Scrum
Presentation, England
By
Brian O’Shea
Importance of Scrum in the
Contemporary Game
There are now fewer scrums in a typical game of
Scrum Law has created a change in the relative importance of players in
the scrum. It has gradually created a shift from tighthead dominance to
loosehead dominance. Unless a scrum today has a strong and technically
proficient tighthead to counter loosehead dominance, it cannot perform.
Although a lot of emphasis is placed on the contribution of players in general
play it is essential that the tighthead prop can scrum adequately.
Developing Scrummaging Skills
It is more productive to
develop the individual technical skills required than to spend most of the time
on the total scrum. Practice emphasis should be placed on the development of
good body shape, power generation from the legs and stability necessary to
control the delivery of the power generated. If the individual parts of the
scrum are “polished up”, the total scrum will quickly fit together.
Coaching Individual Scrummaging Skills
The forces generated in a scrum can be considerable and it is in the
interests of all participants that they understand the correct techniques of
generating force and of resisting force. The starting point for coaching
scrummaging is to understand the individual body shape required of all
participants. Essentially they need to have:
§
A stable base, which is provided by placing the
feet at approximately shoulder-width apart. If the feet are placed too close
together the player will lack stability and if the scrum moves sideways, at
best they will be unable to push effectively and more than likely they will be
in danger of injury caused by falling over. If the feet are placed more than 10
cm wider than shoulders, there is a drastic reduction on the capacity to
generate or resist force and this causes a similar risk of injury. It is
essential that both feet are always behind the hip joint or the players are
unable to generate a forward component in their push and thus unable to protect
themselves from opposition push.
§
A bend at the knees which provides an angle of
approximately 110-115°, which permits power generation by the legs. This
position is a “trade-off” between the generation of dynamic power and the
length of push that can be achieved. If the bend at the knees is not adequate
the distance gained by the push is hardly worthwhile. If the bend at the knees
is too great the loss of mechanical advantage makes it difficult to be dynamic.
§
High hips, which facilitate the use of the powerful
gluteus muscles. For people in the front row and the locks this is very
important because it also ensures that the players behind them have a near
vertical surface on which to push. The hips should not be higher than the
shoulders.
§
A straight, flat back to transmit force from the
lower body, where it is generated, to the opposition scrum. This is facilitated
by adjusting both ends of the spine slightly. The chin should be kept up and
the pelvis tilted to the back.
All players must be able to adopt the body shape described above and to
maintain it during a variety of scrum activities including generating force,
resisting force, moving sideways, forwards or backwards.
This body shape is fundamental to all aspects of contact and is
essential for success in tackling, ruck and maul. It is recommended that
considerable time be devoted to mastering the adoption and use of this
technique, and exercises involving 1v1 will give much better long-term results
than practicing a full scrum with players who have not yet mastered individual
body shape
Common Faults of Individuals
§
Players over-extending. This means that they have
placed their feet too far back and are in danger of collapsing. Players must be
encouraged to adjust their feet position with short steps whenever a scrum
moves.
§
Failure to squeeze down with the hips when pushing
with the legs. Unless a substantial effort is made in this regard the force
generated by the legs will not be transmitted into the opposition scrum.
§
Failure to keep the body square to the line of
force. As a rule front row players are better off pushing into a force than by
trying to avoid it by moving away from it.
§
Failure to keep the chin forward and through.
Building a Scrum
A team should have a set procedure for setting a scrum. The following
order is recommended:
§
The hooker, who is central to the scrum, should
hurry to the mark and adopt the following setup for a loose head scrum. Feet
shoulder-width apart with the right foot about 20 cm in front of the left (heel
to toe). Knees slightly bent, backside out, back flat and arms either
outstretched or hands behind head.
§
The props if possible should approach from behind
and setup from the bottom. Their first action is to place their inside foot
near to the foot of the hooker and pointing straight upfield.
The hips are then squared up and placed alongside of those of the hooker. The
final step is to grip the hooker. The loosehead prop grips first at chest
height whereas the tighthead prop grips the hooker at the waistband of the
shorts. The front row setup is then completed by the hooker binding over the
shoulders and under the armpits of the two props. It is important that when the
front row adopt a crouched position they have hips that are square to the
opposition thus when force is generated from behind them it will be transferred
through their spines and not tend to push them outwards. Front row players
should not assemble directly opposite their opponent but opposite the slot that
they will move into during their engagement. This is referred to as
‘offsetting’, and this will enable the force generated by both scrums to be
absorbed across the shoulders of the front row rather than through their necks.
