Gaston Sanchez
02/27/2021 6:00 AM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 02/27/2021 6:00 AM
There are those who say that to move forward you have to embrace the changes that are coming.
In this last year, the world was completely modified due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The things that we knew before are no longer normal, and even sports underwent drastic changes that until now were unthinkable.
In this sense, rugby was one of them.
Since after a year and a half of not seeing activity
the
local
tournaments are ready to return to action
(the URBA could return in April).
But the image of this sport may now be different, although it is not directly related to the pandemic.
Because
something vital in this game will be modified: the scrum
.
The
Argentine Rugby Union
reported earlier this week, through a statement, that in addition to not being able to use the changing rooms or carry out the "third half" as prevention measures against covid-19,
the scrum will be simulated
.
How?
The team that resumes play through this classic play will remove the ball from the formation without the classic push, that is, there will be no opposition.
The traditional scrum will no longer be as we knew it due to downtime.
Later, you can return the thrust of a meter and a half.
AFP photo.
This
new
mode
of
scrum
is called
"strip shows"
by Competition Area Development and UAR.
That he clarified, in his statement, that it will be
mandatory in all competitive categories
of all unions in the country.
The different levels of national rugby were informed by the mother entity that "intend to compete again with a scrum with full thrust (N. de R .: since the end of 2016 no more than one and a half meters have been pushed), without considering this background, it would be not thinking about the safety of the players and ignoring the recommendations of the medical area ".
Regarding the mechanics of the scrum specifically, the text shared by the UAR with the provincial unions states that "both teams must perform an isometric exercise, which involves muscle tension but does not generate movement of contraction and extension of the muscles, that is, there is no push. "
And they clarify that the team that put the icing on the cake must be the one that withdraws it
in a period of no more than five seconds
.
However, it is the players themselves who are opposed.
"
I totally disagree
, I don't share at all. We never stop working our necks. I think they don't think about the players. For example,
the SIC bases a large part of its game on the scrum,
"
Lucas Rocha
explains to
Clarín
, from the San Isidro Club, who highlights the relevance of this play for Argentine teams.
On the other hand, Miguel Urtubey, Newman's captain, shares: "The scrum is the essence of Argentine rugby. It is a fundamental formation and for me the most important, with which I do not think it makes sense to return with '
strip pull'
. With my teammates we agree on that.
I think we should ask the players more
and ask them to see what they think
to make a decision. "
Lucas "El Russo" Ostiglia during the 2007 Rugby World Cup, where Los Pumas took historic third place.
Photo: Clarín Archive.
Although the players show their discontent and even some understand that the game is denatured, there are also those who, with the gaze of experience, endorse this measure.
"I understand that this is not because of a contagion issue, but because of the lack of competition and the danger of directly pushing back after a year of not playing.
Without a doubt it distorts the game, but I think the essential thing is to take care of The players
. It is not normal that they do not play for a year. So making it progressive to protect the athletes and that there are no injuries does not seem wrong to me, "analyzes Lucas Ostiglia, former player of Los Pumas and former coach of Hindú Club.
It should be noted that from the Argentine Rugby Union they warn that this new modality "
is not a change of regulation, but a preventive measure
that is going to be gradually lifted
."
In this sense, and in accordance with the official statement, the entity plans to maintain this standard "until the second phase can be passed, which will consist of pushing up to one and a half meters in all divisions."
Thus, and with an eye to the future, Sebastián Perasso, author of books on rugby and former manager of
coaching coaching
at the San Isidro Club, also offers his point of view: "
I think it is an exceptional determination
for exceptional times , pandemic in between, and that possibly in the short term the measure will be without effect and we will return to the push in the formation.
After such a great stop we must celebrate the return to activity
beyond the determinations for the sake of safety as the non-push, the prohibition of public attendance and the third half. All of them are pillars of our sport and we hope that they will return in a short time ".
Concussions in rugby and the memory of Jerónimo Bello
Steve Thompson (42 years old) leads a class action lawsuit against World Rugby, after being diagnosed with early dementia.
"I have no recollection of winning the World Cup in 2003," he said.
Photo Reuters.
Considering the importance of caring for the health of rugby players worth mentioning that in late December 2020 exploded in England the
allegations
of
former players renowned diagnosed with dementia
, accusing the Federation mother, the
World Rugby
,
of
not have cared for
and protected them as they should.
And also of not having warned them about the consequences of the repeated blows to the head.
There are multiple cases of players with severe damage to the brain,
concussions
are frequent
.
This is the case of Steve Thompson, Michael Lipman and Alix Popham, on trial against World Rugby, the English Union and the Welsh Union, respectively.
In addition, there is no lesser precedent in local rugby.
On Saturday, September 17, 2016, 35 minutes into the match between SIC and Newman, there was a collapse in a scrum that left
Jerónimo Bello
lying on the floor and unable to move.
From that moment on, the expilar of the San Isidro Club was left with
quadriplegia and total paralysis of its members
.
Jerónimo died four years later, in 2019. But his injury forever marked Argentine rugby.
Taking into account that it was the third case in a short period between the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016 (Juan Gastaldi from CASI and Ignacio Maeder from Duendes de Rosario were the others), the UAR decided to take measures so that this did not continue to occur.
The main changes were:
prohibiting pushing the formation more than one and a half meters
;
the
sum of an assistant referee
from the other side of the scrum;
the yellow card penalty for any infraction;
the obligation to
hookear
, as well as the qualification so that the pillars do it;
among other.
From that moment on, the thrust was reduced.
And now, they hope to go back to that so-called "phase two."
Although the decision is controversial, on the one hand it includes taking care of athletes and on the other, trying to gradually return to normality.
There is still no news about a possible free scrum, something that most of the practitioners of this sport long for.
For the moment, the good news is that he is back on the pitch, although without a "third time" and with a different scrum.
