In rugby union, what are the attacking benefits of having a strong scrum?

Question

For example, in the England v Australia match in the Rugby World Cup quarter final 2007, what attacking advantages did a strong scrummager like Andrew Sheridan confer to the team?

Answer 1

My mate swears that a good scrum will drag in all the other teams heaviest players thus allowing breaks down the wings.

xxR

Answer 2

it makes no difference at all, allblacks have the best most dominant scrum in tthe world and they still lost because they had a p**s poor half back and a backline of too many chiefs.

Answer 3

If it is your put in then a strong scrum can gain you a few yards towards the try line and then allow you to unleash the backs.

If it is the opponents put in then driving them backwards in their own scrum will demoralise the opposition and put their forwards on the back foot this then allows your Flankers to burst from the scrum and attack the ball.

Answer 4

You just have to look at what happened to Australia and Fiji to see what having a strong scrum does, it is a pity about Fiji but if your scrummaging is no good then you are not going to beat the top sides, so sorry to Scotland in advance.

Answer 5

if you have been in a scrum you will know how exhausting it can be, and if your not making much progress it can also be demoralising especial if the ball just keeps going back down your end and you have to start to build another attack from the back again.