INTRODUCTION. By Graham Smith

As the lines of Defence at second, third and consecutive phases of play become increasingly well organised and disciplined, the possibility of direct attack from primary possession (in this case, the scrummage), which looks to penetrate becomes increasingly attractive. These possibilities ought to be more often considered.

But, for possibility to become reality, the primary phase itself must be of high quality, preferably perfect. Any primary possession which is less than "very good", markedly affects the degree of success of a subsequent attack - whether that attack is wide or narrow.

The scrummage therefore requires concentration, discipline and co-ordination. A sound scrummage will provide a dependable source of possession, and may be able to disrupt that of the opponents. A DOMINANT scrummage however, not only provides your team with excellent possession, but it is also a vehicle which can exhaust the opposition pack, and demotify and dispirit the opposition backs, for they will always be on the back foot, always under pressure.

THE WHOLE PICTURE

The scrum is a UNIT. It must act as a unit; all eight players must regard themselves and an eighth part of that UNITY, not as a single individual. Each must have this UNITY as his ideal, and must have the discipline not to get involved in individual battles. Each such battle diminishes the efficiency of the unit. For example, a confrontation between opposing props might reduce the unit's overall efficiency by 10% even 20%; the same with the hookers. A niggle between opposing flankers might lower the overall efficiency by 3%, perhaps 5%. A day-dreaming lock, should such a beast exist, by 8% - 9%. Put this together and the scrummage can become 25% less effective. This is a recipe for poor quality possession and the chance of any effective first phase attack gone. In these circumstances the No. * pick-up as a security manoeuvre, rehabilitating the scrum's inefficiency is probably all that is left. Attack wider - no chance.

INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATIONS

For each individual, the most important first consideration is his BODY POSITION. Each player must take up a position by which the force generated by the large muscles of the lower body, the quadriceps and gluteals particularly, can be transmitted effectively and SAFELY through the spine, the shoulders and the neck. This requires abdominal and back strength to protect the length of the spine, and of course , strength in the muscles of the shoulders and particularly the neck to stabilise the head. Strength and technique go hand in hand.

FOOT POSITION

Each player must position his feet to provide the balance and solidity required for this transmission of force to occur. Because some players will need to adjust their foot positions to allow the ball to travel through the scrummage, they may need to adapt their foot positions slightly. As a rule of thumb, however, each player, the hooker apart, should have his feet alongside each other, at least a shoulder-width apart. Wider is OK narrow not; and too wide will not allow effective power to be generated.

LEG POSITION

The leg position and action determine the player's effectiveness in both producing forward drive and resisting the opponent's shove. The power the legs can produce or resist is conditioned by the angle at the knee. With the thigh vertical, or near vertical, this angle should be maintained between 90° and 120°. The greater angle will be required by the props who need to be more upright in stance in order to provide a base on which, the locks can push. The other forwards can however, adjust their positions to achieve 90° at knee.

Diagram 1. Leg Position - Prop

Diagram 2. Leg Position - Other Forwards

THE BACK AND HEAD

Each player must keep his back almost horizontal with his head slightly higher than his hips, and the back slightly hollowed. Thrusting the top front edge of the pelvis backwards and downwards will achieve this hollowing effect. This, allied to a lift of the chin off the chest, with the shoulders shrugged and the eyes peering forward below the eyebrows, will put the player into the optimum position to produce forward power, and to resist that of the opponents

Diagram 3.

"FLAT BACK" AND THE HEIGHT OF THE SCRUM

Experienced and very physically strong front row players are able to alter the height of the scrummage quite legally in that their heads will remain higher than the hips, by their ability to change the angle at knee. This legitimate procedure can produce a significant disruption of the opposition scrummage. Since it is legal however, it ought not to be penalised, simply recognised as superior strength and technique by one player. The diagram below illustrates the procedure.

Diagram 4. This sequence shows great leg and back strength and trunk stability

A prop can thus legally force his opponent to scrummage lower, at a height he finds uncomfortable, and which is mechanically inefficient. When the opponent is unequal to the pressure he will normally do one of two things. First, he can move his feet further and further back to relieve the discomfort. See Diagram 5.

Diagram 5.

Eventually he may take his feet so far back that he goes to ground flat on his face with his legs straight out behind him. Should this cause the scrum to collapse it is of course illegal. Even if he doesn't go to ground the position he is forced to adopt allows less and less of the power generated behind him to be transmitted though on to the opposition.

Second, he will bend forward at the hip, his head gradually getting well below the line of the hip. This too is illegal and could force a collapsed scrummage. Because of the pressure from behind by his own lock the prop can be put into a seriously uncomfortable position. See Diagram 6.

Diagram 6.

He's caught in a vice, and his position becomes even more unpleasant should his superior opponent drive forward at him. This position is extremely painful, and the first option for the prop, if he's powerful enough is to LIFT the height of the scrummage. The next, and safe option, for the loose head is to slip his head outside the scrummage. Or he might be able to stand up. Failing all these, he may be forced to collapse the scrummage, rolling forwards and inwards.

Referees should look at the relative body position of the props in collapsing and collapsed scrummages. They may get some clues as to the cause of the collapse. But then props would never try to con the referee would they?

