Rugby

SA rugby to get scrum factory

2010-03-15 23:08
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Os du Randt (Gallo Images)

Hendrik Cronjé

Bloemfontein – The South African Rugby Union (SARU) took its first step towards establishing a scrum factory in Johannesburg last week.

About 12 heavyweights, including Balie Swart, Os du Randt, Toks van der Linde, Robbie Kempson, Eddie Andrews and Dougie Heymans, will have the task of ensuring that South African teams start dominating in the scrums again like they did in years gone by.

South Africa’s poor scrumming on their tour of Europe at the end of last year led to the establishment of a group of scrumming coaches.

The South African teams are also not dominating in the same manner as before at Super 14 level and Springbok rugby has lost its trademark powerful scrum.

Os du Randt and Co already started planning the way forward for scrumming at SARU’s meeting.

It was decided that the former props would not only impart their knowledge to senior teams, but all the way down to under-11 level.

“The basic principles have to be written down. We will write a manual about scrumming so that South African rugby has uniform guidelines that can be used from primary school through to international level,” said Heymans.

Du Randt has previously spoken about the need for a national scrum factory.

However, SARU have now got the ball rolling under their manager of game development Hilton Adonis, who convened the meeting.

Former referees such as André Watson and Tappe Henning also attended the meeting in Johannesburg.

Watson had earlier called on Swart to give South African referees some guidance on the scrums.
 

 

Your Comments

Jim3/19/2010 1:39 AM
Yes this is a very good point
Twaksak3/16/2010 3:50 PM
Brilliant idea, but include an experienced hooker. Last year the Bulls were scrummed in the Currie Cup - enter Gary Botha and suddenly they have go forward ball in the scrums. Like the back three, the front three should also be a unit.
dronkie3/16/2010 1:10 PM
@Alan - Eddie and Lawrence were both strong props but lacked technique? agree or disagree. Eddie at one point in time held the record amongst the Boks for bench pressing dead weight ..Oom Frans did not need technique - he could scrum an OX if he wanted to .... @Tjoppie - Richard Bands and Faan made the 2003 World Cup squad - old Kamp Staaldraad veterans - did you ever see them in reverse....
Selma3/16/2010 1:09 PM
Too bad Uli Schmidt has left the country. No mention of Hempies du Toit? He was as tough as nails.
Alan3/16/2010 12:31 PM
@Bulls fan forever. Tks for correcting me, didn't know about Frans. Used to watch him as a kib at The Boet. My comment about Lawrence still stands. Can't for the life of me think why he is not included is the list of Springbok greats..
Boxer3/16/2010 12:30 PM
Robbie = Krige's biggest brawler! Eddie = Who is Eddie?
Boxer3/16/2010 12:28 PM
Robbie was famous for brawling - read Krige's book! Eddie? Who is Eddie? Not even good enough as has been hookers who ends up in Super Sport!
Christel3/16/2010 12:02 PM
We need something similar at school level as well. Too many boys r getting injured because coaches are not equiped to teach boys proper scrum techniques.
Tjoppie suporter3/16/2010 11:55 AM
Sê hulle Tjoppie! Hein also a good remark. Dronkie get another dop my ou
Willie3/16/2010 11:46 AM
Os word dik! Sal dit natuurlik nooit in sy gesig se nie :) Great idee. (die scrum skool nou)
allie3/16/2010 11:45 AM
I have to agree with Hein, scrumming does not depend on the props alone, it is a team effort in itself. I can also remember a quote in the good old EP era when Gerrit Meyer collapsed the scrum for the umpteenth time against the Bulls in a night game at Loftus, when Burger Geldenhuys picked him up and said "Kom mannetjie dit raak laat ons wil huistoe gaan"
Super 14 Champs3/16/2010 11:17 AM
I am glad I dont even have to make a comment about Eddie Andrews, there has been enough said about this guy that woud not have been able to even scrum a primary school scrumhalf.
Tjoppie3/16/2010 11:10 AM
We already know why the Springbok scrum was so poor last year. JOHN SMIT. If John wants to be remembered as the greatest Bok captain, then he should have the guts to admit that he cannot make the Bok team on merit anymore. John remember Muhammad Ali?
Tjoppie3/16/2010 11:09 AM
We already know why the Springbok scrum was so poor last year. JOHN SMIT. If John wants to be remembered as the greatest Bok captain, then he should have the guts to admit that he cannot make the Bok team on merit anymore. John remember Muhammad Ali?
dronkie3/16/2010 11:07 AM
@Hein - very good point, also suprised that Richard Bands and Faan Rautenbach were not mentioned...
Hein - Centurion3/16/2010 9:57 AM
No Hookers? No Locks? The power of any scrum lies in the tight 5 and not only in the 2 props!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHARKY3/16/2010 9:40 AM
The most vocal ex 'prop' - Spurburger Ollie not there ???....most probably on the bench !!
RHOBOK3/16/2010 9:02 AM
Great idea - but Robbie Kempson and Eddie Andrews? Kempson will show how to give 9 points to the opposition every game by giving away 3 penalties right in front of posts guaranteed. We used to take bets as to by when in the game he would gift the 9 points. Eddie Andrews - always on the team sheet, never heard or seen on the field?
Bulls fan forever3/16/2010 9:01 AM
@Alan. Sadly Frans “Domkrag” Erasmus (Ou Grote) passed away many years ago. He was also known for a funny quote as well: After being asked if he has anything to add to an inspiring teamtalk, "Ja, anyone know where I can get an engine for a Toyota Corolla?"
Francois3/16/2010 8:08 AM
What a great idea. Its time that we make use of the vast amount of skills available from (retired) ex-players. This is development of the game!!!!!
Proper prop3/16/2010 8:03 AM
Eddie Andrews?! This scrum factory is doomed to failure before it gets going. The worst excuse of a prop we've ever had.
Brett3/16/2010 7:54 AM
Eddie Andrews "Heavyweight" ..???? I only ever saw him go down, up and backwards in the scrum.
dronkie3/16/2010 7:49 AM
Scrum factory - I like / How about a tackle factory?
Nick3/16/2010 7:33 AM
Eddie Andrews??? BWA HAHAAHA. What a joke, he couldnt scrum for his life even when he was playing. Old Steady Eddie was his nickname!
Steadfast3/16/2010 7:14 AM
What a great idea. Also using former top players to train these players is the best news in years. It is worring that we seem to have lost the power factor in our scrums, hopefully we will regain that lost momentum with this scrum factory.
Alan3/16/2010 12:30 AM
No Lawrence Sephaka?? And what about Domkrag Erasmus (remember the one with no neck..)
bulawayo-based-bok3/15/2010 11:37 PM
GOOD! the future of sa rugby is looking pretty decent, we need a skills academy as well in my opinion! scrums are still important in rugby but there is no point slating the sharks/bok front row 4 their scrummaging when they are still probably the best front-row in world rugby for their all-round game(xcept maybe Smit)!......and alot of the time it is the weight and techniques of the guys behind them!!!.....still, this is a brilliant step towards a great Bok scrum again!
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