What was the worst part of the Springboks’ win in Perth on Saturday night?
It wasn’t the weather but rather that the game had to go to uncontested scrums early in the second half when Australia had two players off the field with HIA calls (Head injury assessments).
Of course, there is no suggestion that this was done intentionally, although the chances of two players being taken off the field with HIA in a specialist position, thereby triggering uncontested scrums is extremely rare.
Although it would be naughty to suggest that a perfect way of depowering a more dominant scrum would be to force the game into uncontested scrums this way - mainly because teams aren’t penalised like they would be in a similar scenario with normal injuries.
In that case, a team needs to remove one player off the field to ensure parity up front, meaning it becomes a 15 v 14 game. But because it is a head injury situation, referees aren’t allowed to penalise the team in any way.
Of course this is all conjecture, and the Boks had to play most of the second half without getting the scrum dominance they were looking for.
They found other ways to win, and came home with a clean sweep in Australia.
But the fact that there were no scrum battles - in weather made for the dark arts to shine - leaves a terrible taste in the mouth.
This was Wallaby nirvana - where the scrum became a restart. Where the core aspect of the game was reduced to nothing more than a way to get the game going.
The Boks could have subbed their props for three loose forwards, or Handre Pollard for that matter - and it wouldn’t have mattered.
Rugby found a way to go as close to Rugby League as is possible, and it was horrible to watch.
It brought up a horrible thought within that this is what those who bleat every time the Bok scrum destroys an opposition want - the scrum to be depowered to the point that it doesn’t matter.
Think of it - how often are we treated to pundits talking about the unfair advantage the Boks have in the scrum, or how their bomb squad is “against the spirit of the game” (to quote a failed international coach who sits in Ireland).
Already World Rugby has changed laws to depower the scrum. From trying to rush the setup to not allowing teams to scrum again on a Free Kick, it feels like we’re one World Cup away from the scrum being taken apart altogether.
We’re told it is to make the game more attractive to the fans (and that is was done in consultation with fans - although World Rugby has refused to provide clarity on this process). But ask yourself when you saw it bucketing down on Saturday if you enjoyed the “spectacle” of uncontested scrums in any manner at all?
Rugby is a collision game, a power game for all shapes and sizes. We love to tell ourselves these things.
But there is a more sinister part of the game that wants to tinker, to change, and to make the game more like Rugby League. It is very strong in Australia, who have yet to produce a dominant scrum in the modern game.
When your scrum isn’t good enough, and you can’t import players to do the job, you try and create a distraction. You talk about making the game more “entertaining” and “speeding up the game.”
In these scenarios the scrum is a blight. A place that you don’t understand and keep on watching your favourites get pummelled by teams that can scrum.
And then you call for changes. To make the game more “attractive”.
But in reality, rugby needs the scrum. It is a fundamental part of the game that should never be tinkered with. Safety of players is always a concern and ensuring players don’t play on after concussion is a massive focus that should never be doubted.
But don’t tell me somewhere in the Aussie coaching box someone was having a wry smile that the Boks bench front row wouldn’t be able to pack down and scrum their way to success.
Nobody is suggesting the tactic was on purpose, but rugby should be careful before this becomes a loophole for teams that are not strong up front to exploit to avoid scrumming at all costs.
The scrum should be sacred.
Without it Saturday’s rain-fest was reduced to a lesser game that never quite hit the mark.