Alexander V Robinson: NTA pls review

[Spook]

A wise man once told me that a loose head prop will make the hit at scrum time whilst the tight head will attempt to absorb the opposition hit. Having reviewed both the scrummaging efforts of FatCat and Sloth, my conclusion is that FatCat is better at going for the initial hit whilst Sloth perhaps is more comfortable at absorbing the hit. Sloth often makes an average hit but is strong enough (leg drive, trunk strength) to recover and drive through the opposition tight head. FatCat gets a very good hit in and continues to drive through. His technique and body type faciliates this advantage.

Thoughts?

 

[fatprop]

Alexander is a better THP than he is LHP.

If you don't dominate the hit it is harder to get weight on, the Brumbies often get great pressure on, but too late and the ball has cleared the scrum.

Their best efforts are when the opps 9 dicks around at the back.

 

[Spook]

Yep, that's consistent with my theory anyway.

 

[RugbyReg]

I've played a lot of TH and LH. Primarily TH.

I was always taught, and always endeavoured, as a TH that you have to lead the hit ie get the hit on first. Thus, the LHP absorbs the hit (somewhat I guess). But the THP is the real cornerstone of the scrum whilst the LHP tries to fuck up the scrum the most.

Thinking that as THP, when its your feed, the scrum half is on your side and your hooker is closer to the feed (compared to their hooker). So you want to provide as solid a scrum as possible (up against the opposition LH who is, as above, trying to fuck up your scrum as much as possible).

A very basic idea of what is happening at scrum time is if a team's scrum is rock solid on their ball, and then the scrum is a mess on the opposition ball, then that team are the better scrummagers.

 

[Biffo]

I've played a lot of TH and LH. Primarily TH.

My deepest apologies, Mate. I had always thought you were a blouse. I should have known better, as you clearly know the game.

 

[RugbyReg]

my dad tells the story about taking me down to footy training for the first time when I was 6 with the idea that I'd start at fullback to gain an appreciation of the angles and movement involved in the game. Then after a season or two I'd move into the centres to start working on my defensive game and ball skills, before moving to fly half a year or so later to pick up the playmaking abilities. Then after a season or so on the weights, by the times my teens came along I'd be in the backrow, highly skilled with a natural ability to read the game, to work on my work in tight. Then I'd move into lock to learn the intimate stuff of tight 5 play, then I would eventually become a front row forward, with superb all round skills and a real knowledge of the tight stuff too. A true modern day forward, bred ahead of his time.

So we get down to training all those years ago and the coach says 'you, fatty, you're prop'. And I've been there ever since.

 

[Newb]

priceless story nodds. that's great stuff.

 

[Reddy!]

Soo many fat people in this thread.

 

[Biffo]

Great story

Your father was, however, quite wrong. There is only one place to learn the game and that is in the front row; all the rest is dross.

 

[fatprop]

I was never good enough to play THP, too bloody hard for me

 

[Newb]

Soo many fat people in this thread.

i'm quite svelte thank you O0

 

[Pfitzy]

I was never good enough to play THP, too bloody hard for me

Its a bit like hooker - you've got to be insane, but bigger. Jeez it feels uncomfortable and I genuinely struggle with it.

@ Spook - making or taking the hit - I think it really depends who is around you. If you can take the hit, then its always a good option to have, but keep in mind who has the feed and who your second rowers are. If the other bloke is starting to hit you too hard, then slap your lock in the head and make him work harder.

I primarily play LH, and prefer to attack the THP on impact so I don't have to work as hard afterwards - I'm nearly at full stretch after impact, so I've got a bit up the sleeve so to speak, and have my weight in the right spot to tractor forward if I get the better of him.

The engage for me comes down to my second rower. I prefer to get my weight in front of the balls of my feet, with my lock holding me back (leg grip, not shirt). When the engage call comes he can simply stop holding me back and I crash into the THP and start working. A split second later the rest of the power comes through from the lock (and the back row to a lesser degree) with gives me a bit of a boost to push through.

One day had a second row who refused (or were unable) to hammer me into the opposition THP the way I wanted. So on our feed I'd push my luck with the ref to try and get in early, while on theirs I'd go on the ref but try to extend through more quickly.