We all love our game of rugby with varying degrees of passion, from the Taliban like fundamentalism of the painted Bulls bone heads, to the plasma screen couch fans popping salted peanuts in their mouth at home or at bars around the world.
The game either ranges from a spectacle with a clash of the titan rugby elite, to a tame uninspired encounter between various school teams.
The sizzle in rugby is the fire and brimstone of the players, which has become the required hallmark that is synonymous with new age rugby entertainment in the bid to score tries and maximum bonus points
Obviously I am over generalising here, but there is a lot of media focus on the bad boys of rugby who on the field get Yellow Carded or Red Carded, or outright banned for a few games by the citing commissioner, or turfed out of the game all together for some miscreant violent behaviour off the field.
So when I got a rugby coaching e-mail circular yesterday, it got me thinking that, except for the few front row specialists and coaches, we know very little as to what really goes on in the “engine room” of the scrum, between props and hookers as they pound each other with brute force on cue to the Couch-Touch-Pause-Engage command from the ref.
It is a peculiar camaraderie between every single front rower, big or small, that they are part of a revered group of true rugby purists, because what goes on here is not seen by TV camera or photographer lens. This Front Row contest is the inner sanctum of rugby and some might go on to say, where the game of rugby is won or lost.
Every day I receive an e-mail from Dan Cottrell on Better Coaching, Smart Coaching, Smart Sessions and a range of Skills and Drills, all extremely well laid out and incredibly insightful into the game of rugby, with a viewpoint that resonated with me as to how complex and scientific rugby coaching is today. It is tough and incredibly cerebral which most times is at odds with the wider image and understanding of what a good coach is.
But then he went on to “OUT” the skull duggery trademark secrets of the front row with an excerpt from his “Secrets of the Front Row” that makes for interesting reading, so with thanks to Dan Cottrell.
“It is helpful to know how cheating in the front row happens so you can work out the strategies to overcome it.
I don’t condone cheating in any form. But the reality is that some sides, or specific players, may try to cheat to gain an advantage. Here are some examples of how players cheat in the front row.
A thumb in the shorts: An opposition player reaches over the top and then puts their thumb in your prop’s shorts. They then pull the prop outwards.
Binding on the shorts: Instead of binding on the back or the side of the shirt, the opposition prop will bind on the shorts with a straight arm. This gives another “piston” from which to shove.
Slipping the binding: It is remarkably difficult to work out who is binding on whom in the front row, particularly when looked at from the referee’s point of view. Some unscrupulous props and/or hookers may slip their inside binding and punch or gouge their opposite number.
Stamping on toes: If a front row has some ascendancy on the initial engagement, then they may stamp on the toes of the opposition. Hookers are often targets for this type of treatment.
Head on the hooker’s knee: The opposition hooker places their head on your hooker’s striking knee making it difficult to strike for the ball.
Head on head: The prop puts his head on the opposition second row’s head, making it a very uncomfortable pushing position from the second row.
Engagement miss hits: Just before the engagement, the opposition prop hits your prop’s shoulder with their arm to change the angle of impact. This reduces the effectiveness of your scrum’s initial impact.
Boring in: This is where a prop turns in on the opposing prop or hooker. Often the opposition loose head prop and hooker work together to target the tight head prop.
They will start by making a very small space for the tight head’s head to engage on impact, and then they will drive in. The aim is to destabilise the scrum and so reduce the effectiveness of the shove.
Dropping the scrum under pressure: A very dangerous tactic whereby the opposition front row fold forward to bring the other front row down with them. If the referee is finding it difficult to pick out the perpetrators, then it is used to disrupt the rhythm of the other scrum.
Popping up under pressure: If a hooker or prop feels they are at a disadvantage on impact, they may well “pop” upwards and out of the scrum. They might even “pop” up just before impact as well.”
This article on how the front row can cheat at scrums is from Dan Cottrell’s – Secrets of the Front Row.
Then, courtesy Rugby-Talk Blogger “The Saint” comes some additional South African home grown front row tactics:
A scrum reset: “lose” your balance and punch your opposing prop in the sternum (higher chest)he will not be able to scrum for hours (This can also be done in general play) It’s just too painful to even contemplate.
