Deans looking to pick players on merit

[AndyS]

Personally, I don't think they will - I see nothing in the changes that alter the scrum much, other than to make it even more of an attacking weapon (defense is further back). Given that every free-kick can also be taken as a penalty, scrum play may even increase.

[James]

Thing I see about the new rules (the ones being applied to the Super 14 at the least) is that it broadens the options a team has. They don't seem to make it as easy to be sucked into playing someone else's game.

I don't know what you mean by every free kick being taken like a penalty Andy.

[AndyS]

Sorry, I meant scrum.

[James]

I see what you mean Andy but looking back at out rugby QF loss the England team could have happily intentionally (but made it look accidental) dropped a few balls to force a scrum and put us under pressure. Where one scrum is infinitely better than the other it gives another option to move the ball but it also makes the scrum more appealing with the 5 metre line so as not to remove that entirely.