The shape
Eight forwards bind as normal, but the defensive scrum aims to stay square and steady rather than drive, giving the back row a stable base to break from. The scrum-half stands beside the scrum on the put-in side, ready to follow the ball round. The back line sets five metres behind the hindmost foot: 10 on their 10, 12 and 13 across the field, the open wing wide, the blind wing on the short side and the full-back deep.
Roles
- Front row and locks. Hold the scrum square and absorb the drive; stay bound until the ball is clearly out.
- Blindside flanker. Covers the short side, tackles anything from 8 or 9 down the blind and watches for their wing coming in.
- Openside flanker. Breaks to the open side the instant the ball is out, aiming for their 10 or the inside shoulder of 12.
- Number 8. Breaks with the ball, covers the pick-and-go and then the channel between their 9 and 10.
- Scrum-half. Follows the ball round, stays onside and tackles their 9 or the 8 pick.
- Fly-half and centres. Hold the five-metre line until the ball is out, then push up together with 13 leading the drift.
- Wings and full-back. The open wing holds his man, the blind wing covers the short side and any kick, the full-back sweeps.
Strengths
- A stable scrum lets the back row cover three channels off the base.
- The five-metre line gives the back line time to see the move before committing.
- A fast openside on their 10 cuts down the time he has to pass.
Weaknesses
- If the scrum collapses or wheels, the whole back row is stuck.
- Flankers breaking early concede penalties in front of the posts.
- A back line that drifts early leaves the inside channel open to a hard-running 12.
When to use it
Every scrum you defend. In your own 22 their 8 and 9 are the priority, because the pick and the short carry are the easiest tries to give away. In midfield the openside's break onto 10 matters most. With a smaller pack do not try to win the ball; hold square and let the back row do the work. On a wet day the attack will keep it tight, so 8 and 6 stay closer. Smaller scrums at the younger age grades leave fewer bodies to cover the base, so agree who takes 8 and who takes 9.
What to coach in training
- Scrum stability on a machine or in controlled sets with a qualified coach, staying square under a push.
- Back row break on cones: a ball at the base, and 6, 7 and 8 practise the three channels (blind, pick, open) on an "out" call, tackling a bag or a walking carrier before anything live.
- Back line hold: a coach stands on the five-metre line, the backs rise on the "out" call only, and anyone early resets the rep.
Works well against
It copes well with an attack that plays off the base, because 8 and 6 are set for the pick and the blindside carry. Against a flat 9 to 10 to 12 pattern, the openside arriving on 10 and the back line rising together pins the first receiver. It also handles their wing coming in off the blind side, since 6 looks there first.