Vicks Vaporub: Smear Vicks lightly behind your ears, move your head around come scrumtime, watch the opposing front row break down in tears.
Loosehead: Bind slightly behind your hooker’s shoulder to get your heads closer, then both aim for the tighthead’s head, it hurts you a bit as well, but if done right, he’ll have a headache for at least 15 minutes afterwards.
Scrum Over: do not release immediately, hold on for a little while longer, if the opponent’s locks are gone, walk forward briskly, this bends the opponent’s player back somewhat, causing pain in the abdomen, difficult to scrum for quite a while.
In the act of Engaging: Lose your grip on your hooker, and charge forward, hitting the opponent prop high up on the leg, causing a serious “lammie” or bargain, hit him on the crotch, his game is basically ruined. Might cost you a penalty, but worth it for the easy game afterwards.
This gives one a greater understanding of the scrum contest and especially what the ref has to contend with, with these sophisticated and honed front row practices. No wonder they are trialling lipstick head cameras for the ref.
It does offer an interesting dimension on the front row tussle and who is doing what to whom when the front row “engages”.
Then as a post script to the front row – below is a very tongue in cheek take on some South African front row “names” by Stephen Jones of the Daily Mail.
“South Africa’s leading lard-bottoms
The pumped-up props for whom reverse gear is a way of life.
10. Wian du Preez – came on as a replacement for South Africa against Sarries yesterday at Wembley, hammered by Richard Skuse then ritually slaughtered by Carlos Nieto in the final quarter. Ran backwards.
9. B J Botha – when last I was in South Africa, one of the home prop-slobberers told me to watch out for BJ, he was something special. Indeed he was. He stayed hidden for 80 minutes.
8. C J van der Linde – shocking. He was beasted to kingdom come in the Wasps-Leinster Heineken match at Twickenham last season. Cue disappearance of CJ and enter unopposed scrums.
7. Lawrence Sephaka – still staggering about in France last time we heard. Was usually carted off at half-time in big games after being murdered in the scrum. Token-selection suspicions ahoy.
6. Gurthro Steenkamp – nice bloke, but he couldn’t scrummage your Auntie. Totally obliterated by Martin Castrogiovanni of Leicester at Welford Road last week. Would struggle for a beer-only contract in a local leagues outfit.
5. Ollie le Roux – great jolly barrel of a man. Enjoyed the odd gallop prior to a ten-minute break for wheezing and getting his breath back, but yet another Bok prop who was simply not at the races as a scrummager.
4. John Smit – a few years ago he was a decent hooker. Now, in answer to the savage dearth, he is a prop who, if he quickened up dramatically, would be military slow-medium.
3. Jannie du Plessis – smashed to pieces by the reserve Leicester front row last week. Big and chunky and a shame he kept missing the How to Prop seminars. No forward gears, apparently.
2. Tendai Mtawarira – even by the second-half of the first Test against the Lions we knew that his striking scrummaging against Phil Vickery in the first half had been a freak, aided by a ref who let him scrum with total illegality. In the rest of the series, including the return against Vickery in the third Test, he was demolished
1. Os du Randt – the mountainous hero, the untouchable, four-square baldy of scrum-time, adored in the Republic. Especially by those whose televisions were on the blink when he was destroyed piece by piece and utterly humiliated by Julian White at Twickenham a few years ago.”
58
They are playing an injured Goode because theyhave no FH’s left… he he he 😆
Going to be a toughie…
@ 59
I’m afraid you’re right, but to hell with that…
GO BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLLSS
61 – Blouste, I would have just started with Ruan at FH. Once he moved there last week and Kockott at scrummie we played far, far better.
Now we sit with Goode at FH again 😯 😯 Especially if he is injured 🙄
Now with Butchie and his bad knees, shoulder and everything would have him anytime.
Could we borrow JLP from the Bulls once we back home? Think he needs some gametime. We can give him that for sure. What you say about a loan of him to the Sharks? 😉 😆
@ 62 Puma
Come now, we can’t loan our whole team to you…
You’ve already got one of our locks… 😆
If Goode is of after the tour I would’ve stayed with RP on 10…
Puma, here is your teams 😎
******************************************************************************************
HIGHLANDERS vs LIONS, DUNEDIN, FRIDAY 08:35
Highlanders – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Michael Hobbs, 11 James Paterson, 10 Robbie Robinson/Matt Berquist, 9 Jimmy Cowan (c); 8 Steven Setephano, 7 John Hardie, 6 Adam Thomson 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Subs: 16 Jason Macdonald, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Joe Tuineau, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Jason Shoemark, 22 Fetu’u Vainikolo.
