Very often a player will lose the ball forward during a tackle or
just while running and receiving a pass, thus knocking-on. If the
ball is quickly picked up by the other team, the referee will let
play continue to allow the recovering team to take advantage of the
mistake. If no advantage occurs, then the referee will whistle for a
scrum to be set at a spot he indicates on the pitch also called a
mark. The team that did not lose the ball is awarded the ball to put
into the scrum. A scrum is also awarded whenever a pass is made in
which the ball goes forward.
The typical procedure of scrummaging involves each set of front row
players binding and the hookers calling for the locks to join the
formation. The flankers join on each side of the locks setting their
shoulders below a prop's outside buttock. The No. 8 joins at the
back between the hips of the two locks. While this is occurring the
captain of the forwards can be calling a move while the backs are
shouting out code words signalling what move they will be running.
The forward pack with the put in is then allowed the courtesy of
initiating the coming together of the scrum. Upon a prearranged
signal between the hooker and scrumhalf, the scrumhalf will roll the
ball into the tunnel underneath the two locked together front rows.
Each of the hookers will then attempt to push the ball behind him
with a sweep of his foot. All of this is occurring while each pack
is attempting to push the other backwards driving themselves over
the ball.
If the ball is won cleanly, most often the scrumhalf will run to the
back of the scrum to retrieve the ball from in front of the No. 8's
feet and pass it to the backs, to a breaking loose forward, or make
a run or kick of his own. The opposing scrumhalf will follow looking
for a chance to snap up any loose ball. The No. 8 may also decide to
pick up the ball himself, and start a back row move from the back or
base of the scrum.
Following is a simple representation of how the players will line up
at the start of a scrum awarded on the left side of the pitch
One exciting aspect of scrummaging is the pushover try. A pushover
try is scored when a scrum is set close to the attacking tryline.
The attacking scrum will keep the ball at the No. 8's feet driving
the defending pack backwards across the tryline. Once the ball has
been dragged across the tryline, the No. 8 or scrumhalf will touch
the ball down for the try
