The Springboks have welcomed confirmation from World Rugby that the scrum will not be depowered.
The dominant Bok scrum ploughed a swathe of destruction on their northern hemisphere tour late last year, drawing disbelief from long-time commentators and analysts.
It also sparked renewed calls from some to reduce its influence on the game.
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus said the issue was addressed head-on at World Rugby’s recent Shape of the Game summit, where concerns around safety and competitive balance were debated.
“There were narratives that they were trying to depower the scrum,” Erasmus said at a media event in Cape Town on Monday.
“But what was agreed is that the contest in rugby stays one of the most important aspects of the game. That starts with the scrum, the maul, the ruck and the kick. Nothing dramatically is changing — definitely not before the 2027 World Cup.”
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Erasmus was particularly keen to dispel the perception that referees penalise teams simply for being overpowered.
“You don’t get penalised because you’re weak,” he said. “You get penalised because you cop out and you fall. If a team allows another team to push them back 10m, 20m, whatever it is, they must just not collapse. That was cleared up really well at the meeting, and World Rugby backed it up with data.”
He explained that the narrative suggesting stronger packs are unfairly rewarded does not stack up under scrutiny.
“You can’t say a guy gets penalised because he’s not strong enough. If you tackle high because you can’t stop a guy, you’ll be penalised. It’s the same principle at scrum time.”
Bok scrum coach Daan Human said he will always be protective of the set-piece’s future.
“Without a scrum, it’s not rugby – it’s league,” Human said. “Without a maul, it’s not rugby. So yes, you’re always concerned when you read things. But luckily nothing will change before 2027, and hopefully it stays that way.”
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Former Test referee and Springbok law adviser Jaco Peyper believes the modern scrum is significantly easier to officiate than it was a decade ago.
“In 2016 or 2017, the scrum was probably the most difficult area of the game to referee – too many moving parts and too many opinions,” Peyper said. “Then it was simplified. The laws were broken down into three clear steps. If you coach to it, play to it and referee to it, it becomes much easier.”
Photos: Stu Forster/Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images