§
The locks must achieve good shoulder contact with
the backside of the prop. This is their primary task and must be their first
objective. In order to achieve this the head should be thrust between the hips
of the hooker and the prop and the shoulder position under the backside. If it
is placed too high, the lock will be ineffective and will slip over the prop’s
back. If it is placed too low, the thrust is on the hamstring of the prop. This
can best be done without putting knees on the ground, by maintaining high hips
during the preparation phase. After the shoulder position is achieved the two
locks can bind on one another. The position of the bind depends on their length
of arm and should be down towards the waistband of the shorts.
§
The flankers have a similar priority to the locks
in that firm and continual shoulder contact with the backside of the prop is
achieved. They should be able to push parallel to the locks and a high backside
during the preparation phase is desirable. Essentially the scrum consists of
two units of three (prop, lock and flanker), bound together at the front by the
hooker and at the back by the number 8.
§
The number 8 is the last player to join the scrum.
They can use the time whilst the other players are forming up to observe the
positioning of opposition players. If the locks have assembled with high
backsides it is easy for the number 8 to join the scrum prior to engagement.
§
It is important that there is no forward pressure
on the front row prior to engagement. The front row must be able to hold a
crouched position with the weight on the front of their feet to ensure a short
engagement that does not disrupt their scrum structure. If the locks and
flankers setup with the high backside it is less likely to put forward force on
the front row.
Functional Roles for each
Position
No.1.
Own ball primary role: ensure hooker is not under pressure and can channel
ball.
Opposition ball primary
role: dislodge opposition No.3. That
is don’t permit them a tight head lead.
Key Points Sequence on Own Ball
§
Take a grip quickly on opposition during engagement
and pull him out and towards you.
§
Keep hips square by bending inside knee and forcing
hips down and in.
§
Draw head under opposition’s chest in a quick
action involving both arms. Right arm pulls hooker to No.1. and prevents the
opposition from escaping under the hooker. Left arm pulls head under chest with
quick aggressive action.
§
Chase weight with quick short steps to prevent
over-extension of self or collapse by opposition No.3..
No.2.
Own ball primary role: hook in channel without destabilising
scrum.
Opposition Ball primary
role: pressure opposition hooker or work
with loose head to dislodge opposition tight head.
Hooker should have a chin
focus.
Key Points Sequence on Own Ball Scrums.
§
Pull chest through on crouch so opposition hooker
or tight head cannot get under shoulders during engagement.
§
During engagement drive the right shoulder at the
opposition hooker. Use left foot to help drive. The further the hooker can
drive his shoulders through the opposition scrum, the more easily his role is
performed & his body position is safer.
§
On strike turn hips but not shoulders which must be
kept in low position.
§
After strike square off shoulders and hips and pull
chest through. This will help lower the scrum height and to resist opposition
pressure until the ball is delivered to the halfback.
No.3.
Own ball primary role: achieve right side lead on engagement to assist
scrum stability.
Opposition ball primary role: attack the hooker and split the hooker/loose head
prop bind.
Tighthead should focus on chest and chin. In particular the tighthead should work into opposition pressure & not go
with it, otherwise his body shape is easily destroyed.
Key Points Sequence on Own Ball.
§
Set up with feet in advance of No.1.
§
Get low arm bind on opposition loose head at the
touch.
§
Immediately prior to engagement drop body height
about 5 cm. by bending knees.
§
Push the right arm down and through on engagement
to weaken the grip of the opposition No.1.
§
When weight comes on rotate the left wrist forward,
slip under hooker and keep both shoulders low.
Notes For All Front Row Positions
§
Set up from the
bottom. Inside foot, then hips, and lastly binds
§
All height
adjustment to be made at the knees.
§
Work hard on own
ball scrums.
§
Have correct foot
and hip position before taking bind as it is difficult to adjust after the
locks have entered the scrum.
Middle 4
Primary roles:
1. To generate speed of engagement for the front row.
2. To provide downward and forward pressure to stabilise the front rows’ hips & to enable the front
row to use their upper body strength effectively.
