RUGBY PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 82, 3 October 1929, Page 6

RUGBY PROBLEMS

SCRUMMAGE FORMATION

TWO-THKEE-TWO FAVOURED

The relative merits of the eight pack against the seven pack have been made the subject if special study by Mr. G. W. Slade, a former chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union. One of the objects of his recent visit to Australia was :to give further attention to the two scrummage formations, and he is now satisfied that the- New Zealand formation is the better. In the eight pack the formation, is 3-2-3, while the New Zealand formation is 2-3-2, the lock or pivot being the centre man in the second row.

Dealing with the eight pack, Mr. Slade states: -"To illustrate clearly, I will designate the front row players A, B, C; the second row D and E and he back row F, G, and H. Players, F j and H are known as breakaway for-j wards. The' forwards go down into & scrummage, thus: Front row, A, B C; middle row. D and E.pack in behind the front row nieu; whilis F, G and H pack in behind the middle - row men. The ball is put into the scrummage and passes-player A, leaving B to hook the ball with his inside foot, for, aecordiug to.English Rugby Union rules, the ball must pass both feet of a player of each .t.eam before it is to be hooked. In all'matehes I saw played in New South .Wales (international and club) I.noticed, that the player A, when the refereet-.was' watching on the side the ball was; put in, followed the ball into the scrummage with his outside foot. • 'j New' South Wales • referees base their authority for permission to do this-on an interpretation of the rules of the English-Eugby Union (Law 15). Seetion_ (bVstates that 'the ball is not tairly. in: the scrummage until it has been:put in.straight, has touched the ground -between the opposing players, and. has passed.both feet of a player of eaehiteam.' And a further ruling is given that 'a player who moves either root beyond the front line of his forwards before the/ball is fairly in the scrummage.shall bo treated as wilfully preventing.' To me it seems a physical impossibility to follow the ball in with the- outside, foot ana not commit a breach of the scrummage rule. The penalty, fbr such a breach is a free kick. What happened when the refe.ee was on the blind side of the scrummage? The player A had no hesitation in hooking' the' ball with his inside foot, with the result that more often than not the ball did not go correctly into the scrummage. . "WHY THE EXTRA MAN? "Beading this rule as I do, I cannot see what is the need of the extra man in the front row.. It is clear according to Rugby law that the ball should pass the player A,, and that player B is the one who should hook the ball, so I pass on to that player. Assuming that B hooks the ball (with cithor foot) he immediately upsets the balance of the front ,roy, and throws extra weight on to C, who'should support him, the ball having been put in from the opposite side. B having successfully hooked the ball, D and E, hooking with inside feet, send the ball to G, and in correct theory the ball should go out at the back of the scrummage between this player's legs, for the half-back to get possession. Owing to the irregular passage of the ball, through this style of scrummage the ball; does not come put clearly at the back; and in most cases makes its exit through the sides. I will now deal ivith players F and H, who are known as breakaway forwards, the reason of which, no doubt, is to counter the wingforward. Let us pay these breakaways a littlo attention. I have no hesitation m stating that these players are 'shiners,' as they'aro in the scrummage and not in the scrummage. Theoretically they aro in the back row to apply their weight and shove, but as the Rugby song aptly states, 'They don't shove at all.' Practically they are two wing-forwards. It is obvious that the strength of:the eight pack is narrowed down to three players, as it .has been amply demonstrated that playors F imkl H do not apply their full weight into tho pack, thus leaving a very unbalanced scrum, s THE SEVEN PAok. "Let us now tako tho advantages of the seven pack, and for tho purposo of illustrating I will designate the front row L and M, tho second row N, O, P, ,and-the back row Q and R. Tho duties of these playors aro definite L and M hook tho ball with the inside foot according to the sido from which the,ball is put in. Ois tho lock or pivot of tho scrum; N aud P givo him tho nocessury support, whilo Q and It apply the weight when required. Tho ball is put into the scrummago and goes past L, according to law. M hooks tho ball with his inside foot, L then immediately props with hia insido foot, so as to guide the/ball through the legs of O, the lock,! whoso duty it is to lock the' scrum coiveetly aud to screw the scrum when desired. -The ball having passed the logs of*o, it ia left clear to bo hooked by Q and R, both playors using their inside feet, and should como out clear and smartly for tho hulf-back to handle.

"Tho wedge-shaped formation of the soven pack is designed for strength with tho whole five players behind the hookers applying their full weight. Can the same be said for the eight pack? I submit- not.. It will be seen from tho foregoing that in a seven pack every player has definite work to do in a scrummage, while the weight is scientifically applied, whereas in tho eight pack the ball has an irregular passage, with at least thrco players 'shining.s The weight, therefore, cannot be applied to Ua proper strength. Again, in the eight pack at least flvo players have to participate m the actual hooking of the baU, aB against three players in the sevonmck to bring about the same re suit*

■ Mr. Slade adds: "I would like to ex press.an opinion that the methods of the player whose duty it is to put the ball fairly and correctly in the scrumniage, should be more carofuly scruti^ ised;by the referee, and thu^ ™t ™ efeedtive.stopper on the litlebricks that are now worked off. This Ltei » as weU to"! u r t e h Africa, Australia, and New Zealand "