THE new scrum laws implemented this season are still taking time to bed in, according to Worcester Warriors front-rower George Porter.

Former Plymouth Albion prop Porter, who has recently returned to action after a lengthy lay-off following shoulder surgery, insists the key element — as it always will be — is getting the referee on your side early in the contest.

The Gloucester-born loosehead, 24, said: “I don’t think anyone really knows the answer to who benefits most from the new scrum laws because it’s all so new and still developing.

“Week in, week out it is a totally different strategy against the different opposition.

“You have to watch what they do and what other sides have done against them, but it is much the same.

“There have been less free-kicks for going early and the scrums are more stable, but the new rules favours the dominant scrum more because it is stationary and then the re-drive comes, so on your own ball, if you are the dominant scrum, you can keep the ball in for longer and it’s more of a stable platform for the number eight to work from.”

Porter added: “You have to get the referee on your side early on and that’s what didn’t happen for us at Wasps.

“We gave away a few penalties early doors and, if you do that in any aspect of the game, you will get penalised again, even if you become dominant, because the perception will be that you are weaker in that area.

“You have to start well. To start with, the new rules took the hit out, but there is still a massive hit and there is only so much you can do to prevent that.

“People have adapted already and there are ways to still get a hit. You have to concentrate on yourself, but you’d be a fool not to analyse the opposition to find their weaknesses and strengths.”