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Calls for league style scrum 'shot clock' in union

Leicester Tigers players doing some scrum prepping before kick off /PA

Rugby pundit Matt Williams has implored rugby union’s governing bodies to consider introducing a shot clock at scrum time.

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The former Scotland head coach suggested in his weekly column in The Irish Times that scrums take far too long and often end in a reset or a penalty which is subsequently kicked to touch or the posts. All these outcomes stifle attacking play and so Williams believes change should come by taking a leaf out of the rugby league playbook.

“The 50/22 law is an adaption from Rugby League and has breathed new life into the beautiful and almost extinct art of the torpedo punt,” Williams said.

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      The lessons learned from league need not stop there. Williams has also cited that a “shot clock” should be introduced at scrum time to limit the amount of time forwards spend faffing around the set piece.

      In rugby league there is a 30-second time limit for both packs to a set, ready to engage. There is something to be said about the extra physical excursion needed in a union scrum but nonetheless, Williams is adamant that time-wasting still takes place and can only be stifled with a shot clock.

      “Across the globe, in all rugby matches, outrageous amounts of time are lost to long periods of nothing as all 30 players stand about, waiting for the packs to begin to bind for scrums.

      “Rugby desperately needs to adopt the 30-second shot clock for the assembly of packs prior to engagement to stop the ocean of deliberate time wasting that has infected modern scrummaging.

      “Scrums only exist as a contest to restart play. They place 16 players in a confined area, which opens up space for the attack to exploit,” write Williams. “This was once the best attacking platform in the game but sadly not anymore.”

      Williams added that the “high art of scrummaging” used to aid attacking interplay but now he rues how it does precisely the opposite.

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      “As a consequence of both time wasting and scrum penalties, the participation of backline players in the game has outrageously been significantly reduced.”

      Additional changes which Williams has suggested, again originating from rugby league, is empowering TMOs to make decisions and introducing two on-field referees. The former would cut out the lengthy conversation between referee and TMO, which Williams think would create more efficient decision-making, and the latter would enable referees to better patrol the offside line.

      “None of those innovations alter any on-field laws while the ball is in play. All would reclaim match time which would benefit the game.”

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      Upnorth-taniwha 54 minutes ago
      New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

      So with all that's been said, France sending a b team, top 14 so strong, we support ab’s, they support top 14 and WC and six nations. It is what it is, but do you think that the results of this tour have matched the outcry? Like the first test against a so called b side? Yes we won, just. The second test was better, but against a lesser team apparently. And the third test we will experiment, to a degree. But we are still not thrashing them. One would expect if the teams they are sending are so bad, then why aren't we holding them scoreless and why aren't we putting 50-60 points on them every week? We put all our emphasis on international rugby, yet the show isn't what one would think it would be considering all the facts. I don't know, but I was really expecting the ABS to come out in the first test and show France how pissed off they were that they had sent a mediocre test team. Send them home thrashed and with their Tails between there legs, but I don't know. I think they would go home confident that even if they put the b side in, they can compete against a power house AB team. Not good for us, more so for them. As we all know, the mental side of international rugby is huge. Players confidence can set there path for their careers. So I think it was a perfect chance to absolutely dent the confidence of these up and comers, so when they faced us again in the future, they wouldnt be so keen! And if the ABs had really smashed this team and any other team that done the same, then it would be a message to all international sides. That if you do so, you do so at your own risk and at the expense of the growth of your players going forwards. I get what everyone is saying in regards to all the other stuff. Yes we have a lot to work on. But firstly we need to win, and win big. Otherwise these complaints of b sides, look rather silly. Yes we are 2 nil up. The second test against a much weeker side was better-ish. But C'mon, if they want to send b sides, we should treat them like that, and really be smashing them. Confidence in any player, can be changed for the entirety of their careers. Maybe if we did this, they would realise the effects and send stronger teams. But I don't think that so far this series, any player would feel like they wouldn't want another go at the ABs and can face up to them. Just a thought

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