The laws a Joke?

On looking at some of the laws in place today,and thinking involved it is, makes one wonder sometimes.The Scrummage used to be more than just
a means restarting a game. It used to be a weapon in its self,and special attacking ploys developed from it,set by rows.

The Ref moved into place,then the feed etc.it may have been slower setting but few collapsed.Stats were released over last weekend,the average 100 scrums,44 collapse,another 34 are reset,and a lengthy period before SH clears it[or 8].A player puts his hand down to steady himself illegal.WHY? if the Scrum then stays up,Binding is only allowed on the upper arm why? Providing the Prop gets a decent hold. What is the thinking about players staying bound until the ball is out etc.

Scrums are now a lottery, collapsing endemic, and coached as the average ref hasn't a clue. Line out not allowed to use certain parts of the arm or certain arm to win one. Competing[i.e. jumping across?] only works if you move before the throw. As to the Breakdown or what is laughingly called the ruck. Makes one wonder how many people have seen a Classic Ruck[a 2-3-3,or 3-3-2 loose scrum] certainly you would have to be in your mid 30`s.

The AllBlacks abandoned it in favour of the Driving Maul 1987,were so successful with it the Laws were changed to mitigate it.The ELVs were an attempt to change things for what was perceived by a think tank to be an improvement. The SH were lumbered with them for nearly 2 seasons, the NH paid lipservice to a couple of them then threw them out. The few that were accepted in my opinion were the worst ones, tries are steadily getting less despite more tests. Far more penalties than ever before, in the aim to improve the spectacle the baby has been thrown out with the bath water.

Don`t get me started on the tackle/breakdown area there are so many penalizable things on either side its plain ridiculous, simplfy the laws don`t complicate them. Skin tight Shirts make proper scrummaging almost impossible, ban them!!!. Allow props to put a hand down to balance himself if it keeps the scrum up. Enforce a time limit to clear the ball at the breakdown area, up to 23 seconds is riduculous. IF the scrum goes down, after the ball has been hooked and is playable USE IT, dont RESET. Be a lot stricter on off side at the kick follow.and breakdown etc. As to players not being able to
disengage from the scrum, make it legal to do so.

Rugby union scrums make the game,the players,the referees,the coaches, and those that write the laws of the game look utterly stupid.and they will look even more stupid the longer that they go on not realising that the role of the scrum must change.

I think you will find the it was the All Blacks that started wearing skin tight shirts in the RWC, it was thought that the All Blacks would have an advatage over other teams in the scrum, other teams prop could not get a grip on the shirt ansd the other team would be penalised. Also around the field in the players tried to grab an All Blackon by the top of his body he would simply fall off the tackle.

It was thought that the skin tight shirt would help the All Bl;acks win the Rugby World Cup.

But the French soon proved them wrong that year.

Madje
you talk a lot of cowpat.

Partialy correct,the All Blacks DID introduce the skin tight shirt,BUT it was negated by that horrible gray away strip.France 2007 for a Home RWC side were a disgrace. They lost to Argentina twice,crawled out of there Group,beat an injury raddled All Blacks then went missing for the next match.Apart from that it`s 5 YEARS since then,surely it is not beyond the wit of the law makers to fix things in that time.

Moderators,the title of this post has been edited why? the word used was an animal akin to a donkey.It seemed appropiate the lawmakers often appear to be a load of very stupid animals.The word was apposite NOT intended as a swear word.

One area of the scrum I have to agree with is the hand on the floor. It does allow the prop to stabilize but if both props do it they can easily slip past each other into a dangerous situation. Binding on the arm gives them strange and dangerous angles to pull the others bodies.

The problem we have is that to counter the problems within the scrum and breakdown the IRB are unwilling to reverse certain laws, making them foolish so decide to add to them instead intending to negate the laws they passed in the first place.

For me the scrum and breakdown just need to be simplified.

Interestingly one of my all-time heroes, John Taylor penned this article a coulple of days ago "Scrum farce must end" http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/162386.html.

In it he calls for Law changes as well as reform of referees' instructions and interpretations.

Including put the ball in straight and make hookers hook. Whoever would believe it?

Indeed pool of senior players should be convened to advise the IRB on the Laws and Referees on interpretation.

Their brief should be to improve safety, enjoyment (both player and spectator) and fair play.

Portnot can`t do the emoticons BUT ,I heartily agree with you it needs sorting NOW.