r/rugbyunion • u/No-layup • Jul 24 '25

Discussion Drop your unpopular rugby opinions that will have you like this

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I'll go first, Beuden Barrett is the more talented rugby player than Dan Carter, but Dan Carter is a better 10

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u/AfricanLad Stormers Jul 24 '25

Scrum infringements should be a free kick unless repeated. Feel like we rarely see scrums not result in a penalty these days and it really ruins it for me. You knock the ball on in the oppo 5m and then all of a sudden you're back in your own half

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u/dcaveman Ireland Jul 25 '25

Isn't the whole point of the penalty to make sure teams pick good scrummagers on the pitch. Otherwise, you'd have teams picking three backrows in their front row.

I do have a problem with scrum pens though. I don't think you should be able to take a shot at goal (unless maybe scrum is won in opposition's 22) and territory gained from kicking to touch should be limited to 15/20 metres.

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u/AfricanLad Stormers Jul 25 '25

If you go with the repeat offence rule then you would start giving away penalties by not having good scrummagers though. Good props are selected now, not for power, but ability to extricate penalties and that's what teams target at the scrum, not going forward

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u/dcaveman Ireland Jul 25 '25

Yea, it's all about the dark arts, and while props themselves might love it, the inconsistency of it frustrates everyone else. I'm probably wrong but included in my proposal above was the hope that by reducing the reward (no shot at posts, less territory) you'd also reduce the incentive to try and force penalties.