind eye to this ruling.

What will they change it to if they decided to change the rule? The halfback can feed the ball in at an astute angle so the front row can easily hook it back? Don't think so. Better to leave it.

Pretty sure so long as it goes in straight and at least a part of the ball goes over mark it's considered straight. So the feeding team have the advantage of it being slightly more on their side.