Saru’s scrum solution

Saru’s scrum solution

17 Mar 2010

Saru is forming an expert panel to address South African’s flagging scrum standards.

The state of the Springbok scrum and the poor performances of South African teams, such as the Sharks and Lions, is a major concern and this has prompted Saru to take action.

Last Thursday, the union organised a meeting with several former players and scrum experts to discuss the formation of a committee to help improve and maintain standards of scrumming from junior level right through to the Springboks.

World Cup-winning prop Balie Swart, who was one of the experts invited to this meeting, is positive this plan will be put into action. Robbie Kempson, Eddie Andrews, Os du Randt, Dougie Heymans were present, as were Saru manager of referees André Watson and official Tappe Henning.

‘The idea is for us to come together and help rebuild the South African scrum,’ Swart told keo.co.za. We will also advise the Bok selectors on who we think are the best scrummagers in the country. The selectors will still have the final say.

‘We are not going straight to the head, we will start working with coaches and players from U9 level so we can have a common understanding of scrumming in the country. For too long have different teams followed their own techniques which has led to mixed results. The committee will ensure everybody, junior and senior players, follow the correct methods.

‘We will also make sure that the techniques used are safe and accurate for all players, so there will be no danger of any serious neck or head injuries.

‘Nothing is concrete yet, we are still busy negotiating, but the word is that Saru has never had a more passionate, engaging meeting like the one we just had. There will be a follow-up soon, I predict some time next month, so I am positive things will fall into place.’

Swart added that no individual player can be criticised for the poor scrum performances by the Boks and Super 14 teams.

‘We used to be a powerful scrumming nation and we want to get back to that level. It’s not only one player who is the problem, it’s all eight men in the pack who hold the responsibility.

‘They are all supposed to be doing the same thing on impact. A lot of people are pointing fingers, but the truth is no individual can be blamed. The scrum techniques of some players are wrong or poor and we need to rectify this.

‘The referees are also not to blame, most of the times they get the calls right. The law is set, and the players need to follow these laws. That’s why André and Tappe were present, to gain a common understanding between players and refs as well.’

Saru manager of coaching Hilton Adonis has confirmed the meeting was successful from the union’s point of view.

‘The meeting was basically a blueprint to see what the chances are of former players or scrum experts being interested in joining the committee to review the scrum matters in the country,’ Adonis told this site. ‘We have identified certain individuals to join the advisory committee or scrum factory and we will meet again soon to take these plans further.’

By Gareth Duncan

– Read about Balie Swart’s mission to save the scrum in the new issue of SA Rugby magazine, on sale now


180 Comments

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  • 51.wpw: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 13:49 pm

    @nama1:

    Grant10 is gonna have a hernia!!! :shock:

  • 52.Mielieboer: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 13:52 pm

    Saru manager of coaching Hilton Adonis has confirmed the meeting was successful from the union’s point of view.

    … Hilton = problem nr 1

  • 53.Oubaas2009: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 13:53 pm

    as was reported YESTERDAY by sport24!

  • 54.nama1: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 13:53 pm

    @logie_Jumpbuck:
    “…he was there during the kwota years”
    You mean to tell me that the kwota years are over?

    Tell that to Hondo, What, Kobus Kitty, Mielieboer and the likes and see where it gets you.

  • 55.grant10: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 13:54 pm

    well if PDV is going to still play Smit at 3 i suggest Boks organise games against Wynberg u 13 Girls School ….

    Because i hear there u 15 team got a half decent loosehead….and we all know what half decent looseheads do to smit !!!

  • 56.logie_Jumpbuck: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 13:54 pm

    This bok scrum will have no issues:

    1.BJ
    2.John Smit
    3.Beast
    4.Matfield
    5.Bakkies
    6.Schalk
    7.Juan
    8.Pierre

  • 57.nama1: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 13:55 pm

    @wpw:
    Someone should warn him to take his pills before logging on.

  • 58.grant10: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 13:56 pm

    glad we doing this….about time.

    Now can someone coach the coaches please….

    1 st lesson…

    we will never try and convert players at the highest level again.

    Thanks….

    lesson over.

  • 59.logie_Jumpbuck: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 13:57 pm

    @nama1: i have no doubt they are over. every black/coloured/indian/purple/white player in the bok team deserves to be there at the moment. as for the south african S14 teams, i can think of a couple of players on either side of the grey line that can be replaced by players waiting in the wings…..excuse the pun.

  • 60.grant10: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 13:58 pm

    PDV….I have stood up for you since day 1….

    You choose Smit at 3 and its all over rover…goodnite nurse…thanks for coming but now buggeroff!!!

    Sorry…but then PDV is selling his soul…..stuff that!

  • 61.nama1: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 13:58 pm

    Oh, he is here already. :lol:

    Stay calm G10.

    We need you here to point out the obvious weaknesses in the Bok team that the coaching staff don’t see or don’t want to see.

  • 62.Oubaas2009: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 13:59 pm

    Fantastic idea. Can’t wait to see the fruits.

    Dougie Heymans. Now there is a man who knows the scrum.

    Get Piet Bester involved. The most destructive tighthead dwarf ever in the game!!!

  • 63.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 13:59 pm

    its a good idea to have such an academy/mentoring school to filter good technique down to ALL levels.

    mike cron did the same in nz didnt he?

    not that it seems to have worked for them of late.

    but the aussies seem to be coming right in a big way and thank goodness, i was getting a little tired of collapsed scrums.

    grant, the floor is yours :lol:

  • 64.wpw: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:02 pm

    @nama1:

    Oh dear!!!

    :lol:

  • 65.nama1: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:03 pm

    @logie_Jumpbuck:
    I with you on that.

