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December 21, 2011

Posted on 12/21/2011

Save Our Scrum


Saracens and Ospreys pack down during their Heineken Cup clash at the Liberty Stadium © Getty Images

With a set-piece shambles threatening to ruin rugby as a spectacle - the Daily Mail's rugby writers asks five experts to analyse what's wrong with the scrum.

"Ed Morrison - RFU referees' manager

"The engagement is being refereed in a reasonably consistent manner, but the game does have a problem with scrums and that was clear for all to see on Friday. It's time to wake up to that.

"Referees don't collapse scrums, players collapse scrums. Teams don't want to go backwards so they will just collapse or stand up. That brings the referee into the equation and they don't always get it right.

"A lot of cheating goes on and it is difficult for the referee who might not have played in that area. Having more ex-front row players as referees is one idea but there is a lot of running around involved and that might be difficult for them.

"You have to ask yourself if the 'crouch, touch, pause, engage' sequence is working, but well-disciplined, well-coached packs can cope with it."

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