SEVEN-MAN SCRUM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 4

SEVEN-MAN SCRUM

‘■BILLY’’ STEAD’S OPINION NO EQUAL FOR DRIVING POWER Mr. W. J. (“Billy”) Stead, the noted New Zealand Rugby [flayer of 1903 to 1908 had the following to say regarding the seven-man New Zealand scrummage: “Of course, English and Welsh sides, who tried this formation without the full knowledge, naturally pushed straight ahead, as their instinct and experience told them to do. The result in such cases is that the side-row men are rendered next to useless, for, while their own force when applied straight forward on the hookers is much less than it ought to be, the back-row men also pushing straight in front are pushing the side men out. so that the latter almost entirely lose their hold on the hookers. “Without wedge formation the push straight ahead is an absurdity which can lead to nothing but disaster, and we are not surprised that our opponents who copied us were more mystified than ever after doing so. “but even with the formation of eight which they had against us, the push straight in” front surely is a mistake. There is nothing in the nature of a common centre —only several struggling, uncontrolled forces, with a great waste of power through the side men in the front row being pushed out by the middle row. “We believe, and think all others uclicve when they understand it, that our formation has no equal for driving power, and that with seven men, equal to eight on the English system, it cannot be improved upon.”