Lions – 15 Michael Killian, 14 Wigan Pekeur, 13 Walter Venter, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Tonderai Chavhanga, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Todd Clever, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (c), 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Subs: 16 Charles Emslie, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Willem Stoltz, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 JP Joubert, 21 Wandile Mjekevu, 22 Earl Rose.
BRUMBIES vs CHIEFS, CANBERRA, FRIDAY 10:40
Brumbies – 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (c), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mitchell Chapman, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Subs: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Guy Shepherdson, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 Colby Faingaa, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Tyrone Smith, 22 Julian Huxley.
Chiefs – 15 Mils Muliaina (c), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Subs: 16 Hika Elliot,, 17 Nathan White, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Luke Braid, 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams.
CHEETAHS vs REDS, BLOEMFONTEIN, FRIDAY 19:10
Cheetahs – 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Juan Smith (c), 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Subs: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Barend Pieterse, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Corné Uys, 22 Wilmaure Louw.
Reds – 15 Peter Hynes, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Digby Ioane, 12 Anthony Faingaa, 11 Brando Va’aulu, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (c), 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Jake Schatz, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Van Humphries, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley.
Subs: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Adam Byrnes, 19 Ezra Taylor, 20 Ben Lucas, 21 Will Chambers, 22 Rod Davies.
HURRICANES vs SHARKS, WELLINGTON, SATURDAY 08:35
Hurricanes – 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tamati Ellison, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Andre Taylor, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Rodney So’oialo, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Victor Vito, 5 Michael Paterson, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (c), 1 John Schwalger.
Subs: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Bryn Evans, 19 Nick Crosswell, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 David Smith.
Sharks – 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Stefan Terblanche, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 John Smit.
Subs: 16 Beast Mtawarira, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Waylon Murray, 22 Odwa Ndungane.
WARATAHS vs BLUES, SYDNEY, SATURDAY, 10:40
Waratahs -15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Daniel Halangahu, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Subs: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Will Caldwell, 19 Ben Mowen, 20 Josh Holmes, 21 Tom Carter, 22 Sosene Anesi.
Blues – 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliami Ma’afu, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Chris Smylie/Taniela Moa, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Paul Williams.
FORCE vs BULLS, PERTH, SATURDAY, 13:10
Western Force – 15 Mark Bartholomeusz, 14 Scott Staniforth, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 James O’Connor, 11 Mitch Inman, 10 David Hill, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Richard Stanford, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Ben McCalman, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Tom Hockings, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Ben Whittaker, 1 Nic Henderson.
Subs: 16 Pek Cowan, 17 Kieran Longbottom, 18 Luke Jones, 19 Ted Postal, 20 Chris O’Young, 21 Sam Harris, 22 Haig Sare.
Bulls – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van der Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Subs: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Derick Kuün, 20 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 21 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 22 Pedrie Wannenburg.
54 – Blouste….hahahah. 😆
64 – Blouste, Jeepers did you have to put it like that. Eyes are sore now…………hahahahaha.
Thanks buddy.
Puma,
Seems Ruan needs to build his confidence for himself at SH, by the time he gets to FH in the second half he seems to have forgotten about his insecurities, hence him playing a confident game.
Hope he’ll learn enough from the second half experience to enable him to play a confident game starting at FH.
That Canes team looks really good.
Would like to see Cory Jane and Pat Lambie on the same field. Now that is something to look forward too.
Hope the younster Lambie has another cracker of a game.
Blouste, Picks are very hard this week. Not sure about Brumbies/Chiefs. Mind thinks Brumbies as it is a home game for them. Chiefs not too sure about them. They lost to Reds at home and really should have lost to Sharks too. Also that game against the Lions allowing Lions to almost beat them. Okay has to be Brumbies.
Blues/Tahs that is a really hard one. Blues are like the French you never know which team will turn up. If they do turn up they will beat the Tahs. So that one have to think about it. Tahs at home but they played terrible against the Force. Maybe the Blues there. Aggggggggggggggggg this is a hard week.