Note:
§
On no account
should the middle 4 place forward pressure on the front row prior to
engagement. It is essential that the front row have their weight as far forward
as possible prior to engagement.
§
The middle 4
should operate as units of two behind each prop. The binds between the two
locks are of lesser importance than the positioning on the front row &
should be done after positioning shoulders on the front row. The No. 8 will
hold them together. If the two locks bind tightly before joining the scrum they
are unlikely to attain a strong shoulder position. Also if the scrum wishes to
set the tighthead side in advance of the loosehead side the locks need to operate independently.
Key Point Sequence
§
Set up on feet
(not knees) with locks` shoulder directly under the tip of the prop’s spine.
§
Drive forward on
engagement with a slightly downward direction.
§
Minimise foot movement
during set up and engagement.
Note:
All players in scrum should have abdominal muscles on
and chin and chest through when pushing.
No.8.
Primary Roles:
1.
To push
2.
To control the
ball
Key Points
§
The No 8 is the
last to engage and therefore has the opportunity to view the positioning of
opposition players.
§
The No 8 must
have shoulders in contact with the locks prior to engagement.
Own Ball Scrum Sequence
1. The hooker should be first to the scrum & set the
height by bending his knees, with the right foot approximately 20cm in front of
the left foot.
2. Props set up quickly starting with the inside foot,
then squaring the hips and finally the binds. No.1. binds on the hooker at
chest level and No.3. binds on the hooker at the waistband of the shorts. Hips
together and square.
3. Front row prepares for engagement on crouch by
sighting target area, pushing chest and chin through. The engagement should be
short & firm, & all players must have their chins up & abdominal
muscles on. A scrum should ‘hit and stick’ on engagement ie
there must be no bounce or disruption to the structure.
4. Middle 4 anticipates the engage signal and provides
speed for engagement by driving the front row into opposition & wedging
their hips.
5. On the call “ready” tighten the binds and sink the
knees forwards.
6. On the call “now” drive the hips through and extend
the legs. Chase the weight with small steps.
7. Repeat the ready/now sequence if called for.
Post Engagement Problem Solving
In relation to
post-engagement problems and their causes, the following may be useful
guidelines:
§
If the scrum
collapses on engagement, check the squareness of the
front row and that they are engaging with shoulders at least as high as their
hips.
§
If the scrum is
collapsing subsequent to engagement, check that the players have a stable
spread of feet and that they are not over-extending.
§
If the scrum is
unstable and tends to wheel on your own ball, check that the tighthead prop has led in, that is, the shoulders are in
front of the shoulders of the loosehead prop.
How To Counter A Wheeling Scrum
§
The most important counter to opposition wheeling
your scrum is achieved on setup & engagement. If the tighthead side is
setup slightly in advance of the loosehead side & on engagement the
tighthead props’ shoulders are in front of the loosehead props’ shoulders, it
is extremely difficult for the opposition to achieve a wheel before the ball
can be won & distributed. The margin required for a tighthead lead depends
on the strength & technique of the individual prop, & the two players
immediately behind him. A strong unit can achieve stability from a square
position but a weaker unit may need a lead of some 10cm over the loosehead
side.
§
If the opposition attempts to wheel it can be
defeated by prompt reaction. The tighthead prop gives a pre arranged call &
the entire scrum steps right until stability is achieved. In order to keep the
scrum structure during this movement, the players on the left hand side of the
scrum must force the movement to the right & the flanker on the right hand
side keeps pressure on his side of the scrum. The step right reaction is more
effective if the tighthead prop drives his head under the opposition prop
before moving to the right.
How to Practice Scrummaging
Make sure that
players are properly warmed up before practicing scrummaging. This may involve
a general warmup and a scrum
specific shoulders and legs warmup.
All scrum practice should
be highly specific with players knowing precisely what is to be achieved in the
session.
The Role of a Scrum Machine and of Live Scrummaging
Scrum machines can provide considerable assistance in developing scrum
technique, coordination and endurance. They can be used for any combination
from individual engagements to a full eight. They do not provide the reality of
opposed scrummaging and for this reason the more experienced and skilful a
scrum becomes more emphasis should be placed on live scrummaging. A coach
should not rely totally on scrum machine practice.
