Whether Benn Robinson was omitted from the Wallabies squad based on his scrummaging or work around the park hasn’t been revealed.
But it may well be the new scrum laws have helped Ben Alexander and worked against Robinson.
There are three areas of change with the new (trial) scrum laws:
- Pre-set where props have to bind on to each other, which means they start closer together;
- Post-set where the scrum must be stationery and stable before the ball can be fed; and
- Post-set with the law requiring the ball to be fed in the middle of the tunnel to be enforced.
The changes reduce the importance of the ‘hit’ but have a much greater impact post-set. The delay while the scrum stabilises before the ball can be fed significantly changes how the scrum will work.
Scrummaging under the old laws
To understand how the changes will affect the scrum and how they will assist a prop like Alexander and disadvantage Robinson, we first need to look at how props packed under the old laws.
The aim of the best loosehead props was to get under their tighthead opponent as they set and to use that lower position to disrupt the tighthead by driving slightly upwards – it’s very hard for a prop who’s being lifted up to stop being driven backwards.
Yes, driving up is against the laws but this was the tactic used and was one of Robinson’s strengths.
The tighthead knew what the loosehead was trying to do, so their aim was to set lower to stop the loosehead getting under them.
The lower you can get your hips pre-set, the lower you can get on the set, but props have to keep their knees in front of their hips pre-set to maintain their balance as shown below.
The space between the props before they set allowed them to move their hips forward as they set. On the set the feet stayed in the same position, which allowed the knees to drop and in turn lowered the body height as shown below.
I’ve left the pre-set height and gap lines in for comparison.
Tightheads who set up high and were slow on the set got caught high and were easily destabilised as the loosehead got under them – this was one of Alexander’s biggest issues, primarily caused by setting up too high initially.
To try and counter this, Alexander often set up with his shoulders below his hips so he was angling down as he set, to try and make it harder for the loosehead to get under him.
He also often pulled his feet back pre-set in an attempt to get lower but this also caused him to angle down as he set causing collapses.
These ‘fixes’ are like a golfer aiming left to counter a slice – they don’t solve the real problem.
Scrummaging under the new laws
Under the new laws the main difference in set up position is that the props will start much closer together.
I don’t think we’ll see much difference in the pre-set height. It will look something like the following and I’ve left the starting gap lines under the old laws in for comparison.
Starting closer together means the props won’t have the space to move their hips as far forward as they set, so their knees will stay a little further in front of their hips and they won’t be able to pack as low as they used to.
The props can’t set up with their feet too far back to counter this as they won’t be able to maintain their balance pre-set.
The loosehead binds under the tighthead’s arm and under the old laws (particularly with little to bind on to with tight jerseys) the loosehead would often miss their bind as they set and go to ground or put their hand on the ground to stay up.
The new laws will eliminate many of the collapses due to missing the bind on the set, as the props must bind before they set.
If the loosehead packs under the tighthead they get into a very awkward position when they set as shown below.
Maintaining the bind while in that awkward position is very difficult as it’s hard to maintain any power in the grip when reaching up like this.
Under the old laws the loosehead got out of that awkward position by driving up as soon as they set to get their head back up into a better position. This lifted the tighthead up and destabilised them.
Under the new laws if the loosehead sets under the tighthead, as shown above, they can’t start driving as soon as they set so will have to stay down in that position while the scrum stabilises. The longer it takes for the scrum to stabilise the harder it will be to maintain the bind.
Don’t be surprised if teams take longer to stabilise to disadvantage looseheads who pack underneath the tighthead.
I don’t expect it will take long for looseheads to work out that setting under the tighthead is no longer the advantage it was under the old laws. They will then start setting closer to the height of the tighthead prop.
This will mean teams scrummage a little higher and, importantly, scrums will be a contest about pushing forward, not forward and up, as was the tactic under the old laws.
Here’s an example from a pre-season scrum session between Zebre and Wasps where you can see even though the Zebre tighthead on the left has got his hips lower than the Wasps’ loosehead pre-set, he is angling up to meet the pre-set shoulder height of the Wasps’ prop.
The body position and height after the set under the new laws will look something like I’ve shown below. I’ve left the line showing set height under the old laws and the line showing pre-set height in for comparison.
What this means for different players
These changes will help Alexander enormously, as he was rarely able to get low enough pre-set to match his loosehead opponent and was often destabilised by the loosehead getting under him.
He struggled as a loosehead himself because he couldn’t set low enough to get under his tighthead opponents and therefore couldn’t use the key advantage looseheads had under the old laws.
However, with this change Robinson will no longer be as effective.
The next area of significant change post-set is what happens to the momentum from the hit, even though it is greatly reduced.
