Guinness Premiership uncontested scrum?

Question

In the second half, after Leicester kicked the ball into touch down near the Wasps' try line, the ball was put back into play with an uncontested scrum. Why is that? Why would a scrum ever be uncontested in union play? I'm used to seeing that in league play, but not in union!

Please be nice ... I'm still learning the game. :)

Answer 1

I haven't watched much Northern Hemisphere rugby until recently.  What did strike me was the uncontested scrum.  It looks to me like it is a bit of a tactic.  Late in the game 2 props become unavailable and so - uncontested scrums.  This then allows the coach to bring on another flyer, usually a flanker.

Answer 2

I didn't see the game, but an uncontested scrum will be used if someone is playing in an unfamiliar position (eg. a prop gets injured and there is no reserve on the bench that plays that position so a flanker goes into prop). Or else, if a ref believes the scrum is not engaging properly, and it is becoming dangerous, he can decided that uncontested scrums are to be used. It's all for safety reasons. PS. Uncontested scrums are also called Golden Oldie scrums down here in New Zealand.