The Wallabies scrum is diabolical. Dumb, disjointed and not working as an effective unit. We need to pressure the ARU to get on with fixing this crucial part of their game.
After the abysmal performance by the Wallabies on Saturday the time has come; not for revolution but rather grassroots pressure.
It is time for us, the grassroots supporters, the mugs who buy the tickets, the ordinary girls and guys who put up with the sponsors advertisements, those who set up each Saturday so the juniors, colts and clubs can play to start to make our voices heard.
How can we do anything?
Australia is lucky enough to have one of the best front rowers to ever don the boots and he wore a gold jersey. A man who has the drive and ability to teach the black arts, he has a massive understanding of the mechanics, the psychology, the passion and the rat cunning needed to scrummage well.
I am speaking, of course, about Enrique ‘Topo’ Rodriguez.
Topo has written what is probably the definitive book on the black arts of scrummaging, only he hasn’t left it as some mystical art, he has broken it down into coachable facets of scrum play.
The book is ‘The Art of Scrummaging‘ (click on the link to purchase a copy). Every forward and coach should have this on their shelf – and it should be dog-eared, muddy and well thumbed.
Yet the ARU don’t seem to understand the valuable resource they could harness.
We need to make the ARU understand that they need this man back in the fold. We need to start making noise about this.
How about we start a movement?
Email the ARU (Anyone got Bill Pulver’s email address?).
Tweet the ARU – @QantasWallabies and @ARU_Community.
Write blogs.
Talk to ARU people you know.
Ask former Wallabies to get on board.
Make calls.
Do what you can.
Let’s get the message to the ARU and quickly!
Johnny
Guest
Until we solve this problem we will never win consistently, and the ARU will slide further and further into trouble. Paying huge money for Folau, while an incredible talent, is in vain, IF we don't get this problem fixed once and for all. How? 1. The formation of a national scrum academy as previously suggested on The Roar 2. 2 month summer tours of up and coming front rowers and coaches to Europe where they know how to scrummage - on these tours the players would not play games, but go from premiership club to club each week to scrum against quality opposition. - this could be done on the cheap, toughen the buggers up 3. A national approach to scrummaging technique, calls etc as they have in NZ
Hannes
Guest
Agree with Jeff the the problem is deeper than just the scrum. McKenzie has not one anything so far to justify his selection. How will dropping Genia help to fix the scrum or to fix the lack of physicality in the forwards. Change for change sake?
wannabprop
Guest
All for it! I do vaguely remember he had some input many years ago after retiring which wasn't well received. Politics? personalities? Maybe someone better informed than I can shed some light on what went down. I heard rumours that 'no one could understand what he was talking about...' Have any props out there read the book? Is it actually any good?
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Ta Brett. Fortunately the headline is better than the one that I suggested. Kudos and thanks go to the Mods & Subs at The Roar.
Bruticus
Roar Pro
Not to mention that scrum gurus are certainly more plentiful than rocket surgeons :P
Brett McKay
Expert
Nice one Rabz. Extra points for the superb headline pun, too...
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Geez I miss the Can Bar on the hill at Rat Park.
Nigel Imrie
Guest
The major problem we are having is the inability of the pack as a whole to come to grips with what is required with the new laws. That is the coordinated movements required when it is our feed, the hooker must now hook the ball back, he is no longer an extra prop as was the case, when the ball was put into the second row, the forwards have all got to learn the timing of the feed, the hook and the collective shove to secure the ball from that feed. The locks are now required on their feed to pack in under the props buttock and push on his outside shoulderon the props inside leg, this is taking our pack some time to master, should have been trailed through the Super Comp. However on the opposition feed we are back to three props and the locks can use both shoulders to push, perhaps Moore is having a great deal of trouble raking the ball, perhaps a smaller more traditional size hooker is required, maybe Saia Fainga may come into his element here or is Polotu Nau ready to play, he is shorter and stockier and more nimble, maybe with him we might even get a tight head! Great call for Topo to be engaged in some capacity, consultant to scrummaging, there is a definite overlap here with Blades holding his position after Deans, maybe there is a message here, the scrum was suspect under Deans and it is proving to be diabolical under McKenzie, perhaps a change in personnel would give us an advantage. I remember back in 84 when Topo first arrived at our club, we were playing a trial v Manly when he arrived to play, I believe he had just gotten of the plane and was changing to play, it was a great thrill for all of us, I was playing 7 and he offered me some advise on my packing technique, it was a great day for the Rats and for Australia!!!