As the scrum is now going to have to be stationary and stable before the ball can be fed, all of the momentum from the hit will dissipate and no longer be available to help a team drive over the ball.
Under the new laws the whole pack is going to have to generate momentum from a stationary position as the ball is fed and they’ll have to do it without the help of the hooker because they’ll be too busy striking for the ball to help.
This momentum will have to be generated through a very co-ordinated shove from seven members of the pack working as one. Even if a smaller prop has better technique and can resist being driven backwards, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to drive a bigger, heavier prop backwards without the momentum of the hit to help him as used to exist under the old laws so bigger, heavier props will have an advantage.
This is another benefit for Alexander and a disadvantage for Robinson.
It may be Robinson has been omitted from the Wallabies squad not just to go away and improve his work rate around the field but also to work on a scrum technique to help him adapt to the new laws.
Of course the final area post-set where the new laws will have a major impact is the ball being fed straight, which will bring back another contest that used to exist by giving hookers a chance to strike for the ball.
Many hookers will have to learn this skill for the first time but whether there is a true contest will rely on referees strictly enforcing the ball being fed into the middle of the tunnel.
I really hope they do.
These changes are good for the game
In summary, these changes don’t just reduce the force of the ‘hit’ – in fact they will have far more impact post-set.
After some collapses on the set in early matches whilst teams adapt, the number of scrums being completed without reset will lift significantly and the new laws will also encourage a genuine contest in the scrum, not one generated artificially through the hit, so the new laws are good for the game.
Sam Lewis
Roar Rookie
Who do you think is the new prototype prop someone like Ben Tamefuna at tighthead what about a prototype loosehead judging from your analysis do you expect to see more 130 kg props
PaulR
Guest
Another great article to add to dozens posted on The Green & Gold Rugby blog! Roarers have even missing out on this great stuff!
Lion down under
Guest
Mate, I completely agree with you, sorry if I worded it wrong so it came over differently. What I was trying to say was that you needed props with great core strength, technique and cunning to cope with the new laws, being a lump who wins the hit won't cut it any more. I also tried to debunk the "pack full of 80kg men" rubbish by pointing out that flankers weigh far more than that.
Zero Gain
Guest
These rules wll enhance the scrum and increase the skill level needed by both hookers and props. Hookers will need to actually hook and co-ordinate the scrum. Props will need to use a range of tactics that have not been needed under the current laws (such a binding under the arm to allow lifting and pulling down, head turning against the opposite hooker so he can't see the ball coming in and using pure leg strength to get under your opposite prop by dipping your shoulders after the engagement - not easy. Dreams of playing the likes of Pocock at hooker or loosies at prop are just that, dreams. The skill set required takes years to master, not 5 minutes as some of the posters here seem to believe. Also, most of the strength required for prop comes from the legs, not the upper body. Plus, you need to be tough, not a girlie-man loose forward as you are in one on one wrestle with your opponent every scrum - and he is probably big, strong tough, ugly and smelly and has a 3 day growth that is rougher than the best sand paper you can buy - there is nowhere hide girls.
Blackheart
Guest
Yes... Excellent article... More of it I say... As an avid spectator the coverage commentary does not describe in detail, as time would not allow such inspection. The intricacies of tactical gameplay, especially the scrum "black arts" are seldom revealed to the rank and file of the onlooking hoards.... Top work.
Lion Down Under
Guest
Where do you get that from? Firstly. Who are the 80kg men? A list of some of the top flankers playing at the moment: Richie McCaw - 108kg David Pocock - 102kg Sam Warburton - 106kg Liam Messam - 112kg Dan Lydiate -112kg Ben Mowen - 110kg Sean O'Brien - 108g Tom Croft - 105kg Justin Tipuric (who a lot of Wales fans feel is too small and that's why he's on the bench) - 100kg Secondly. This is taking scrummaging back to what it was in the 80s, 90s and 2000/2001 (before then they used to 'fold in' and the engagement was even less than it would be with these rules). All it is doing is eliminating the "hit" which came in in around '02/'03 with the worded engagement - "touch, pause, engage" that came in to try and make scrums safer and stop collapses . Rugby fans dislike the "hit" because it has led to even more immediate collapses and to a rash of scrum penalties. Even when your team benefits (I'm a Wales and Lions fan) it is really frustrating and no way to decide a match. You will need technically proficient props with great core strength as you can no longer just "win the hit" then hang on. Also they won't have the hooker as a third prop as he'll be having to actually hook. I can remember when "8 man shove" was a specific call, not what you did on every scrum- only just over 10 years ago as well. I reall don't understand the scaremongering about ths being the end of the scrum, I think it will save the scrum as a contest. Contest is the important word. The beauty of rugby union is the constant contest for the ball. We must retain that.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Definitely another hooker who could rise from these changes
Stuckinacorner
Guest
Just what rugby needs the triumph of the 80 kilo man !! A scrum full of Number 6's and 7's . What about the rest of the fellas, now redundant
bennalong
Guest
A big if, on past form
bennalong
Guest
bill, you'd expect that to be the case. But by the same token it's hard to imagine he faired so badly you drop him from the thirty, not just the starting team I find it a massive insult to a bloke that has been a valued part of the Wallabies. By all means replace him for a start but keep him in the extended team to improve his performance under the new laws To drop him from the thirty and drop all the BS platitudes has made me rethink McKenzies motives I think it was a suppressive act Kebab You're joking! He did fine in a scrum he didn't have time with. One man can't dominate alone.