Heart will go with the Sharks and Cheetahs.
67 – Fires, Howzit mate. Really thought Ruan would be starting. Read in the paper yesterday that Goode also hurt the hamstring. So really not sure how injured he is? Maybe not too bad to start.
Think against the Canes we need to play it very tight. Especially if there still will be gale force winds. Looking at their team on paper they look sssssssssoooooooooooooo good. Then they lost all their games here. Still they never had a full strength side against the Cheetahs. Stormers worked them out and they played well against the Bulls. Though Bulls allowed them too. Once Bulls went to old Bulls rugby they put the strangle on them. We can do that and must.
Blouste … I was going to say hello then you ruined it by posting our rules on here for everyone to see 😡 So, instead, I must counter your sleight on women by proving clever than you !
The just released finalists in the Worlds Shortest Books awards are :
THINGS I DID TO DESERVE THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
by Barack Obama
MY CHRISTIAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS & HOW I HELPED AFTER KATRINA
by Rev Jesse Jackson & Rev Al Sharpton
MY LITTLE BOOK OF PERSONAL HYGIENE
by Osama Bin Laden
THINGS I CANNOT AFFORD
by Bill Gates
THINGS I WOULD NOT DO FOR MONEY
by Dennis Rodman
AMELIA EARHART’S GUIDE TO THE PACIFIC
by Ghost Writer
A COLLECTION of MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES
by Dr J Kevorkian
TO ALL THE MEN WE HAVE LOVED, BEFORE
by Ellen de Generes & Rosie O’Donnell
GUIDE TO DATING ETIQUETTE
by Mike Tyson
HOW TO DRINK & DRIVE SAFELY
by Ted Kennedy
MY BOOK OF MORALS
by Bill Clinton with introduction by the Rev Jesse Jackson
& one last minute, late addition :
Good Rugby Ettiqette
Blue Boy Front Rowers
@ 70 😆
Still think mine are closer to the truth though… 😉
Blouste
But they were a SECRET 😡
princess @ 72
…
passed on from one women to the other, i gather?
😆 😆 😆
Yes, we can laugh now, wait till you are the recipient of those tactics 😯
Ash
Yes, we are taught Sisterhood Secrets 101 in kindergarten !
Blouste
& so speaks a man who has been chastised 😀
75
Painfully true… 🙁
😆 😆 😆
RP
You see this type of thing has got poor old Ash so scared, he ran away 😯
Blouste
That is okay … I have been taking no prisoners today … People are runnin & duckign for cover here too 🙁
@ 78
He he he….You go girl !!!
blouste @ 76
well, then i’m blessed
cause
i’m married to a woman that really hates confrontation
which means
that i get away with quite a lot 😉
blouste @ 77
😆
naaaaaaaaaah
# 80
You keep telling yourself that, it’s all part of the tactics… 😉
blouste @ 82
naaah bru
serious!!
blouste @ 82
btw
how long have you been married?
@ 84 Ash
Nou maar 6 jaar, maar voor dit 1 jaar, daai vrou verloor weens siekte.
blouste @ 85
jammer om dit te hoor, bru
anyway
eks amper 10 jaar getroud, so ek behoort darem teen dié tyd al te weet dat my vrou nie van konfrontasie hou nie, of wat sê ek?
Helloooooooooooo
First time I’ve had available to come here in a day and a half. Yesterday I left for Pretoorsdorp already at 06:15, briefly arrived back home at about 6:30 pm then went out to dinner with Handbriekie…
Today work had to come 1st this morning..
I’ll be doing Super 14 Preview Threads later… and also be doing a Teams Thread….
@ 86 Ash
…ja weens siekte, sy was siek vir my k@k, of so het sy gese 😆
Nee man, ek speel net, maar ons is groot palle vandag.Was skool sweethearts vir 8 jaar, toe getroud, en ja toe besluit ons wil nie een nou dood gaan nie, so uitmekaar 😆
Hi gbs…
Bly om te sien jy gebruik nie die klient wat by jou sit en die tille wat rol verskoning nie… 😆
Ash, 85 was ‘n grappie, maar dankie vir jou omgee 😉
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