Rugby Union question

[lovingboth]

It's been over 25 years since I played at school (in the pack, which will amuse some - strong legs!) but...

The ball must be put into a scrummage straight down the middle. And the front rows can't use their hands to get the ball. Yet, at least in first class games, the side putting in the ball invariably instantly wins possession.

I can understand how the team throwing the ball into a lineout (where the ball also has to be thrown down the middle of the two teams) usually win: they know where it's going.

But how are scrums so one-sided? Is the ball put in with enough spin to almost go into orbit? And why do they bother still having them given this?

Comments

Hehe

[kingginger.livejournal.com]

Its all in the spin, and the alerting on your hooker as the scrum half.

We use taps on the side of the prop (sometimes me)
- When they are ready to put the ball in (hooker)
- When they are about to put the ball in (scrum half)

If you watch the replays there is always a sign.

:-)

Just like in line out calls...

Re: Hehe

[drdoug.livejournal.com]

What he said. There's also the useful fact that the hooker on the side with the put-in is closer to the put-in than their opposite number, so the ball passes their leg first.

It is still worth doing - you do get scrums won against the put-in even in top-class games with well-matched packs. Even if you win possession, you need to at least hold the scrum steady and not get pushed to pieces or turned.