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Thanks DR - I hope that TAOS helps...
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Seriously FOS, until they learn the craft shuffling is not going to help. None of them are currently up to the job. As we do not have the nurseries to raise them through juniors and clubs they need to be taught at elite level. Until then you can play musical chairs all you like but they will continue to be pushed all over the park.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Enter Mr Rodrguez..... BRING BACK TOPO :)
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
I never said it was entirely the 2nd row. It is the scrum as a unit. It is woeful. It is not about reshuffling. It is about teaching the current and potential wallaby forwards to scrummage properly and decisively.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Sorry Bazza but it occurs to me that you have no idea about the "the changing nature of the scrumming laws" They have changed. However they have essentially changed back to the actual laws - the ones that were in place when grizzled, experienced front rowers used their strength, their heft and their rat cunning to dominate the opposition tight 5. The candy-arsed version of the scrum that has been on display for the last few years was based upon "the hit" and little else - due to the ball being flung into the second row. The laws actually provide for a contest where the pack must be both attacking and defensive at the same time and be smart enough (read cunning enough) to outwit the opposition pack.
BenG
Guest
There is a book by Mark Ella, it's called "Running Rugby". Punishment for the recent woeful performances should be to read and practice what it says 100 times over before they are allowed to play again!.
Bazza
Guest
You talk about "rat cunning" as though it's an integral part of front rank play - it may be in Australia, but not in any real rugby playing country it's not - in SA, NZ, Wales and England it's all about raw power and strength. Australian front rowers may have had to have "rat cunning" to compensate for their limitations in the past, but the changing nature of the scrumming laws means the most powerful first 5 will win the scrum contest - and Australia are going to fall further behind the rest of the top rugby nations. And that's not a bad thing in the short term.
wannabprop
Guest
'Andrew Blades is the scrum coach'. If the scrum coach 'needs help', then surely the better option would be employ a scrum coach who does not need help?
DR
Guest
Nice write up Rabbitz and thanks for the link.
2beers blind
Guest
Not sure the problem is in the 2nd row, from watching the game - WB scrum got a lot better with Hooper off the field. Then get Mowen back to 6 and pushing instead of swanning around at 8. Only then would I start looking hard at the rest.
sheek
Roar Guru
Rabbitz, I concur. When I was a kid, Australian cricket put out a wonderful book in the late 60s, which I think was sponsored by Dunlop. The book contains different chapters on batting (different positions), batting technique, bowling (different types), bowling technique, wicket-keeping, fielding (catching & throwing), captaincy, tactics, fitness/preparation, etc. Each chapter was written by a different player, either current or recently retired, who was considered a leader in his particular field. A similar book on rugby might also have ben written. In any case, it might include a separate chapter on requirement of each position, scrums, lineouts, kickoffs & restarts, rucks & mauls, the breakdown, passing & catching, tackling, the different types of kicking, captaincy, tactics, fitness/preparation, etc. Each chapter written by a recently retired specialist in his field (no current players!!!). The purpose of mentioning all this, is that where are the great retired players whose expertise is being utilised? Top for the scrum; Eales for lineouts; Poidevin for the breakdown; Ella for tactical plays; Campo for broken field running & counter-attacks; Burke for goal-kicking; Lynagh for tactical kicking; Farr-Jones for captaincy; George Smith for tackling; Rathbone for fitness/preparation. Etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.....
formeropenside
Guest
Try Slipper to THP, Benn Robbo at LHP. Greg Holmes 16, Alexander or Kepu 18. The tight head side has been a problem all series to date. Time to see if Slipper can do well there - he's been very strong at LHP. I'd keep Moore at hooker, but SF might get an early run on if Moore cannot learn to strike for the ball. A third prop-hooker may be OK when you dont have the feed, but on your own feed it seems a problem. Hell, maybe you could even train SF to strike at the opposition ball.