Charcoal
Guest
Eastwood coach John Manenti has been interchanging rising former Aust U20's hooker Hugh Roach between hooker and No 7 with outstanding success. He has exceptional upper body strength and mobility. He has also used Waratah Damien Fitzpatrick, also a former Aust U20's hooker and captain, in a similar fashion. Although Fitzpatrick is currently injured, when both he and Roach, still in their early 20's, played together, the more experienced Fitzpatrick played as hooker and Roach as No 7, with both being able to interchange positions. Is this the future?
Upfromdown
Guest
I agree with you completely. We just need some balance back in the game. The 6 nations was bad this year in terms of scrum resets, penalties etc and a lot of the fans and media alike were critical and bored by it as well (particularly Scotland v Wales) so this is not a NH v SH thing, or RL v RU thing.
Jon Cooper
Guest
Reading this I am starting to think that Saia Fiangaa might start ahead of Moore. The rule changes would mean you would need hooker who is lighter as not to drag props down. Hookers will need to be more flexible too I guess.
Stuckinacorner
Guest
That said ,the scrum is the foundation that a team is built on, go too light to a get more mobility around the field you risk losing your set piece platform, and we all know the result of that against northern hemi teams !! But it also should be remembered that northern rugby isn't competing against the rugby league for viewers for the massive tv rights payments which is why super rugby is played at such a fast pace unlike test rugby .So we shouldn't confuse the two styles of play . Again mobility vs weight and strength .A good super team doesn't mean a good test team.. And double ditto for the scrum
upfromdown
Guest
Let's hope it works. There has been nothing worse as a fan than going into a game knowing your team will be refereed off the park by certain referees before the whistle has been blown because you are presumed to be a weaker scrumming team. The scrum is hugely important to rugby but should be no more important than attack, lineouts, rucks, maul, kicking, counter attacking etc.
Stuckinacorner
Guest
I think the thought of a pocock style hooker maybe a little oversight .. More than likely an old school league style hooker sporting chin pads and literally hanging off two huge props and swinging to strike into the second row to win tight heads !!!
RAF
Guest
I forwarded the article to an old school rugby head friend of mine and here is his reply - So now we will no doubt scrumcam will be developed with the appropriate theodolite and height settings for correctness whilst considering the angle of the shoulder versus knee position. There will be a panel of referees (with backline heritage) equipped with a coin to make the final judgement on scrum penalties. My solution to this ongoing farce is to introduce a new 10 metre rule. Referees are not allowed within a ten metre radius of a scrum and let the front rows sort it out as has happened for decades. What a joke!!!!
PeterK
Roar Guru
Very good article Scott. On the article noting Robinson being dropped I wrote that it was probably because he could no longer duck dive under the THP with the new laws. IMO the new laws benefited stronger props and hence Sio and Slipper are preferred over Robinson. I agree the new laws help Alexander in that LHPs will find it harder to under him and pop him. However he is not particarly strong nor that big, it looks more soft that hard. Hence I do not believe Alexnader will do that well under the laws. Kepu should do better since he had the strength but his height caused him difficulties.
On or
Guest
Do these new laws mean props won't have necks again? Gotta love it!!
chris
Guest
I respectfully disagree that the new rules will benefit Alexander. In the Super play-off games against the Cheetahs and the Bulls the Brumbies had dominant scrum thanks to the good work of Sio. Alexander's role was to neutralize the opposing loosehead, making the frontrow battle a two on three in the brumbies favour. Alexander did this by taking a short bind on the arm of his opponent, giving the loosehead very little to scrum against. When the pressure came on his bind would break, he would turn inwards, but because the the brumbies scrum was moving forward they got the penalty. Pfitzy above mentioned that Alexander has problem with binding on the arm and that the new rules will solve this problem for for him. I think the opposite will happen, without binding on the arm, Alexander is going to be exposed. With the whole engagement process being slower and more controlled I can't see him getting away with this sort of bind.