Scrums of comfort

[fleabane]

Scrums of comfort - Guardian 2 Jan 2020

When Wayne Pivac announced six weeks ago that Sam Warburton would be joining his Wales management team as breakdown coach, he broke the mould. On reflection, the question should be why it took so long. Scrum coaches have been around for years, even as the set-piece has declined in significance: in the 2003 World Cup, the average prop could expect to be involved in 17 scrums, a number that in last year’s tournament shrivelled to fewer than six.

The set-piece still has its moments, as Leicester showed in salvaging an unlikely draw against Harlequins at Twickenham last weekend, but it is not where the future points. When Exeter played Saracens last Sunday there were 42 set-pieces (13 of which were scrums) and 204 rucks and mauls with more than 300 tackles attempted. The scrum is going the way of the four-point drop goal, taking with it another of the game’s unique features in the name of entertainment.

A dictum of the amateur era was that matches were decided by forwards with backs responsible for the winning margin, but distinctions are now so blurred that there are only clear lines of demarcation at the shrinking number of set-pieces.

Exeter returned to the top of the Premiership on Sunday after toppling Saracens 14-7 at Sandy Park in a clash of the heavyweights. The Chiefs scored two tries to take them to 17 in eight league matches. Only one of them has been scored by an outside back, Tom O’Flaherty against Wasps at the end of November. Five have come from back-rowers, four from locks, three from props and scrum-halves and one was a penalty try.

Exeter were the pioneers in going for an attacking lineout rather than a kick at goal after being awarded a penalty and there is no more dangerous side in the Premiership when attacking from 10 metres out. They rarely move the ball wide because they know the surest route to the line.

[fleabane]

Interesting stats on the decline of scrums, and the increase in the frequency of the breakdown.

How much is this going to change recruitment and retention of players, and perhaps more relevant at the moment, the recruitment of specialist coaching staff?

[Tiglon]

Those stats above don't actually show an increase in breakdowns, although I'm sure it's true that there has been.

I've long thought that Tigers have overvalued the front row to the detriment of the club. For years teams like Sarries have prioritised the back row, while Tigers have filled the roster with countless international front rowers and neglected 6-8. The fact that we have one of the best scrums in the league yet have the worst results tells you all you need to know.

[mol2]

How many scrums in the match depends on many factors.

Are some of the situations that were deemed to be scrums are now being given as penalties?

Is there a greater tendency to allow knock on advantage?

Is the handling so much better there are fewer knock ons?

Are refs preventing the more powerful scrum from gaining the advantage by not adequately penalising infringements at scrum time so sides opt to kick the penalty rather than try and drive over a scrum or gain a penalty try?

Why has it taken so long for Wales to appoint Warburton as breakdown coach or to appoint a breakdown coach?
It might be that was within the remit of one of the departing coaches.
Why Warburton is a different question. Yes he was clearly a good player but that doesn't mean he is a good coach or that he should have been appointed to this role before.

The breakdown is a key area - you don't score tries when the opposition have the ball and there is a premium to be gained from retaining your own ball and turning over the opposition at the breakdown. I do think Tigers have begun to address this having recruited Thompson last year and Taufua this year after years of utility forwards who were not really proper back rows or powerful enough scummagers to be locks.

[Bristol Tiger]

Still think having a solid scrum is essential - England's failings in the World Cup final really started with the scrum. We beat Harlequins thanks to our scrum (and having one of their players yellow-carded for it).

Doesn't mean you need a dominant scrum, but being able to not go backwards (on all put-ins) and win your own ball back for your own, means you have platform you can play from. You still need to be able to scrummage.

Don't disagree that the breakdown is more important though - at the top level, you need to be able to play well across the park!

[jgriffin]

Still think having a solid scrum is essential - England's failings in the World Cup final really started with the scrum. We beat Harlequins thanks to our scrum (and having one of their players yellow-carded for it).

Doesn't mean you need a dominant scrum, but being able to not go backwards (on all put-ins) and win your own ball back for your own, means you have platform you can play from. You still need to be able to scrummage.

Don't disagree that the breakdown is more important though - at the top level, you need to be able to play well across the park!

Agree - just wish the Laws were enforced properly and consistently at the tackle (aka breakdown).

[sam16111986]

Didn't we appoint Ben Herring as a breakdown coach a decade ago?

[fleabane]

Yes, but now long gone!