Practice Activities on the
Machine
§
Individual
Players Hit and Stick emphasising bodyshape and
abdominal muscle control
§
Units of 3 on
Machine (1, 4, 6) (3, 5, 7)
Places
the props under more pressure and ensures body shape preparation prior to
engagement.
§
3 on Machine (1,
2, 3)
Coordination
of shove.
All push chest and chin through.
Keep
shoulders flat.
§
5 on Machine (1,
2, 3, 4, 5)
Repeat
above exercise.
4
and 5 bind on each other’s shorts
Push
elbow through on engagement and when pushing.
Drive
down on props on engagement and lock the prop’s hips in position.
§
7 on Machine (1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Repeat
above exercise with emphasis on middle 4 throwing the front row into the
engagement.
§
8 on Machine
Repeat
above exercise with emphasis on snap shove.
Note
“Chasing the weight” is important
in all the above exercises to ensure that a powerful body shape is maintained.
Live Scrum Practice.
All opposed activities must be carefully supervised and be specific in
what is to be achieved. If an 8v8 situation is used then the engagement must be
controlled carefully and scrum should replicate match conditions by being short
and having recovery time in between scrums. The recovery time can be provided
by moving to a new spot for the next scrum.
A. Utilising Individuals and Units
§
1v1 activities with
emphasis on maintaining body shape.
a)
Back packing or moving backwards whilst maintaining
body shape.
b)
Forward packing or moving forwards whilst
maintaining body shape.
c)
Lateral packing or moving sideways whilst
maintaining body shape.
§
2v2 activities and
3v3 activities as per 1v1 but emphasising bindings and coordination.
§
1v1 (1v3 with
emphasis on upper body activity)
§
3v3 (front row
units)
§
3v3 (1, 4, 6 v
3, 5, 7)
§
4v4 (1, 2, 4, 6
v 3, 5, 7, 8)
B. Utilising Full Scrum
On Own Ball
1. Practice control/reaction to opposition.
§
No.1. keeps firm
bind on hooker and inside hip thrust forward.
§
No.2. must not
let opposition under either shoulder. Keep shoulders down and through.
§
No.3. avoids
angling by opposition loosehead. Keep both shoulders low
and transfer opposition pressure onto opposition hooker.
§
If opposition
attempts a wheel – T.H.P. calls and scrum moves to the right. T.H.P. slips head
under opposition prop before moving to the right.
§
Role of right
side flanker in keeping scrum stable.
2. Practice delivery options.
On Opposition Ball
1. Attacking Quarter Wheel and Drive
§
After strike 3 +
2 keep inside shoulder down and step forward left (45°)
§
1 keeps inside
hip in and steps forward.
§
Scrum then
settles and drives (45°) to right.
§
This squeezes
the opposition No.3. and makes it easy to destroy their scrum.
2. Shove and Delayed Shove.
Timing and coordination are
essential.
Safety Aspects of
Coaching the Scrum
Scrum injuries tend to occur either at engagement or at a scrum collapse
subsequent to engagement.
Engagement can be made safer by:
§
Ensuring that the front row setup opposite their
engagement slot rather than directly in front of their opposition. (offsetting)
§
Ensuring that the scrum can hold a crouched
position with front row weight forward, chins up and eyes on the engagement
slot. This leads to a short, well-supported engagement.
§
Ensuring that the members of the scrum only have to
move forward and that there is no vertical component in the engagement.
§
Ensuring that players have an appropriate physique
to be selected in the front row and are properly trained in the requirements of
the position before playing in a match. Avoid placing players with long necks
in front row positions.
§
The coach should be aware of the total volume of
opposed work and that injuries are more likely to occur when players become
tired. The coach should restrict inexperienced players to no more than ten
opposed scrums at any one session. These should be done in groups with some
advice from the coach after each 2-4 scrums.
Scrum collapses can be minimised by:
§
Ensuring that players have correct boot studs for
the conditions.
§
Avoiding over-extending by practicing “chasing the
weight”. This means that players must become skilled at adjusting their feet if
the scrum moves forward.
If the “Mayday” procedure is applied, force will immediately be relieved
from the player's neck and even if the opposition continues to push, they will
slide over the top of the collapsed scrum. It should be emphasised that a “mayday”
procedure cannot be implemented unless all players have both feet behind their
hips. This is a crucial safety requirement for scrummaging.
Brian O’Shea