Twitter Debate: Crouch, Bind, Set

8 September 2013

Having attended Gloucester v Sale Sharks this weekend, it seemed unclear as to whether the new scrum call sequence was actually having an effect. Some scrummages were reset a few times, some went down but on a handful of occasions there was a clear pushing battle which is what everybody is striving towards.

It's not about who can hit the hardest - it should be about, as a collective, which pack is stronger and who can push the hardest.

This means the hookers will actually have to hook and the scrum should become a valuable set-piece tool.

The new call sequence is "crouch, bind, set". This means the front row must bind before they can begin pushing to hopefully minimize injury risks, create a more entertaining scrum for fans and a more competitive set-piece opportunity.

I posted the following question on this blog's Twitter page: Is the new scrum call sequence working?

Twitter provided some interesting views but I thought it would be best to give a big mention to the LineoutCoach blog who sent us a link to a very informative piece about the scrum changes:

@samdurham @ScrumFiveRugby #scrumfive The unnoticed game changer of the new scrum call - "yes 9" http://t.co/oNa7byGUdO
— Lineout Coach (@LineoutCoach) September 7, 2013

Jamie Barker and Rob Hunt saw benefits in the fewer resets and improved safety aspects:

@ScrumFiveRugby aren't as many resets so less time spent on them, refs giving penalties quickly aswell for a understandable reason= success
— Jamie Barker (@jwbgeb) September 7, 2013

@ScrumFiveRugby YES. Safety first. Argentina mullered the Wallabies scrum all game. It's like the 80s. Scrum to win, not scrum to penalty
— Rob Hunt (@Mikes_Brother) September 7, 2013

But frustrated Gloucester fan Antony Greensweig thought consistency could be a problem after Andrew Small's refereeing of Gloucester v Sale:

@samdurham @ScrumFiveRugby not unless the referees are consistent. Small did not ping crooked feed once today and seemed to have no clue
— Antony Greensweig (@antonyg40) September 7, 2013

Two of the #RugbyUnited club network accounts also Tweeted back to us with with their opinions:

@ScrumFiveRugby New scrum procedures a huge improvement & will work, when everyone has got used to them.
— #RugbyBath (@RugbyBath) September 7, 2013

@ScrumFiveRugby Having watched & played today I think they're fantastic. Much less pressure on neck of FR. More about scrummaging as an 8!
— #RugbySaints (@RugbySaints) September 7, 2013

Thanks very much to @LineoutCoach, @jwbgeb, @Mikes_Brother, @antonyg40, @RugbyBath and @RugbySaints. Please have a read of the LineoutCoach arcticle on this topic by clicking here.

Video: This clip shows how the new scrum call sequence will work.