Scrum moves

Great scrum moves come from great hooks, and quick explosive attacks from the 8 man.

Great hooks come from practice against a live scrum or a scrum machine. #9 puts in a consistent ball to hooker, on hookers hand signal. Hook is fasts, purposeful and consistent, ideally to 8 mans feet.

The best 8 man moves surprise the defense. You can surprise them three ways:

1. Very rapid move almost instantaneously from hook. Practice the mental and physical characteristics of this. Hook, explode out.

2. Rapid move with varied timing from hook. After ball is hooked 8 man calls a drive, and as the surge goes forward he picks and goes. This is very advanced but should be practiced.

3. Rapid 8 man moves both to the right and left, or 8 man passes to scrum half. Vary the moves. Make quick easy calls with scrum half--left or right, pick or run. Many teams chose not to run left because the opposition scrum half is there. I believe you must try left hand moves 1 or two times a game just to keep the opposition honest.

8 man run should be a few explosive steps to get around the scrum, then a hard cut up field. This means being an athlete, and using you explosive plyometric work to make fast moves and hard cuts.

To practice hooks use 5 balls having hooker snap back ball in quick succession. On the 5th ball 8 man makes his move and forwards follow quickly setting a quick ruck or playing dynamic rugby.

This must be worked in practices and games, to perfection.