SCRUMMAGE PROBLEMS

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19597, 8 June 1935, Page 20 (Supplement)

SCRUMMAGE PROBLEMS

TARANAKI’S EXPERIENCE. FAILURE OF 3-4-1 METHOD. OONFOiRMING TO NEW 'RULES. TAn analytical study of scrumm&ffe problems in Rugby footbah wbb recently given by “ Side Row, * w rlter In the Taranaki Dally Rows. He considers the unwieldy 3 ‘ 4 ; 1 be a failure and to substantiate bis claims be gives ■curred recently on tbe Held In Tara naKi club Rugby.] The adoption of a new so-rummage rule ‘this year and iihe interpretation of it by referees is the most fruitful topic of conversation in the Rugby world at present. The referees’ viewpoint of certain side-issues has met with adverse comment from many sources, but it seems to “Side-Row” that there is one aspect that stands out —and that Is that the change is a definite invitation to New Zealand to get back to the scrum formation of old, the ‘diamond” pack, known as the 2- There will be strenuous opposition—there always Is to any change—but “Side-Row” thinks it can be justified. The purpose of the new rule regarding the lifting of feet is in its essentials well explained by Mr L. Retter in his report of the referees’ conference at Invercargill. He says: “ Each of the ‘first three feet oan toe lifted as soon as the ball passes them, but the fourth foot can play the ball as soon as it passes the first foot. The point to be remembered Is that the ball must pass one foot of a player of each team. “ It Is agreed that the scrummaging of recent years has been a weakness in the play In New Zealand. I am going to suggest to referees that if the ball gets fairly Into the scrummage—that Is, on the ground past the first foot of a player on eaoh side—the whole intent of the rule has been carried out. And when this happens referees should be prepared to allow the play to go on, provided the seoond and third feet do not play the ball before the fourth. “ To carry out the intention of the rule, the. hooking feet in the scrummage are the first and the fourth, and the old-time method of hooking with the outside foot when there were two men down in-the front of the scrummage, will oome hack into tbe playing of the game. lam one of those who believed that this method of hooking the ball was the best and the most effective one, and hail with pleasure the fact that it will once again become a marked feature of the playing of the game in New Zealand. And, In my opinion, it will make for an improvement in the play.” Harder to Hold Good Paok. ** Side-row ” has never liked the 3- formation. With his football experience confined to the looking of scrums, he found it infinitely harder to hold a good pack in a 3-4-1 formation than in the 2-3-2. That the key men in senior packs throughout Taranaki find the same trouble is evident by the slovenly scrumming to which people have become used. Often enough scrums collapse in a heap owing to lack of balance, the ball is slower to oome out to the half through the maze of * feet and the variety of channels offering and this very slowness 'defeats the protection afforded by the wide second row. There is no compaot formation to sorew the scrum and the slightest shifting of weight •sees the ignominious collapse on the ground of 16 players. For the purpose of this artiole each senior match played in Taranaki on a recent Saturday was studied from the scrum aspect and the information is summarised here. Every club except one, Tukapa, adopted the 3-4-1 formation and it so happened that the club that-had the most sorum success, Hawst’a, was playing against Tukapa’s 3-2-3 pack. H-awera did hook cleanly and it was the superiority of the hookers, not the scrum formation, that gave Hawera the advantage. Sorum Work Analysed. So far as the scrummaging in the Eltham-Inglewood game was concerned, both sides packed the 3-4-1 and both eights collapsed in a heap more often than necessary. The whistle was needed for “head up” rather more than usual and eagerness to get down to business seemed bo be -the cl lief fault. El them at times hooked the ball so cleanly and powerfully that Worthington, at half, had to run back several yards to gather, and the side had, if anything, a slight advantage. Inglewood’s hooking was not quite so powerful and both packs, in -the iieavc and strain of battle, at times let the ball dribble 'out slowly through a forest of legs. There was little screwing by either side and the somewhat unwieldy nature of the 3-4-1 scrum was illustrated when, after one or two Eltham -screws, good m-oves by the Inglewood side-row men resulted in the magpie pack collapsing in a heap. Both Stratford and Athletic packed the 3-4-1 and untif Athletio tired in the seoond spell, there was little advantage to either side in the packs. Stratford, through Hinton, -had the better of the hooking, but the scrummaging of both packs was notably good and tthero were few collapses. Neither Bido made attempts at wheeling. Worth a Trial. Both United Old Boys and Okaiawa fllayed 3-4-1 on Monday, so that little opportunity was afforded of comparing the two. There was a slight difference in treatment, however. Okaiawa heeled from practically everj scrum, and consequently was satisfied -to.secure the ball In that fashion; Old Boys on the oilier hand found a rapid breaking-up its best tactics, and the two supports in the second row came round I lie scrum almost as fasl ns I he. ball went through—sometimes a little faster. -Would it he asking too much ol New Zealand selectors to give the 2-3-1 scrummage formation -a" trial? It so doing they would find a sohitior of most of their scrummage 'troubles, But what of the, wing-forward “ rose by any other name —” —call him a s land-off half.