The result also brought an end to the Lions\u2019 perfect record on Australian soil. Hopes of matching the legendary unbeaten 1974 tour were washed away.<\/p>\n
But while the defeat stung, it\u2019s the state of the scrum that\u2019s sparked widespread backlash online.<\/p>\n
One fan asked:\u00a0\u201cWhat\u2019s with the bloody second row feeds in the scrum now?\u201d<\/p>\n
Another fumed:\u00a0\u201cWhat\u2019s the point of a hooker anymore. Hookers don\u2019t hook.\u201d<\/p>\n
A third didn\u2019t hold back:\u00a0\u201cThese scrum feeds are getting out of control. What is the Georgian ref watching,\u201d<\/p>\n And a former front-rower chimed in:\u00a0\u201cAs a former front rower, the scrum is a farce at the minute due to the stupid feeds.\u201d<\/p>\n Another fan wrote: \u201cThe scrum is becoming pointless. Neither the Lions or Wallabies have fed the ball straight in THREE tests,\u201d <\/p>\n The message is clear \u2013 fans want action. Because right now, the set-piece is turning into a set-joke.<\/p>\n EDITORS PICKS:<\/p>\n \u201cGoodbye Caterpillar ruck\u201d \u2013 Three more rugby law changes for 2025<\/p>\n me from a place of respect for the game and a desire to see it continue to thrive.<\/p>\n World Rugby has made plenty of changes in recent years, and these ideas could be next.<\/p>\n 1. Fewer Substitutions<\/p>\n Rugby has changed significantly over the years, and one of the biggest shifts is how the bench is used. These days, teams often bring on almost an entirely new forward pack late in the game. Big, fresh players crash into tired defenders, making the final 20 minutes less about skill and endurance, and more about brute force. Many fans and former players feel this has turned rugby into a collision sport rather than a contest of stamina and intelligence.<\/p>\n Reducing the number of substitutions would encourage players to pace themselves. Space would open up in the second half, creating more opportunities for creative play rather than endless phases of pick-and-go. It would reward fitness, smart decision-making, and those capable of performing for the full 80 minutes.<\/p>\n Fewer substitutions wouldn\u2019t just make the game more exciting\u2014it would make it fairer, safer, and more in line with the spirit of what rugby has always been about.<\/p>\n With the rise of 6\u20132 and even 7\u20131 bench splits, pioneered by Rassie Erasmus, the trend seems to be heading in the opposite direction. That\u2019s all the more reason to act now.<\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-03-at-08.56.42-1024x555.png.webp.webp\"\/)
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