Interestingly, where props are of equal strength and ability it is not unusual for them both to go to ground on to their knees with their backs still relatively flat. See Diagram 7.

Diagram 7.

In this context, a shorter, but equally strong prop, say 5'9" / 5'10" will have a mechanical advantage over a taller one of 6' 1" / 6' 2" since he will naturally scrummage a t a height comfortable to him, whilst the taller prop will be forced to accommodate the additional 3" to 4" by disadvantageous angles at knee and / or hip. Remember the 1977 Lions - Tom Smith and Paul Wallace in South Africa?

A. COACHING THE SCRUMMAGE

I firmly believe that in coaching the scrummage, the first consideration should be with the length of the scrummage before dealing with its width. In this context the most important pairing to get right is the combination between lock and prop.

My reasoning in declaring that the prop/lock combination must be got right first, is that you must ensure that the lock can get his shoulder into the niche where the prop's buttock meets his thigh, and then be able to bind through the prop's legs, around his inner leg to take an absolutely firm grip on the waistband without strain. Subsequently the locks in binding together may be forced to stretch a little, but this is less important than is the strength of the bind between prop and lockchematic Representation">

Getting the prop/lock bind fixed first will help the prop to keep a square hip position on contact, and reduce the problem which can arise if he drifts outwards.

Coaching Drills

• Pairs of players - a front row player with a lock or No 8 behind him practise against a machine or against another pair. A flanker can he added to the combination so that the players work as a three; this will help the players recognise any idiosyncrasies which they may have in their techniques, and if necessary adjust them.
• Two front row players bind together, with a third, bound as a No 8. These practise competitively but with control against a similar group of three. (See diagram 9)

Diagram 9

• The six practise co-operatively to lower and raise the height of the unit by bending at the knee as described earlier. They work in sets of 5 repetitions.
• The six co-operate to move to the left or right so that they become accustomed to, and able to cope with, crabbing movements of the scrum.
• The six compete, one set attempting to wheel the 'mini-scrum', whilst the other resists and adjusts to this pressure.

B. BUILDING THE SCRUMMAGE

THE FRONT ROW

The major areas which need attention are:

• The shoulders, spine and neck which transmit force
• The hip position which provides a platform for the drive from the back five, and
• Foot positioning which determines the squareness of the scrummage

The scrummage functions as a horizontal unit, yet most front rows bind together standing upright. 1 would suggest the following change. - The hooker stands with his feet about shoulder width apart, his right foot slightly ahead of the left. He adopts a crouched position, leaning forward both arms bent at the elbow and stretched forward. He ensures that his back is slightly hollowed and his chest and shoulders square. [To get this position right is as important in its context as is a golfer's set-up before driving-off] See diagram 10

Diagram 10

The loose head steps in next, placing his right foot just inside the hooker's left foot (i.e. between the hooker's feet), and takes a tight bind over the upper back of the hooker into, or close to, his armpit. The loose head's right foot is directly inside and in-line with the hooker's left foot parallel to the touchline; his left foot, 6 to 10 inches forward of the right, just outside the line of the shoulders. He must place his feet so that THEY DO NOT MOVE, if at all possible, on engagement.

The tight head's pattern of action is similar arm. c steps in to the hooker, staying square at shoulder, chest and hip, and binds OVER the loose head's arm to the hooker's armpit. This will lock the loose head's arm in place. Because of their differing roles, the tight head can take up a stronger foot position with both feet shoulder width apart and parallel, rather than off-set. Once again, he must try to maintain this starting foot- position without SHUFFLING or ADJUSTMENT if possible, on engagement.

Once the three are bound together, the props should push their inside shoulders forward so that they are in front of the hooker This will tighten the binding even more, and squares up the scrum completely. Because the hooker had taken up the crouched starting position, the front row can now completely crouch, and present, sitting back, and NOT folding downwards. See Diagram 10

THE LOCKS

When working with novice players, the taller player should bind over the arm of the shorter. They should scrummage on that side of the unit they find most comfortable. With more experienced players it can be an advantage to have the physically bigger or the more powerful lock behind the tight head. This may help to counter the natural turn of the scrummage to the right. But, should the loose head be under pressure, perhaps the stronger scrummager should support him, and in all cases comfort is an overriding factor If players aren't comfortable, change things.

As I wrote earlier, the length of the scrummage is more important than its width. To this end, the locks bind with their props first, before binding with each other. This must be practised until it happens automatically. They reach through the prop's legs, as far round the upper thigh as possible to grip the waistband of the shorts. Then, when they reach to bind together they will square up themselves and the hips of the props. This also adds strength across the width of the scrummage.

The lock's shoulders start at the prop's mid thigh, and when the scrummage moves to engage, the shoulders slide up underneath the buttock at the top of the hamstring. The point of the shoulder pushes through the base of the prop's spine.

The locks' heads are 'in' between the props and hooker before engagement, looking up through the eyebrows to hollow the back. The props may need to adjust briefly at hip to allow the lock's head in.

