[Law] Penalty here or scrum there!

[lawsons]

What do you think the point of the scrum option is and have you ever had someone take? Do you even offer it ?
Why don’t they just drop it?

 

[crossref]

The two places could be a long way apart , or the scrum could be 5m from the goal line, so a team could choose the scrum to gain territory

But this is a very old Law and pre dates the time from when you can kick a PK to touch , and keep the throw in.. and that would often be the normal choice now.

But yes I offer it, and sometimes it is taken

 

[Dickie E]

I suspect it goes way back to when a penalty kick for touch gave the opposition the lineout throw. Therefore a scrum option made sense if it was in good position.

 

[L'irlandais]

Or if you are dominant in the scrum. Good option then too.

 

[didds]

Even with the option to take a lineout AND throw if youve a working scxrum but your normal throwers are all off sick that week and your lineout is a gamble...

removing the option merely limits the game. Leaving it in may mainly be redundant - but that doesn't make the option in itself wholely redundant.

Im sure we can all dream up scnearios whereby taking the scrum is the best tactical choice.

didds

 

[Rich_NL]

I've had it a couple of times already this season. Dominant scrum/weak lineout, high crosswinds making the LO (And even finding touch) a lottery, kicking into the teeth of a gale, scrum deep in the opposition 22...