Scrummaging with the ELVs

Rugby coaching tips to help you adapt to the ELVS.

There are two main changes to the scrum laws. The introduction of a five metre offside line, and the identification of scrum half offside lines. But what affect are they going to have on your technical and tactical strategies?

The offside line

What's changed? This is now five-metres back from the hindmost feet of the scrum. A good disruptive scrum can reduce the five metre advantage, so scrummaging in defence is important. A slight wheel towards the attacking angle also needs practising.

The tackle line: This is now closer to the gain line, if not over it. This has implications for the running lines of the back row and the pack from a scrum.

The first attacking pack players now have better forward momentum at the first ruck, perhaps allowing quicker ruck ball. This can mean a faster second phase move, so the backs have to realign quicker than before.

Attack - back row moves: Close to the scrum, back row moves retain their relevance in terms of tying in the opposition pack. However the extra space means your number 8 (eigthman) has more options to attack the space in front of the opposition fly half.

Other players can feed off your 8 (or scrum half) if he picks and goes, because the opposing flanker will be pulled out of position to cover the attack. (In defence, it is likely that the flanker will cover wide and the number 8 will fill in next to the scrum.)

Attack - backs moves: From scrums, the attacking team has more time to move the ball wider, thus reducing the chance that the opposition will block the move at outside centre.

The defence either has to drift or go up and out. On a drift there will a gap inside the fly half, with the up and out there will be space outside the 13 or winger.

Defence: How do your back line and back row defend from scrums?

Your flanker is now about 7 metres in front of your fly half, not 2 metres as before. This causes a bigger dogleg in the defensive line where the flanker covers inside the fly half.

When breaking from the scrum, the defensive flanker now either needs to slow down a little or cover across more, leaving the gap inside to be covered by your number 8, or the lock packing down on that side.

Scrum half offside

What's changed? In defence the scrum half has to stay close to the scrum. He can still challenge for the ball or aim to get out into the back line, or track back. He is now by far the closest defending back to the attacking back line.

Defending an openside on the left, the scrum half can go round to the other side of the scrum to get into the midfield. Defending an openside on the right, he can block the pass and then move into the midfield.

If you need more guidance on the ELVs then click here to download your free copy of The Coaches' Guide to Surviving the ELVs. You can also see the IRB's own video on the ELVs in The Huddle, by clicking here.