Correct you are, and I put it down to the astounding discipline of modern-day players in that it is a scenario I rarely come across.

What alerted me to it was interestingly enough, the Wigan players clearly badgering the referee for saying that they were one short in the scrum. I shall take solace in that I wasn't alone in thinking it looked odd - again, I accept I was completely wrong.

Wrong. They have the choice whether to have one less at the scrum or the line. Teams often have the full scrum in attack to allow the loose forward pick-up and counter the push, but a depleted scrum in defence so the back line isn't short.

What's with the aggressive response.


However do show me the law that states that is so. or is it just an interpretation?

I think that statement sums up one of the current issues within the game. A lot of laws are ignored or changed depending on the current interpretation. Quotes from the rule book are largely irrelevant as it's the RFL and referees interpretation that matters.

Not sure where you have got aggression from there. I corrected your (arrogant) assumption that the officials just don't care/realise something so basic, and furthermore explained how teams tend to work with it. I've no idea whether it's a law or an interpretation, but it's been the way the game has been played at all levels at least in the 16 years I've been involved, so it's not like anything has changed, or that it's really causing any problems as far as I can tell.

The next paragraph to the one mentioned above in the rules state...

[iForward withdrawing 3. A forward may detach himself from the scrum at any time provided there are not already seven players acting as backs on his team.[/i

...which would mean that a scrum needs to be formed with a full complement of 6 forwards, but that up to 3 of these can detach and join the backs before the ball is put-in (if there are less than 7 backs due to injuries or dismissals).

An "interpretation" of this might be for refs to ignore the need to form the scrum with all 6 players in the interests of keeping the game moving? In much the same way that the requirement to exercise the put-in correctly is ignored - [iThe ball shall be put into the scrum from the Referee’s side by holding it in a horizontal position with a point in each hand and rolling it along the ground into the tunnel formed by the opposing front row forwards.[/i This is still in the current rules!