the scrum

After the first Lions test in Durban there is lots of disappointment and negativity regarding the result. The upside maybe hidden but it there is an upside. The scrum is back and important in the game of rugby union. As Phil Vickery was twisted and turned into the shape of a twiglet by the Beast. The game of rugby was rejoicing because despite the best efforts of Australia to get rid of the scrum on Saturday it roared back it too prominence.

 

The scum is a great way to restart the game of rugby union but to non-rugby people it is a mystery and a dangerous mystery. Firstly the scrum is a dangerous place. If the scrum goes wrong the consequences can be and have been fatal. The scrum has also disappeared in rugby league or is now a sham version on the scrum just used to get the players running into each other. In rugby union the scrum is a mythical thing. The scrum is an intensely unpleasant place especially in the front five. it is a place of complete discomfort and effort. It is the place on the rugby field that it is most primordial it is who pushes who forward. It is also a place that embodies the best of rugby union. What I mean by this is that the scrum is the creation of the sum of its parts, the hit by the front row has to be violent and controlled the effort by the locks is consistent and unrelenting and the back row has to retain effort while keeping their heads up always aware of the breaking ball,

The scrum is also the dictator of the spirits of the men in the game. The scrum goes badly and the teams head drops the scrum goes well the team are happy. So despite the best efforts of the Australians long live the horrible sweaty mess that is the scrum.