The no scrum from free-kick uproar is overblown - Andy Goode

The law changes being introduced across the game in July should help speed up play, improve the spectacle and reduce injuries, what’s not to like.

I thought the crocodile roll had been outlawed a while ago so that one’s overdue and everyone knew the scrapping of the so-called ‘Dupont law’ was coming at the first available opportunity so there’s no surprise there.

The most controversial one by far is making it no longer possible to choose a scrum from a free-kick and, despite the uproar on social media, I think it could be a positive move as long as we ensure it isn’t a step towards depowering the set piece and referees are able to police teams trying to pull a fast one.

I’m not sure I would’ve thought it was a problem that needed solving but I can completely see why you wouldn’t want all the time spent on setting a scrum after some more minor technical offences and I don’t think it’s going to drastically change the game.

Damian Willemse of South Africa, raises the Webb Ellis Cup (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Of course, South Africans are being vociferous in their view that it’s an attempt to combat one of their main strengths. That feeling runs even deeper after they opted for a scrum from a mark at the World Cup but that is so rare and I don’t think this is a response to that.

You can still call for a scrum from a penalty if you want and I do understand the concerns around teams with weaker scrums potentially deliberately infringing at the set piece in order to not have to scrummage but referees will surely be told to crack down on that.

You can’t infringe more than once as it is without a referee awarding a penalty so we won’t see teams getting away with multiple early engagements and such like so as not to have to pack down against a stronger scrummaging unit.

As is so often the case with rugby, the laws are one thing but it’s the policing, interpretation and implementation of them by referees that will determine whether this is a success or not.

If they allow teams to get away with certain acts that are intended to deliberately avoid scrummaging, then we could be in trouble, but I’m sure it’ll have been spoken about behind the scenes and officials won’t allow that to happen.

I’m completely on board with the sentiments of those people that are concerned by this law change because I think the scrum has to remain central to our sport and not be depowered at all, I just think this probably won’t have a massive effect.

France's scrum-half and captain Antoine Dupont looks on as a scrum forms during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between France and South Africa at the Stade de France (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

As well as being a huge part of the game in their own right, scrums tire out the big men and create space for others to exploit off the back of them. They add to the entertainment factor rather than detracting from it and we don’t want to become a 15-man rugby league.

My main worry with this law change would be if coaches start outsmarting referees to achieve those marginal gains in the short term but if the officials are able to use their common sense as well as implement the laws, that shouldn’t be the case.

I can guarantee that coaches will be talking to their props and making sure they’re aware of all the ways they can subtly give a free kick away, rather than a full penalty, if their scrum is under pressure and that would then temporarily depower the opposition set piece.

Rugby is a multifaceted sport and teams should be rewarded for having a strong scrum so that can’t be allowed to happen and if it does, then perhaps a rethink will be needed but I think we should give referees the tools and trust them to police it properly.

Ultimately, this is all about speeding up restarts to improve the spectacle and that is to be applauded. Interestingly, there are law trials being introduced in certain competitions that include a 30-second shot clock for scrum and lineout setting and I think that’s where we may end up.

Referee Hollie Davidson during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Benetton at RDS Arena in Dublin. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Either that or just stop the clock and restart it when the ball is put into the scrum and have a more American football style attitude towards the clock and it being controlled more strictly by the timekeeper.

As human beings we don’t tend to like change but it’s often necessary and leads to an improvement overall. The proof will be in the pudding and we’ll need to see how this all works in practice so I might be wrong but I think it’s easy to rush to judgement.

No crocodile rolls improves safety, players needing to put themselves onside will avoid dull kick battles while also tiring players out more and creating space and not being able to choose a scrum from a free-kick speeds up restarts.

All in all, referees need to make sure they’re hot on coaches and teams not exploiting these new laws to gain an advantage and protect the scrum from being depowered but if they do that, change will be a good thing.