In the Highlanders' first game against the Crusaders, a whopping 21 minutes and 42 seconds - more than quarter of the game - was spent on scrums.
Last Friday night against the Reds at Forsyth Barr Stadium was no better.
Alhough the Otago Daily Times does not have the actual time soaked up by the scrums it was more than enough.
Two scrums lasted more than two minutes while one scrum lasted three and a-half minutes.
That lengthy stoppage included three reset scrums, and then a reformed scrum when referee Glen Jackson penalised the Highlanders with a free kick.
But it is hopefully going to be only a temporary thing as players adjust to new interpretations and fewer scrums are contested in the match.
Former All Black prop Kees Meeuws said the scrum was always going to have that bedding-in period when a new interpretation was introduced.
''The referees put out a memorandum last year after Super rugby and the ITM Cup and it was that there were a lot of heads resting on shoulders,'' he said.
''Now they have come out and said everything has to be clearer. There can't be that resting. You've got to have bodies on bodies.
''The thing is with scrums if you have anything new there is going to have to be a little bit of leeway given. Teams have to get used to it again.''
He said the Highlanders scrum had shown some growth from the first game to the next and would continue to improve over the weeks.
Meeuws said in scrums which were not dominant the forwards were moving their bodies before the ball was in which should be picked up by the referee.
''But at the beginning of the competition people are always focusing on so many penalties at scrum time. But it will settle down and come right.''
Teams were also prone to make more mistakes at the start of the year which created more scrums.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said after last Friday night's match when both teams were looking to scrummage hard there was potential for penalties.
''When there is a real desire to stay in there for a long time there are going to be mistakes. Guys are going to lose footing and stuff like that,'' Joseph said.
''You can't put the ball in until the scrum is steady and the scrum is not steady because everyone is pushing before the ball comes in. I think they are looking at it.
''But it is just that competitiveness because before the ball comes in front rowers are looking to get the edge. The letter of the law is you can't do that and that is what the referee has to deal with.''
