The new rules for the defending 9 at the scrum mean that he/she can no longer’ chase to the base’. They may not advance beyond the mid-line of the set-piece and spoil the opposition feed from a position well ahead of the rest of their team-mates. Instead, they are forced to adopt one of two roles: either

stay where they are, level with the tight-head prop as the furthest backs defender upfield, or
retreat behind the number 8’s feet, so that they can read and react to any direction of attack.

The impact of this change not only reduces the pressure on number 8 pick-ups at the base, but also renders attacks off 8/9 to both sides of the scrum more viable. Typically, it is far more difficult to move left off the base of the set-piece, but there are signs that this may be about to change.

The recent Super Rugby Pacific game between the Queensland Reds and the Western Force featured Australia’s best running half-back Tate McDermott versus a gnarled Test veteran in Nic White. During the game, White tried out both the new options in defensive positioning:

At this set-piece, White has chosen option #2 and is sitting off behind his number 8 awaiting developments. With White backing up and the Reds scrum wheeling up on the loose-head, it is relatively easy for a scrum-half of McDermott’s running quality to bypass White and engage the first two midfield defenders, the Force #10 and #12, out to the left.

The second example featured White picking option #1 close to the Reds’ own goal-line:

Summary

The Reds again move the set-piece left to pull the space for McDermott, and he has the footwork to step White near the mid-line of the scrum and surge upfield to halfway.

Scrum attacks have just become a more attractive option – not just number 8 picks from the base going right, but assaults moving left and ‘against the grain’ by a fast-breaking 9. With defending scrum-halves no longer able to ‘chase to the base’, the set-piece can now be manipulated to create the best angle for attack, moving in either direction.

For more details watch our No 9 based Attack series with ex Wallaby no 9 and Queensland Reds GM Sam Cordingley.