Rugby legend Donal Lenihan thinks the scrum in rugby union needs a major overhaul. He believes that the scrum is no longer being used as an attacking weapon in the game. Lenihan expressed his frustration, pointing out that the scrum is supposed to be an opportunity for both teams to showcase their strength, but it’s taking too long to set up and there are too many resets. According to Lenihan, the scrum has lost its original purpose of creating space for the backs to play. He also highlighted the excessive number of penalties and free kicks resulting from scrums, which is not serving the game well. Lenihan sees a form of skullduggery in the scrum, where teams are strategizing and manipulating the scrum to gain an advantage. He emphasized the need for a rehaul to make the scrum more efficient and effective as an attacking weapon. However, he acknowledged the challenges in finding a solution, especially with the changes introduced over the years. Lenihan believes that the scrum coach’s role has become overly complex, contributing to the prolonged setup time. He also addressed the misconception about penalties in scrums, clarifying that it’s not a penalty if a team is going backwards; rather, it’s about pushing straight and following the rules. Overall, Lenihan’s insights shed light on the current state of the scrum in rugby union and the need for significant changes to restore its original purpose and effectiveness.
The State of the Scrum: A Rugby Legend’s Perspective
