Franks: Skin-tight jerseys responsible for collapsing scrums

Rugby’s heavyweights have come up with a new excuse for the number of collapsing scrums at this year’s World Cup – skin-tight jerseys.

Prop forwards have traditionally grabbed handfuls of opponents’ shirts when it comes to the mighty clash as the rival packs bind together in the scrum, but the new shirts have left them clutching at thin air – or worse.

All Blacks prop Ben Franks said: “Especially for a loosehead it’s a lot harder to get that initial bind.

“There’s nothing really to grab, so you’re kind of grabbing for skin.”