Dewi Morris says it is about time referees got strict about the scrum
Tuesday 4 October 2016 13:16, UK
How can we make the greatest game in the world even better? Simple. Sort out the scrum.
I am fed up with the amount of down-time it takes just to get the ball in and out. Secondly, get the hooker to hook the ball.
For me, it is a very simple, strict set of instructions to the man in the middle with the whistle. However, referees are not applying the law.
I will take you back to the start of the season, round one of the Top 14, Bordeaux v Racing. The referee that day was Pascal Gauzere and in the first two scrums, he penalised each side for feeding. I nearly dropped the microphone. The penny has finally dropped, laws are being implemented, the scrum is back, the referee is having no nonsense, he is in charge.
However, for the rest of the game, we reverted back to the usual dross. Scrum-halfs rolling the ball to the No 8 and numerous resets. This has also been the case in the Aviva Premiership and Guinness PRO12.
Why do they allow this to happen? A quick hooked ball with the 8 in channel one is such a weapon. How did Japan beat South Africa in the World Cup? Pride, passion and channel one ball.
How do referees continuously get away with not applying the scrum laws? How do well-paid scrum coaches get away with their hookers not being able to swing their leg? If they did, we would have a quicker game with less time wasted meaning more ball in play time.
It is not that difficult to sort out. The players still call the ref 'Sir'. It is about time 'Sir' got strict about the scrum.
