William Servat: Concerned about scrums
Former France hooker and current Toulouse forwards coach William Servat has called on referees to back themselves and punish offenders at scrum time.
Servat is concerned about the state of the scrum in modern rugby but is convinced that educated referees hold the answer to seeing it maintain it's place in the game.
The new scrum calls made their debut in France last week when Toulouse opened the Top 14 season against Castres. (The words "pause" and "engage" are being replaced by "set" in English speaking countries while "pause" and "entrez" have been replaced by "'jeu" in France) .
The defending champions did not have it all their way at scrum time but Servat was happy to see referee Romain Poite have the courage to make some tough calls rather than let the set piece degenerate into a non-event.
"I have to congratulate the referee because he was very coherent in that phase," said Servat.
"He took his responsibilities, in line with the meeting we had with the Top 14 referees at the start of the season.
"The scrum is in danger in France. But if officials continue to have the same will to ref the scrum and not just be content to manage it, I'm sure it'll be for the better.
"At the start of the season (French referees boss) Didier Méné promised that his men would ref this phase of the game, and I hope it continues.
"For me (the new calls) don't change much. Whether we say "entrez" or "'jeu", is the same.
"What is important in my eyes is the referees' will not to allow teams to jump the gun. In athletics, if Usain Bolt does a false start, he's eliminated from the race. In scrums, it should be the same."
Comments
backnforward says...
@passtheball...spoken like a 'true' back with zero concept of the art of scrummaging.
As pierredelot1alludes to and carpelone quite rightly states, rugby is for all shapes and sizes. It is not just for the 'fatties' to give the ball to the 'racing snakes' so that they can score tries.
More emphasis needs to be given to (re-)educate match officials into adhering to the laws. If match officials apply the laws there is no need for 'interpretation' and nor re-education. Resets followed up by free-kicks, reinforced with penalties and backed up with yellow cards. Nobody wants this but it is the only way and after a few weeks the players will learn to adapt. Simple.
Early engage, deliberate wheel (boring in), feeding, back row not bound? Penalise, penalise, penalise, penalise,,,
And last word to APV1 - "if you don't like scrums, go off to League" - and I am in full agreement!
Posted 18:46 13th September 2012
Houston_11 says...
The fact we've gotten to a stage in the game where there is a scrum time clock says enough really. It is killing the game - it's great to see competition here but again to the article, the education of the referee is paramount. There are too many times, even at the highest level, where it looks like referees are having a guess when making decisions.
If that knowledge improves then Servat's words are bang on... let's referee the scrum, not just manage it.
Posted 12:33 31st August 2012
APV1 says...
@ passtheball - it's down to the skill and strength of the players. But, as pierredelot1 suggests - if you don't like scrums, go off to League.
Posted 10:13 29th August 2012
jmehrtens says...
pass the ball
Backs were not included in the original game
Posted 15:43 28th August 2012
carpelone says...
Passtheball
I disagree, even though I used to play in the backs.
Rugby union is a very inclusive game, in which not only gazelles but also buffaloes (i.e the chubby ones) have their places.
IMO, refs should give free kicks to the feeding team instead of resetting and have the courage of punishing offences with a penalty otherwise
As simple as that.
The team feeding the scrum will have an advantage as it was meant to be. No resets = more playing time = more entertainment.
Posted 13:19 24th August 2012
pierredelot1 says...
At last somebody close to the pit face has had the courage to say something. Scrummaging is an essential part of Rugby, and it must continue to be so, for far too long referees at the top level, Poite, Clancy to name but two, have failed to get to grips with the problem.. Perhaps get rid of the hit, but not the srummage. To depower the players would be a mistake, Rugby League does that, if you want to change codes, do so, great game but not Rugby Union. Referees need to stand up and be counted on this one, the game is being ruined by their lack of action.
Posted 08:57 24th August 2012
passtheball says...
It amazes me there aren't more serious injuries at scrum time. The size and power of these men is frightening - medically speaking. Time to de-power and get the ball moving as was the original intention or rugby - ie running with the ball.
Posted 01:02 24th August 2012
donguiyo says...
well, that's why Topo Rodriguez just released his new book, the Art of Scrummaging...
Posted 16:45 23rd August 2012