Trapper64

🏉 | #RugbyScoop My view on the scrum debate between the Springboks & All Blacks There’s been plenty of chatter around the scrums - Angus Gardner was pretty clear with his communication: this was the second reset on the second scrum. On this particular scrum, Lomax gets the better of Gerhard Steenekamp & Gus let’s play continue, which I don’t have an issue with. Chances of getting defending team being penalised in their own 22 are potentially 0 😂 But the bigger talking point for me is the legality of the scrum. Scrummaging is one of the most technical areas of rugby, and ultimately, safety and stability are the priorities. You only really achieve that when both front rows are engaging and pushing square and straight, within the laws. And this is where I think we need to be honest: just because nobody has previously penalised or pointed out that the Boks may not have been pushing square and straight, it doesn’t automatically mean they’ve been doing it correctly all along. When you come up against a team that can genuinely match you pound-for-pound, they will test you. They’ll look at your technique, identify what you’re doing, and challenge anything they believe isn’t legal. And when both teams are scrummaging legally, you can actually see the difference stability, balance and a genuine contest. For me, Angus Gardner did a fantastic job managing this area of the game. He communicated clearly, identified the resets and managed the contest without unnecessarily dominating the game. Interestingly, he could have penalised the Boks on the clip below, but chose to play on. I have absolutely no issue with that decision. #RugbyScoop #Springboks #AllBlacks #Rugby #Scrum #RugbyLaws