|
Question
There has been an increase in the number of
wheeled scrums since the Experimental Law
Variation was introduced that awarded the throw-in
at the subsequent scrum to the team not in
possession at the time of the wheel. Is wheeling
the scrum intentionally an infringement? Is
wheeling the scrum repeatedly an infringement?
Answer
There is nothing unlawful, per se, about an
intentional wheel. It is a perfectly legitimate
maneuver. Since wheeling, per se, is not an
infringement, it follows that the repeated wheel
is not an infringement.
However,
and it's a big however, if the wheel was caused by
one prop pulling the opposing front row then
offenses under Law 20.2 (a) and under Law 20.8 (g)
have been committed. By pulling an opponent the
prop is not in a position for an effective forward
shove, which, under Law 20.2 (a), each front row
player must be after the formation of a scrum.
More directly, under Law 20.8 (g), a front row
player must not pull an opponent. Thus, it is not
the wheel that is unlawful, but the acts of the
prop not being in a position for an effective
forward shove and of the prop pulling an opponent.
If
the wheel is caused by one side of a front row
pushing harder than the other, then no Law has
been infringed, and play should be allowed to
continue. Either "Play on", if the scrum
did not wheel more than 90 degrees, or award a
scrum to the team not in possession at the time of
the wheel, if it did.
That
said, there are a couple of other points. First,
if the wheels are properly executed then it is
unlikely that they will be dangerous. The
dangerous, unstable, wheeled scrums usually come
from props that pull opponents. They should be
penalized accordingly. However, in the unlikely
event that properly executed wheels appear to be
becoming dangerous, the referee can manage the
situation much as he would manage the situation
where one prop was totally dominant over his
opponent. The referee should explain to the
stronger prop and/or front row that they have the
right to take advantage of their dominance, but
they do not have the right to make things unsafe.
If they continue to make things unsafe (not just
wheel) they should be penalized.
Second,
on behalf of USA Rugby we have reported to the IRB
that we have seen an increase in the amount of
wheeling, and scrum instability, since the
introduction of the "turn-over"
Experimental Law Variation, and have asked, in
effect, whether the variation should continue. We
will keep you posted.
January
5, 2001
|
