‘Cheaters’ violate rugby rules in scrum
ANY SPORTS code is guided by a set of rules which, if violated, punitive measures will be instituted against the offender, but in some recent instances the offenders more often than not escape punishment.
Rule 20.6 pertaining to the scrum reads: The scrumhalf must throw in the ball straight along the middle line, i.e. an imaginary line bisecting the scrum.
Referees, assistant referees, TMOs, coaches and administrators the world over allow this rule to be violated.
I therefore brand them all, including the scrumhalf, as cheaters.
When I played rugby in the 1960s and 1970s a scrumhalf was required to feed the ball into the scrum in a straight line allowing the two hookers to genuinely compete for possession.
A scrumhalf was penalised for feeding the ball directly to his hooker.
In today’s game the scrumhalf creates an unfair advantage over his opponents by feeding the ball directly to his hooker and this practice invariably goes unpunished!
It appears to me that scrumhalves are apprehensive of feeding the scrum in a straight line as they are scared of retribution.
Referees consistently penalise the violation of all other rules. Can someone therefore please explain to me why this does not apply to rule 20.6? MAURICE HEEMRO Lansdowne