Laws: Scrum Watch
We have now had six matches in two rounds of Six Nations and seven matches in a round of Super 14. It is interesting to see how the scrums are going at a time when much effort has gone into eradicating the resetting of scrums.
Super 14
Blues vs Hurricanes: 18 scrums, 3 resets, 2 collapses, 2 free kicks, 1 penalty
Western Force vs Brumbies: 11 scrums, 6 resets, 8 collapses 2 free kicks, 3 penalties
Cheetahs vs Bulls: 18 scrums, 4 resets, 2 collapses, 2 free kicks, 2 penalties
Crusaders vs Highlanders: 23 scrums, 3 resets, 6 collapses, 1 free kick, 2 penalties
Reds vs Waratahs: 18 scrums, 4 resets, 7 collapses, 1 free kick, 3 penalties
Lions vs Stormers: 23 scrums, 2 resets, 3 collapses, 2 free kicks, 3 penalties
Sharks vs Chiefs: 20 scrums, 2 resets, 3 collapses, 4 free kicks
Six Nations
Ireland vs Italy: 18 scrums, 8 resets, 8 collapses, 2 free kicks, 5 penalties
England vs Wales: 19 scrums, 10 resets, 10 collapses, 4 free kicks, 2 penalties
Scotland vs France: 18 scrums, 9 resets, 7 collapses 4 penalties
Wales vs Scotland: 13 scrums, 8 resets, 13 collapses , 2 free kicks, 6 penalties
France vs Ireland: 18 scrums, 9 resets, 7 collapses, 2 penalties
Italy vs England: 15 scrums, 3 resets, 6 collapses, 2 free kicks, 1 penalty
Totals:
Super 14: 131 scrums, 24 resets, 31 collapses, 14 free kicks, 14 penalties
Six Nations: 101 scrums, 47 resets, 51 collapses, 16 free kicks, 20 penalties
Percentages
Here we express the resets, collapses, free kicks and penalties as a percentage of the scrums awarded.
Super 14:
Resets: 18%
Collapses: 24%
Free kicks: 11%
Penalties: 11%
Six Nations:
Resets: 47%
Collapses: 51%
Free kicks: 16%
Penalties: 20%
In all aspects the problems in the Six Nations are greater than those in the Super 14. The Super 14 may be better but it is still not good.
Better playing conditions?
The match at Millennium Stadium was played in far, far better conditions than the match in Durban which was played in a tropical storm. Compare:
Sharks vs Chiefs: 20 scrums, 2 resets, 3 collapses, 4 free kicks
Wales vs Scotland: 13 scrums, 8 resets, 13 collapses , 2 free kicks, 6 penalties
The percentages here:
Super 14:
Resets: 10%
Collapses: 15%
Free kicks: 20%
Penalties: 0%
Six Nations:
Resets: 62%
Collapses: 100%
Free kicks: 15%
Penalties: 46%
Of the 13 matches, the best in terms of resets and collapses was Lions vs Stormers.
The worst was Wales vs Scotland. That was disgrace and made a mockery of rugby football.
The Super 14 is of a lower standard? If that were true, would it not be an indictment of better players that their ability to play within the laws is worse?
What is clear that the referees who go to most trouble have fewer problems, and this starts with the resets. In the Super 14 a deliberate effort is made to mark the spots and have the hookers in place and then to call the CROUCH-TOUCH-PAUSE-ENGAGE sequence more clearly and with perhaps longer pauses. The engagement process in the Six Nations is often quicker and less deliberate.
Saying things definitely gives the impression of a referee confident of what he is doing. Doing something confidently - even the wrong thing - is better for a referee than doing things diffidently - even the right things!