SCRUM. FORMATION

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1935, Page 7

SCRUM. FORMATION

TARANAKI UNION DISCUSSION-

ADVANTAGES OF 3-3-2 PACK.

The weaknesses of the 3-4-1 scrum formation and the advantages of the 3’3-2 formation were expounded by Mr, C. Brown (Tukapa), in moving a remit at the annual meeting of the Taranaki Rugby Union at Stratford last night. The 3-3-2 scrum, he said, was merely the 2-3-2 pack with the extra man in the front row. The motion “that the Taranaki Rugby Union instruct its delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union that in all senior matches throughout New Zealand and in all New Zealand trial matches a 3-3-2 scrum be played” was defeated.

Until two or three years ago the scrum formation in New Zealand had been 2- said Mr Brown, but lately the 3- formation had been adopted. Since then he had scarcely seen an organised attempt to screw a scrum. If packs had no ability to do this there would be trouble on the British tour.

The 3-3-2 scrum was merely the 2-3-2 scrum with an extra man in the front row. The 2-3-2 formation had been proved the best and provided protection for the half not forthcoming in the 3-4-1.

Mr. Brown gave a lengthy explanation of scrum tactics under the different formations and stressed the need for heavier half backs if the 3-4-1 formation were persisted in. He admired Mr. Brown’s enthusiasm, said Mr. D. J. Malone, but he thought it merely beating the air to attempt _to change the methods of those selecting New Zealand teams.

Mr. R. C. Wilson pointed out that New Zealand had agreed to international rules. As long as it abided by that, agreement he did not see that they were bound to adopt any particular scrum formation, which might need to be altered according to circumstances. “That the delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union be instructed that the delegates to the English conference support an amendment to the scrum rule to the effect that the ball is legally in the scrum when it has passed the outside feet of the outside men on the side of the scrum on which it is being put in,” was a motion, submitted by the Tukapa club and moved by Mr. C. Brown. It was withdrawn on account of the provisions contained therein having already been incorporated as a new rule by the English conference.