Brunel and his scrum complaint
Are they OK?
Jacques Brunel, France's forward, coach has incurred some Kiwi wrath for suggesting that the All Blacks are trading on refereeing leniency to get a head start at scrum time.
We looked at the video of the match as hard as we could to see what the gripe could possibly be.
There were 15 scrums in the match, ten to England and five to New Zealand. There were seven resets, which means that the scrum was set 22 times.
It was not always possible to see the procedure of the set.
The procedure will change on 1 January in an experimental law variation which approximates to the Under-19 law but with a variation.
The present procedure is as follows:
Law 20.1 (h) The front-rows crouch and pause, and then come together only when the referee calls ‘engage’. This call is not a command but an indication that the front rows may come together when ready.
Penalty: Free Kick
(i) A crouched position is the extension of the normal stance by bending the knees sufficiently to move into the engagement without a charge.
The referee in this match uses "crouch and hold" early for scrums – before the players have really formed at times. Crouch'nhold is almost one word.
England vs New Zealand
Scrum 1:
England's ball, five metres from New Zealand's line.
The New Zealand front row is higher than the England front row when they crouch – About 30 centimetres higher.
From that higher position, the New Zealand front row comes down and goes straight into the England front row.
The scrum collapses and is reset.
The same thing happens – the New Zealanders come down from a higher position and engage. The scrum collapses and is reset.
For a third time the New Zealanders are higher than the English, descend and engage. This time England get the ball back under pressure.
Scrum 2:
England's ball.
New Zealand are higher, come down and engage.
Scrum 3:
England's ball.
New Zealand are considerably higher. England bend and drive in. A free kick is awarded against them for engaging before the command.
Scrum 4:
New Zealand's ball.
New Zealand are up higher than England, come down and engage with a little pause before the engage.
Scrum 5:
England's ball.
Cannot see.
Scrum 6 & 7:
England's ball.
England stay at the same height as New Zealand and the two come down together.
Scrum 8:
New Zealand's ball.
New Zealand up higher, come down and engage.
The scrum collapses and is reset. Then there is a free kick to England.
Scrum 9:
New Zealand's ball.
Four of the front row crouch at the same height. Carl Hayman stays higher and so does Andy Sheridan opposite him. The two come down together.
Second half.
Scrums 10 & 11:
New Zealand are higher for both of these scrums.
Scrum 12, to New Zealand, and reset – the front rows are level.
Scrums 13, 14 and 15:
All England's ball. In all cases New Zealand start higher in the crouch.
