Push comes to shove for scrums

The latest chapter in the intense rivalry between Munster and Leinster failed to ignite on Saturday night in Limerick, with another scrummage controversy dominating the post-match analysis.

For the second year in a row, the Six Nations was blighted by the increasing amount of time required to have completed scrums with the amount of resets now a blight on the game.

The scrum is an integral part of the game. When executed properly, as England did against Ireland last month, it is an art form that forces the opposition to address their problems, not by tweaking the laws in order to have a meaningless ritual — like in rugby league — but a full on physical contest for possession.