What’s in a scrum?
Put that question to rugby league fans, and the answer would probably be, ”not much”. Ask a rugby union fan, and it would almost definitely be ”everything”. Ask a beneficiary of the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson fund, and it might be a bit of both.
No surprise, therefore, that Springbok captain and hooker John Smit as well as All Black hooker Anton Oliver are bemoaning the mess rugby union laws have got scrummaging into.
”I must admit watching the scrum being reset over and over again — and I’m supposed to like them — is really mundane and it’s a danger for the game actually,” Oliver said after New Zealand’s match against France on the weekend. In that match 28 scrums were awarded and 14 had to be reset.
”I was afraid someone — one of us or one of their players — could be hurt if the scrum collapsed,” Smit said after the Boks’ win over England at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
”I asked the referee to attend to the problem and all he said was ‘Yes, yes, yes, yes’.”
After the first Test against England, Smit also expressed concern about England’s tactics in the scrums — and the lack of action taken by the referee. This concern again fell on deaf ears as the same problems occurred at Loftus, albeit with a different referee in charge.
With the scrum such an integral part of rugby union and what the union game is all about, the last thing fans would want to see is a further watering down of the laws governing it.
In desperation this season the four-stage scrum was introduced. If anything the ”crouch, pause, touch, engage” direction by referees has worsened the issue and fans have to endure more resets than ever before.
Ask former and current front-rowers what the solution to it might be, and most would probably say: ”Just let the players get on with it. That’s the way it has always been and should have been to this day. Let the side feeding the scrum dictate engagement and when the ball emerges. Regardless of whether the packs are still on their feet, let play continue.”
While this debate will continue and spectators stay tormented by having to watch reset after reset, there are those who may have a totally different view of the situation — and even rugby. They are the ones who, through injury on the rugby field, are beneficiaries of the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson Fund.
On Tuesday evening at the Theatre on the Track at Kyalami, current members of the Springbok squad will again man the phones and accept pledges from rugby fans who want to support this very noble cause.
Set up by former Springbok great Morne du Plessis after his province teammate Chris Burger suffered a fatal injury in a collapsed maul against Free State in Bloemfontein in the Seventies, the fund has aided many young — and older — players who suffered debilitating injuries playing the sport they loved.
Rehabilitation and after care, especially in cases where spinal injuries occur, can be financially crippling for most families and that is where the fund brings relief. Every rugby fan’s support is needed and appreciated.
Proceedings at Kyalami will be screened live on SuperSport 1 with Joel Stransky the master of ceremonies. — Sapa