There are three starting positions for the locks' legs prior to engagement. They can

• be on both knees
• have the inside knee on the ground
• Squat Top

I believe that there is no right or wrong way. The locks must decide which suits them best, but they should both use the same technique. They must also take account of what suits the front row in making their choice. Whatever system is adopted, complete comfort and minimal adjustment at engagement is the aim. At engagement, the locks' feet are about shoulder width apart, with the knee bent at 90', to produce as much drive as possible.

It is important that the lock learns how to 'read' his prop, to push when he says "Push", to hold when he needs stability. [see Technical Journal, Autumn 1999, Tim Rodber on the Modern Lock]. This comes with experience.

There is a trade-off between generating power and stability, and the locks will need to adjust their foot- positions to allow for this. If the scrummage is moving forward they will need to bring their feet progressively forward to maintain the optimum pushing position. If it is under pressure or going backwards, they will need to move their feet backwards, slightly wider apart, and lock out their knees.

ADDING THE BACK ROW

The flankers should, if possible, bind with the locks (in each case with the lock farthest away, as you'll read later) before the locks bind with the props. In every case, however, they must he down, set and bound before engagement. Their body position is identical to that of the locks, and they bind as high across the locks' backs as is comfortable on to the shirt of the farther lock. This secures the scrummage across its width most effectively.

The flankers drive directly forward against as much of the prop's buttock as they can. They drive, with their ,spines in line', in the direction the scrum is intended to go - be it straight or to produce a wheel. The idea that they might push inwards to support the prop seems to me to be faulty. But, remember, I'm expecting a major input from the lock in keeping the props square. Consider the following force diagrams. Which is most efficient? see diagram 11

Diagram 11

Incidentally, how would you push a car which had broken down - at an angle or directly forward?

The flankers first responsibility is each as one eighth of the scrummaging unit. Their minds, their efforts must be wholly fixed on the scrummage, NOT on some secondary aspect of play which might follow the scrummage. Many a cunning plan has failed because the back row's minds have been elsewhere. Having said this, once the scrummage is over, they must switch their minds to their secondary attacking or defensive duties.

The No 8 is the last to bind. He binds firmly around both locks, pulling their hips tightly against his neck and shoulders. His pushing position is exactly like that of every other member of the back five.

He may for particular reasons - controlling ball through channel 1, certain back row moves, or combining with the scrum half, - pack down between the flanker and the left lock.

C. ENGAGEMENT

Prior to engagement, the front row drop slightly adjust below the horizontal so that they can DRIVE from low to high, so that their backs are hollowed, and they are muscularly tight and square across the chest and shoulders. Their heads are up, shrugged into the shoulders, eyes looking from under their eyebrows directly at the target area they will contact on engagement.

The TIGHTHEAD is 4 - 6 inches ahead of the loose head, and leads the scrum in. The hooker however normally controls the timing of the engagement, and is in reality the 'captain' of the scrummage. The tight head sets the height of the scrummage as directed by the hooker. If, for example, the hooker at a particular scrummage wants the height set a little lower, to discomfort the opposition he will instruct the tight head to do it.

The tight head engages with controlled force over the top of the opposition loose head's head, on to the top of his spine. He directs the drive forward and down the length of the loose head' s spine, attempting to move him backwards.

The LOOSE HEAD must try to get the back of his head up and into the sternum of the opposing tight head. From this position, he must press constantly upwards to prevent any lowering of the scrummage. It will help in this if he can negate or at least diminish any pressure the tight-head can exert with his arm. To do this, he binds at the tight-head's arm pit, and then pulls his own elbow backwards keeping his arm as close to his side and as short as he can. This will reduce the disruptive effect which the tight-head can have by using his arm. (see diagram 12)

The HOOKER should operate as low as he can without discomfort. He helps maintain the upper body tightness of the props, and the comfort of the locks by pushing his hips slightly forward. On 'their' put-in, he may wish to scrummage directly against his opposite number, forcing him (legally of course) to work at an uncomfortable height; on 'our' ball, he is likely to combine with the loose-head in order to counter the potentially disruptive action of their tight-head.

Diagram 12

D. AFTER THE ENGAGEMENT - "HIT AND CHASE"

Once the front rows have engaged, it is vital that having made the 'Hit', that the unit as a whole 'Chases' the hit through. The front row will have engaged by driving slightly upwards 'from low to high', and in a perfect sequence, have made no foot adjustment whatsoever. Immediately, to develop forward momentum, or to resist opposition push, the unit must move forward again. This requires short, fast controlled foot movements from the players in unison. By moving as one, the eight players in the scrummage will ensure that its essential stability is retained.

This section has been developed from a presentation and practical session Graham Smith gave at the Southern Regional Conference in 22 July 2000. At the same time Graham is working towards his Level IV RFU Coaching Qualification. Part of that assessment requires the candidate to produce 2,000 words on an area of the game in which that candidate feels most competent. This presentation was used to fulfil, that requirement. It was published in the Autumn 2000 RFU Technical Journal.

Graham Smith played for Mosely, England U23 and Scotland A. He is currently the Youth Development Officer for North Midlands and coach the the England U17 Development Group

We are grateful that he has allowed us to use his presentation to help build the the scrummage section of coachingrugby.com