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       #Post#: 25--------------------------------------------------
       First Hand Scrum Experience
   DIR By: GrantB
       Date: September 11, 2013, 2:09 pm
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       Evening Blowers...
       I had the opportunity to attend a Jebel Ali Dragons training
       session this evening where full contest scrums were in use. I
       thought i would share my observations...
       Overall, teams were knowledgeable but there are certain
       management issues that i would like to highlight that may be
       worth considering.  This being said with full respect of the
       coaches input that may come as the early weeks tick by and not
       wanting to tread on any toes.  these were my personal
       observations.
       1. Help the front row find the right gap.  initially the set up
       was for a touch not bind call.  it took a few scrums before the
       front rows were finding that distance themselves.  we heard it
       on the weekend.  Ear to Ear does work once they get to the
       crouch position.  you have a chance at management here by doing
       a quick check across the middle of the scrum and sight the ears.
       if in doubt, blow it up and start again.
       2. square shoulders.  props had to be talked too consistently to
       pop the shoulder out so that the front rows were square to each
       other.  this also helped with stability of the scrum at the bind
       stage.  square shoulders also ensures that the prop needs
       further effort to manipulate his angle at the contest.  keep
       vigilant on the square shoulders even at the bind stage and
       watch for dipping of the inside shoulder at this stage.  if you
       are not happy, blow it up and remind him of his obligation to
       pack square and push straight.
       3. no weight at the bind stage.  the biggest problem of the
       night was weight coming from the back row at a bind call.  this
       had the impact of propelling the hooker into the opposing front
       row and causing destabalising of the whole sequence.  at this
       stage, it became apparent that there was confusion and there was
       a brief chat with the entire scrum to ensure that weight only
       came on at the set stage and not before.  they finally got it
       and scrums were very well contested from that point from a
       stable platform.  this could be a key pre-match brief point
       early in the season.  make sure that you set out your
       expectation for stability at every point in the sequence before
       moving on to the next.
       4. scrum halves were still guilty of favouring their own feed...
       its going to take them a while, but once you set out the zero
       tolerance for the crooked feed and enforce it, then it should
       all go sweet.
       5. pushing straight.  if you have the front rows square at the
       crouch and bind stage, then the physics at this level will
       almost always produce a stable scrum at the contest stage. one
       theme that i did notice was that defensive back rows stepping
       around and trying to wheel the scrum.  be wary of this as a
       tactic to disrupt the team that has the feed as it appears that
       with a good focus on the sqaure front rows, the back row becomes
       more important in terms of gaining advantage through angles.
       i hope that is useful for everyone that maybe looking at their
       first live session in the coming weeks with the scrum.  remember
       it is learning process for everyone and your number 1 priority
       is safety.  don't be afraid to spend extra time getting the
       steps right and ensure that you see reaction to your voice
       instructions.  if in doubt, blow it up and start again.
       communicate clearly your expectations at the pre-match so that
       everyone starts from the same point.  ensure captain and front
       row buy in to your scrum at that point as well.
       happy blowing....
       GrantB
       #Post#: 27--------------------------------------------------
       Re: First Hand Scrum Experience
   DIR By: eduard
       Date: September 14, 2013, 9:26 am
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       Thanks for your interesting comments.
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