Rugby Lessons: Part 3
February 8, 2010 by The SportLite
Hey rugby-hungry minds…
The Super 14 kicks off on Friday…so you do realise that we have to get through the basics in record time. Don’t let the words and terms confuse you – it will all make sense when you actually watch a match – that’s the whole point right?
In the previous lesson we touched a bit on penalties – but that’s not the only way of restarting the game after an infringement. Depending on the nature or severity of the foul – the ref may also award a freekick or scrum to the offended team.
FREEKICK:
Freekicks are usually taken as “quick taps” or kicked ahead for territorial advantage. Just remember that it’s always better to have the action happening on the opponents’ side of the field as opposed to yours, it’s common sense really.
The captain may also opt to take a scrum instead of a freekick.
SCRUMS:
A lot of people are fascinated by this method of restarting play – also known here on JC as “the circle around nothing”. This is basically a test of skill and STRENGTH where the forwards (1-8) from one team do their best to push the other team backwards in order to gain control of the ball. The scrumhalf (no.9) from the team that was awarded the scrum is responsible for feeding the ball into “the circle”” – and the rest is history. That’s all you need to worry about at this moment.
Here’s how the players pack for a scrum:
LINEOUTS:
During open play -when one team takes the ball across the touchline-the opposition is awarded the lineout. If the ball was kicked into touch from a penalty – the kicker’s team retains possession of the ball. Rugby lineouts are interesting because both teams are allowed to compete for the ball -it’s not a matter of throwing to your nearest open teammate as it happens in football.
Selected players from both teams form lines parallel to each other. The hooker from one of the teams has to throw to ball straight between the two lines. Skew throws are penalised. A throw may be short or long – but it has to be straight. Teams use codes to decide how long or short the throw is going to be – for example – the Springboks use numbers and speak in Afrikaans to confuse the opposition (and sometimes themselves).
Now I don’t want you guys to suffer from information overload – so we’ll drop it here for now. The next lesson will focus on rugby positions and the different roles within a team. Tomorrow you’ll know why it’s acceptable to call a big strong dude a “hooker” -and say it to his face too.
Individual questions are encouraged cos that allows us to separate the slow swimmers from the Michael Phelps’ of this pool . I’m just kidding guys– like my high school teacher used to say- “your questions help others as much as they help you” – so bring it on.
By The SportLite ©
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Pics Source: wikipedia.com & Solanavigator.net
Quote Of The Day: 
Brown Shuga on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 2:19 am
I’m sorry but how are we supposed to laugh and learn @ the same time? SportLite ur too funny. So the Springboks confuse themselves with their ‘Afrikaans codes’? Lol
Lol @ ‘hookers’ and telling them to their face. Lemme read again and skip the jokes, maybe I’ll understand the scrum.
Thanks for the lessons, have wondered about the lineouts too, interesting.
Brown Shuga on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 2:23 am
P.S. What is “kick into touch” and “throw to ball”?
Nthatisi on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 5:58 am
The scrum, how does the ball get to the other team? its really confusing when watching. Do they push the other team away from the ball? Sorry for the stupid questions.
Gee on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 8:32 am
@Sportlite:
I asked you to explain the scrum and I still don’t understand it.
Because the scrum half throws the ball in then the teams push each other but the scrum half’s team always end up getting the ball. What is the point of this if the ball will end up being taken by the scrum half’s team?
Brown Shuga on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 8:39 am
Eish Gee, now I’m also confused…I thought I understood it.
The SportLite on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 8:43 am
@BS – the touchlines are the lines that run on the side of the field…so the ball goes “into touch” when it crosses or touches one of those lines.
If the player carrying the ball crosses or steps on the touchline – the ball is also regarded as being “in touch” (OUT).
Re: “throw to ball” – that’s a flippen typo… “throw the ball” is how it’s supposed to read.
The SportLite on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 9:05 am
@Nthatisi / Gee
The team that feeds the scrum is not guaranteed the ball at all…
It’s skill and STRENGTH – don’t worry – you’ll see a lot of scrums being won by the team that didn’t put in…
There are a lot of technicalities involved in scrumming – correct binding, legal scrumming position…blah blah and at times you’ll see refs blowing for penalties after a scrum…leading to endless (drunken) arguments.
You’re not going to understand everything that goes on in a scrum right now- I think even refs struggle with some stuff
– just do what we all do – if the ref blows for your team CLAP…”yes Ref, thank you Ref” – if he blows against your team THROW A TANTRUM – “oh come on ref – you’re killing us” – that should save you for now.
Gee on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 9:16 am
But what guarantee do we have that the Scrum half is throwing the ball in straight and not towards the his team?
Also, What causes the scrum to collapse? And how can one tell who which team is responsible for the collapse?
The SportLite on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 9:46 am
Gee…
That’s the refs call – he stands right there when the action happens –
He inspects the scrum…does the “Crouch – Touch -Pause – Engage” thing – and he observes as the scrumhalf feeds the ball. Refs will blow the whistle if they feel the “put in” was skew.
There’s a lot of pushing…and fighting for the ball using feet…
Re: Collapsed scrum
Some scrums collapse because the two front rows didn’t engage properly -in that case the ref will simply order the scrum to be reset.
But in some cases – when the front row cannot cope with the pressure from the opposing pack – they tend to drop one of their shoulders and sometimes knees as well – sending the whole scrum crashing. Again, the ref has to pay attention to spot those infringements…
Gee on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 9:59 am
Thanks Sportlite.
I understand.
mawinza on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 11:39 am
yho hayi mna im too slow for this tsho
The SportLite on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 1:11 pm
@Gee – anytime…
@mawinza – don’t freak out – have you gone through Parts 1 and 2 ?
Final Edition: Rugby Lessons No.5 | Just Curious on Mon, 15th Feb 2010 12:31 am
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