Useful Advice For Rugby Forwards Is Given By M. M. ("Boy") Louw

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 286, 28 July 1932, Page 2

Useful Advice For Rugby Forwards Is Given By M. M. ("Boy") Louw

FAMOUS SPRINGBOK PLAYER DISCUSSES THE 3-4-1 SCRUM FORMATION

WMumg OR W ARD play has ctem/oX^veloped almost to a fine ari in the modern Rugby j game. It is not merely a case eio^t burly men H^mllo^Sl sboving in the scruins. 1J!a4¥'>^ Each must be possessed of | ! - qualities which in the old j days were considered the prerogativc of j backs (writes M. M. "Boy" Louw, noted ; Springbok forward, in an article for , ,"The Outspaan," which is all the more jjinteresting to New Zealand Rugby enjthusiasts since it is written from a 'South African standpoint). 1 Forwards must he able to handle well and pass; they must be able to dribble; and in the scrums push their full weight where and when it is most needed. Not a few yards away from the ball, as so often is the case. | A good forward need not necessarily j be very heavy; but he must be compactly built, and he must keep his eye |on the ball and he up with the play Trom the beginning to the end. Therefore he must he fit, It is a physical iinpossibility for any forward to do himself justice unless he is absolutely fit and sound in wind and limb. He should be almost as fresh at the end of the game as at the beginning. One unfit forward can spoil a good pack, because the shove must be simultaneous with every man pushing his full weight. If this is not done correclly you get an uneven shove and, consequently, a disorderly scrum. The 3-4-1 Scrum. In packing there are various methods, but the method that interests us most is the 3-4-1 formation. Here I wish to remove a misunderstanding, as the impression seems to be that we introduced this method for the first time in Great Britain during our recent tour. This is not so, of course. We employed it against the All Blacks in 1928. This way of packing we have found to be the most successful, at home as well as abroad. The advantages are that it makes for quicker heeling, fastpr breaking, greater protection for the scrum-balf. Also it greatly relieves the strain on the second rank and allows the outside forwards to participate sooner in attack and in defence. The British formation of 3-2-3 is a very good one, but it throws too much responsibility on the "lock" forwards, and the flank forwards arp too far away from their opponents. The 2-3-2 or All Blacks formation is not a popular ohe, because the "loose" head is sacrificed and posscssion of the ball is definitely given to their opponents. Quick breaking is possible, but seven exceptional forwards are required to stand up against eight.

And now as to the perfect pack: In the front row evenness of build and low packing are essential. The two front-rank forwards should be able to support the weight of the hooker when he tries to get the ball out. Here I wish to say that I consider hooking with botli feet impracticable. The weight of the two "lock" forwards is minimised when the "hooker" is off his feet. We tried this in the Irish international, but were so soundly beaten for possession that a change was made in the second half. We reverted to our original method with the result that we were able to give our backs the ball more often. It is advisable that the two strongest and biggest forwards fill the "lock" positions — that is, the two middle men in the second row — for not only do they keep the scrum together but transmit the weight from behind and the sides in the desired direction. C Flank and Back-Row Forwards. The duties of the flank forwards in the second row are to shove more or less in the direction of the hooker (that

is, inwards) and keep doing so when their side gets the ball, so as to protect their scrum-half. Should the other side get the ball they should then brealc quickly and prevent the opposing halfbacks from getting away. Many and varied are the duties of the back-rank forward. He may keep the ball when he tliinks his opponents are breaking too quickly, thus not only playing the opposing halfbacks offside,

1 but shoving right through and so- start;- > I ing a dribbling rush. Also he muSt iw j I prepared to fall on the ball when $he 1 j opponents are wheeling; take the plaqe I of the scrum-half when he is owt Of position; and, lastly, but not the leasl important, cover his back line. For a light pack I think the 3->^:3 formation the most practical and sdrviceable. Here is a hint that may prove useful to club paclts : When you find yoiir opponents are wheeling, cease shoving at once, break up, and cover. By continuing to shove you are only assisting your opjionents in their object. Team-work Essential. In forward play, more so than in any other department of the game, team-work is absolutely necessary. In shoving, for insLance, it is not a bit of good exerting your strength and weight at the wrong time. One sees so much time wasted unnecessarily, two or three scrums being formed before the ball is placed inside. A tight scrum is like a tug-of-war. You must keep up a steady pressure and shove the extra bit simultaneouslv when the word is given. ^ From the majority of line-outs scrums are formed; so it is best for the three front-rank forwards to keep together, with the two lock forwards nearest, and the back rank forward on the field side of play. Much depends upon the height of the forwards in a line-out, but from the above it will be seen that scrums can he formed very easily and quickly with each forward doing what is expected of him without much effort. Too much cannot he said about' teamwork. Every movement performed by an individual should be supported by the otliers. because by so doing your opponents ai'e mostly caught unawares and a score is inevitable. This teamspirit should be as evidcnt in attack as in defence. Forwards must remember that when the backs are participating in a movement tliey are merely there in support. That is, they must be ready ,to carry it on if there is a likelihood of its breaking down. Stndy Your Own Players. 51 Every player has his strong and weak points. Opportunities should be made for them to put their strong points into practice. In club sides these points should be known to every player in the team. In the recent tour of Great Britain, if certain players could hava got possession of the ball in certain types of weather, great things may have resulted. IVIoi'e often than not the opportunity was denied them., It is as necessary to stndy your own players as tliose of the opposing side. If yon have one (or more than one) strong player in the pack, try to make opportunities for him to display his abilities to the best advantage. Many players forget that there ara 15 men in a side, and so they try to barge through alone; whereas a pass might mean getting through mora easily. There is always the chance that a pass may be dropped, of course; but it is Y?orth taking that risk f©r tfeto sake of the team.