ALL BLACKS' SCRUM FORMATION.

Shannon News, 28 November 1924, Page 3

ALL BLACKS' SCRUM FORMATION.

THE "LOOSE: HEAD" EXCBESENCE.

AJJj BLACKS' NEW METHOD. BY R. A. BYERS BARB.

(Special "Times". Representative With

All Blacks in England.)

There has been, and still is, such diversity of opinion, not to say, misconception, of the All Blacks' scrum formation, tactics, styles and systems, that, in view of further and continued misconception, the formation of the All Blacks' scrum, the styles and systems and the relative, positions of the" players must be clearly defined to be realised and thoroughly under stood.

The t\yo-three-two formation, adopted and played by the All Blacks in England, . differs materially in construction to that of English and Welsh formation. Whereas, New Zealan'd has always held rigidly to the two- . three-two system of packing, English and Welsh sides still adhere to the three-two-three. By no stretch of imagination nor by reasoning can it be possible to form a perfect compact scrummage where there is such diversity ".in the playing of the players in their relative positions. The three-two-three, ranged and packed against the two-three-two. has created caustic criticism and comment in all the matches played by the All Blacks against English county sides and Wales. There still exists the opinion that this system, style of play, and scrum formation is not satisfactory. Certain is it extremely unsatisfactory from a New Zealand standpoint. The , system of playing and and packing of two players in the front row against three, creates at once that bete noir of all scrums, the "loose head." This should, forever be abolished'as an ex-crescence as surely as the wing-forward. The All Blacks, confronted by the .situation, and severely and seriously handicapped by playing two men in the front row against three, ha've been compelled to find and fight their way out of the difficulty and danger attendant thereto, when their opponents have by their system of packing three players in the front" row, the advan~ tage of the extra man, who constitutes the "loose head" for which he lights 'to secure position on whatever, side of the scrum the ball is put in. All too frequently the ball is put in by the opposing half back at the feet of his own forwards, regardless of the rules and regulations laid down by the controlling - body, that the ball must be put, not only fairly'in to the'" Scrum, but that it must pass the first player on each side before scrum operations can be executed. The tendency to place the ball at the feet of the forwards in the front the ball not being fairljj put in, has created a position and situation which 'is not only detrimental to the game but | it is spoiling Rugby in England and Wales. This action by English and ' Welsh sides has created endless : scrumming, breaking-up, reforming i for the . "loose head" position. To avert every* possibility of this contingency the half back has only to put the ball fairly into the centre of the scrum. This is, surely not asking too much of any player, who realises his responsibilities and the necessity of playing a sporting game. 6nly under this system can the three-two-three formation be more effective than the" two-three-two. Illustrating the position, the ball must pass the. first player in the front row of each side before it can be put fairly in to the scrum. This done, the effect is at once apparent. Three must always cut out two, but the "loose head" is of no advantage. The All Blacks are only now at this stage realising the position and adopting a .new method and system in formation to counteract the situation. ItMs not politic to state what the new system is, sufficient to saj* that it should prove effective and circumvent any three-two-three pack of scrummers, however clever they may be. This new system is being practised by the All Blacks, and will be adopted when occasion warrants, but not before. Maybe it will be the "surprise" at Twickenham in the great final test, All Blacks against All England, on January 3rd., 1925. " ' English and Wolsh sides should entirely abolish the "loose head" as an excrescence and a distinctly disturbing element in the Rugby game. More modern methods of attack, initiative, resource, inteligence, and less of the old"" style and system of short-line kicking, which is simply defensive, ineffective and futile in any attempt to best the All Blacks, are necessary. Not until English sides develop their attack can the teams hope to defeat the New Zealanders. Stop them scoring they may, "keep the runs down," as it were—but defeat the All Blacks, never until they develop attack.