Last night's game between South Africa and England may not have had as many dramatic moments as the Springboks' clash with France the previous week, but there is no doubt that the two sides served up an enthralling Rugby World Cup semi-final at the Stade de France.
England executed their game plan to perfection, stopping South Africa from building any sort of momentum during the first hour or so in the game. Whenever Steve Borthwick's men entered the opposition half, they did their best to ensure they left with points via drop goals or penalties.
In contrast, the defending world champions failed to get going during this period. They certainly were not the cohesive unit that we are so used to seeing on this stage.
They managed to turn things around late on, largely down to their dominance in the scrum.
However, speaking on Virgin Media last night, Matt Williams said he is not thrilled by the direction rugby is travelling in in relation to the impact the scrum is having on the sport.
Scrum discussion:
🗣 "By giving a penalty where you can take 3 points or kick for touch and maul, you are incentivising scrummaging to get the penalty!"
🗣 "World Rugby have to make a decision. Do we want the scrum to be the focal point of our game?"#ENGvRSA #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/2OAXWSfZyh— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 21, 2023
What are you incentivising? By giving a penalty where you can take three points or kick for touch and start a maul, you are incentivising scrummaging to get the penalty. If you take that incentive away, well then what's the incentive?
You get the ball to the backs, you have 16 forwards tied up so there is all this space. All through the 90s and early 00s, we had wonderful back row moves and wonderful back line plays coming off scrums, it was entertaining and it was great.
The scrums were still there and they were a contest, you could still get a pushover try, but the referee wasn't going to give you a penalty unless you did foul play or were offside. The game was much better for it...
South Africa and England are like great tax accountants, they find every loophole and exploit it brilliantly. I admire the intellect, but that is not good for the global game.
It is not good for the other sides in the game like France, New Zealand, and Ireland, who are trying to play a more positive, ball in hand, entertaining game. We are in the business of entertainment...
Is it a 15-man game or an 8-man game? Right now, it has become so biased towards scrummaging and mauling. The game is totally out of balance.
As you might imagine, these comments have not gone down well.
READ HERE: Matt Williams Refuses To Give Bomb Squad Credit For Epic South Africa Win
Matt Williams criticised for comments on the state of modern rugby
In the modern game, a team can go a long way towards securing a victory if they can dominate the scrum. South Africa are the best example of that, although Williams clearly feels that this area having such an influence on rugby as a whole is a negative development.
In saying that, the responses to his comments give the impression that very few rugby fans agree with him.
Why can’t Matt Williams come to terms with the fact that rugby in 2023 isn’t the 80’s and 90’s? I never spent time in the scrum but it’s one of the factors that differentiates rugby from other variations. It’s a fascinating area if you buy into it
— Jonny Holland (@jonnyholland10) October 22, 2023
Matt Williams should only be heard speaking within the walls of his or his friends’ homes. He’s so far past being a pundit on TV. Does ANYONE want to hear him? No clue why he remains on Virgin Media. None.
— Niamh ☕️ (@NiamhoNiamh) October 21, 2023
How to show you have negative rugby IQ in less than 3 minutes by Matt Williams
Scrums are one of the few unique parts of this great game.
Why the hell would you depower it ? And frankly that doesn’t encourage more back moves #RWC2023 https://t.co/YrzFMCl11O— Couch Referee (@CouchReferee) October 22, 2023
I think Matt Williams will be surprised to here that Rugby League does in fact exist. And we would all very much like if he would go and watch that instead and leave us all in peace.
— Oisín Cleary (@oisoftheclears) October 21, 2023
My heart was broken by those final quarter scrum pens and even I think you’re talking utter bollocks
You went rugby without a proper scrum? I suggest you try rugby league— Tom Courtney (@Tom_Courtney_7) October 22, 2023
This guy is better off watching touch rugby then.
— Jacques Du Bruyn (@jndub) October 22, 2023
So what you are describing is rugby league.
— Kevin Le'Neal (@LeAntagonist) October 21, 2023
Take the L and hush now. Eat more beef, and scrum hard.
— MrPikester (@MisterPikester) October 22, 2023
One week the chat is the need to de-power the scrum, next week it’s the maul, next week it’s the ruck, key fundamentals that makes our game truly unique…do we change to suit a style/some or do we embrace what is uniquely rugby union?
I vote the later, loved tonight’s match…🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/SRU3QbHifx— Simon Raiwalui (@SimonRaiwalui) October 22, 2023
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The scrum has always been a hugely important part of rugby, although the way it is refereed at the moment means that it is often the most dominant aspect of a given match at test level. The response to Williams' comments suggest that most fans see no issue with that.
In saying that, some agree with him.
Rob Kearney shared his view on last night's broadcast, while former Scotland star Jim Hamilton would suggest that he and Ronan O'Gara are two more influential figures that are concerned by the impact the scrum is having on the game.
Interesting.
The great @RonanOGara10 said top level matches are won with numbers 1-10. “Get rid of scrums” I even said it and I love scrums. The biggest issue around scrums is that about 60% of time (probably wrong but close) the wrong call is made. A debate for another day over… https://t.co/jPuQivqqYJ— Jim Hamilton (@jimhamilton4) October 22, 2023
As things currently stand, there has been no indication that the rugby authorities will look to alter this dynamic moving forward.
It seems that the other teams at will have to adapt to the game in the manner that South Africa have done if they want to give themselves the best opportunity to compete at the highest level.
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