Scrums. An integral part of our wonderful game but one which has dominated column inches over the last couple of seasons. We have seen calling sequences come and go, articles written either praising or criticising latest directives and all because of small tweaks here and there brought in with a view to improving player welfare and the spectacle.
"The whole edifice has become a grotesque farce and is blighting the game." Those were former British & Irish Lion Brian Moore's words when he described the role of the scrum back in March. His ruthless take came following a Six Nations which saw the eight-man push come under increased scrutiny.
It was a Championship which generally showed the old scrum engagement process of 'crouch, touch, set', which replaced the previously used 'crouch, touch, pause, engage' (which was originally introduced in 2007 in an attempt to improve player welfare), as inoperative. Of 100 scrums, 59 collapsed while 51 resulted in penalties or free-kicks. A dire spectacle.
England and Lions coach Graham Rowntree vented his frustration following their loss to Wales when he called into question referee Steve Walsh's interpretation of the scrum. It was a game where there were 13 scrums, 11 collapses, six resets and 10 penalties or free-kicks. Confusion and frustration reigned.
Scott Johnson was also less than impressed following Scotland's game against Wales in a match which saw 28 penalties whistled by referee Craig Joubert.
It was all too ambiguous; Moore, who is better qualified than most to talk about the scrums having played 64 games for England in the front-row, called the scrum "a way of winning penalties". They had become a battle of power with one pack trying to push the other back or tricking the largely confused referee into whistling for a penalty rather than securing the ball. The traditional role of a scrum being there to restart the game was nothing more than a distant, fond memory.
The opposing front-rows were finding it difficult to bind as the engagement movement was too rushed. If a player lost their bind and was in risk of being shoved backwards, they could drop the scrum knowing the referee would probably call for it to be reset. Penalties seemed to be given out on the flip of a coin such was the confusion surrounding the scrum. Time was being wasted and everyone, including Moore, was hugely frustrated.
The International Rugby Board knew it had to act. In accordance with the Scrum Steering Group - a selection of former pros, experts on the scrum and members of various constituent bodies throughout the rugby world - the IRB proposed a new scrum engagement process which was trialled during March and April's Pacific Rugby Cup. The new call of 'crouch, bind, set' produced a "more stable platform leading to fewer resets and more successful scrums", according to the IRB. Hallelujah.
The 'hit' - the moment the two front-rows connected - aspect of the scrum has also gone, a word which was never included in Law 20 - the IRB's directive on scrums.
The method originated from 30 months of work from a University of Bath study. The scientists - Dr Grant Trewartha, Dr Mike England and Dr Keith Stokes - also saw a 25% reduction in the compression force of the scrum. Good news for player welfare.
So from August 1, the new method of engagement has been rolled out across the rugby world with those turning out in the Rugby Championship and the Top 14 the first sets of players exposed to the new call on the global stage. Referees will also be instructed to ensure that the scrum is static before the ball is put into the scrum with officials told to ensure the pill is put in straight and not under the second-rows feet like we have seen over the past few seasons.
Harlequins' John Kingston explains the call below.
There is much optimism surrounding the initiative, but misplaced hope is nothing new. The IRB introduced the previously used call of 'crouch, touch, set' just last June to much fanfare. It is now redundant.
So will the new calls work? And what needs to happen to the scrum to prevent us writing another preview this time next season for a new batch of rules of engagement? ESPN asked some experienced front-rowers, coaches and a few of the game's key stakeholders for their view on the changes.
We start off with the stakeholders with thoughts of IRB chief executive Brett Gosper, the Rugby Players' Association's rugby director David Barnes and Premiership Rugby rugby director Phil Winstanley's.
On Tuesday we will have the view of coaches with Scotland's Massimo Cuttitta, Grenoble's Bernard Jackman, Lyon's Olivier Azam, Bristol's Matt Ferguson and ex-England scrum guru Phil Keith-Roach featuring.
And on Wednesday we hear from the players about their thoughts on the new calling sequence.