    It just seems that some people expect the coloured/black player to be the finished product when he gets selected while they are willing to afford the white player the chance to develop within the team while playing.

    Hence de Jongh is a quota while v/d Heever is not.

  • 66.wpw: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:03 pm

    @rangerman:

    :mrgreen:

  • 67.logie_Jumpbuck: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:04 pm

    I always thought that the stronger guys are the best scrummagers. So just let them arm-wrestle and get on with it….the problem of course is that Bismark will probable beat everyone.

  • 68.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:04 pm

    You know sometimes you guys are really flippin stupid. This is an article about an organised initiative to sort out our supposed scrum problem and most of the comments have as usual stooped to name calling and insults hurled at those who were there. Eddie this, and why isn’t so and so there,….the point is, there’s a co-ordinated effort by a bunch of guys with a great deal of experience between them, players and ref’s included, to build up a program that can only do a great deal of good, from schoolboy level up.

    We all know that this is unlikely to make JS a great no 3, or stop PDV from picking him there, but it can only bear fruit in years to come.

  • 69.Mielieboer: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:04 pm

    vd heever is a legend in the making

  • 70.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:05 pm

    Wat gaan hier aan

  • 71.Oubaas2009: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:05 pm

    @stormersboy: 68. Well said.

  • 72.logie_Jumpbuck: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:07 pm

    @nama1: Only the single-minded bloggers on here think that way mate. It must be hell living in a country and having to come to terms with the fact that things have changed every single day.

  • 73.grant10: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:07 pm

    @rangerman: 63

    you make a good point…it is a great idea.

  • 74.wpw: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:07 pm

    @nama1:

    #66

    That is spot on!!!

  • 75.WP_: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:07 pm

    @grant10: “well if PDV is going to still play Smit at 3 i suggest Boks organise games against Wynberg u 13 Girls School ….”

    You have issues dude…

    Stop repeating youself.

    It’s like repeptitive verbal diarrhoea being spewed all over this site….

    Please stop. It’s the same thing every day

  • 76.grant10: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:08 pm

    @nama1: 61

    Bloody blind bats those 3 wise men….Gold and Muir??

    Bloody hell man…2 x clowns….PDV must start taking action….no more farking around with the turbo reverse scrums….

  • 77.logie_Jumpbuck: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:09 pm

    @Mielieboer: a legend who needs to learn how to tackle hey? he should really fire Naas and get a different tackling coach ;-)

  • 78.grant10: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:10 pm

    @nama1: 65
    De Jongh a quota???

    Smit is more of a bloody quota than De Jongh!! [ at 3 that is ].

  • 79.Mielieboer: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:11 pm

    give away 2 tries, but go on to score 4 … i know what i’ll choose

  • 80.WP_: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:11 pm

    @stormersboy:

    Exactly. Point well made

  • 81.WP_: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:12 pm

    @nama1: But that’s ridiculous. People who call players like de Jongh a quota shouldnt be taken seriously

  • 82.grant10: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:13 pm

    @WP_: 75

    Who died and made you the bloody boss here??

    Use the scroll button you illy Smit apologist…..dont let me bother you…..

    the truth hurts hey…

  • 83.grant10: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:14 pm

    illy is silly

  • 84.nama1: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:14 pm

    People with long memories will remember that I called for the establishment of a scrum school of some sort after our scrum were annihilated during the EOY tour.

    It seems as if people in high places also read this site.
    :lol: :lol: :lol:

  • 85.WP_: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:15 pm

    @grant10: The rather funny thing is that you think you are the boss…

    “Smit apologist” – wow you are beyong help…

  • 86.Mielieboer: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:16 pm

    i’m not a fan of J Smit .. but if its between him and d00s Luke … i’ll support JS 1000000%

  • 87.WP_: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:17 pm

    @grant10: Luke doos Watson wanker apologist.

  • 88.wpw: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:18 pm

    @WP_:

    hehehe

    There is no hope for him!!!

  • 89.wpw: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:19 pm

    Guys, please ignore Mielieboer!! :roll:

  • 90.WP_: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:20 pm

    @wpw: Haha, I know. ;) Help us!

  • 91.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:29 pm

    Mielieboer @ 69 – yes a legend like Naas Botha – starts the game clean and ends clean – that dude can’t tackle Dollie Parton on helium mate. He is a waste of time.

  • 92.Richie_7: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:33 pm

    I think John Smit is a great tighthead

  • 93.grant10: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:37 pm

    @Richie_7: you think like a moron…a ******….

  • 94.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:39 pm

    @Richie_7: 92. In fact he is the best the Boks have got. He is a legend.

    They may soon call him up to the scrum school too. Face it, he has played at 1,2 and 3 at test match level.

    He is a Fed Mendez with great leadership qualities. The best ever, in fact.

    No Captain has led a team to WC victory, BI Lions victory, 3N victory and 3-duck over the AB’s (1987 WC Champs).

  • 95.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:40 pm

    @Heavens Game: 94. No other captain in the history of Rugby.

  • 96.Richie_7: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:42 pm

    @grant10: Yeah, and you ramble on and on like Malema. For a guy who lives in Clifton you need to get out more. Slap on that white speedo and hit the beach, go for one of those massages with the happy endings in Sea Point, or work on your float for the yearly parade.

    Your infatuation with JS is bordering on stalking right now

  • 97.grant10: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:44 pm

    Smit training players at 3?

    Like the Pope appearing in a porn movie…..

    Not a pretty sight….

    and not likely to happen.

    However….Smit will be able to present the course on how to reverse at 0 to 100 km per hour without doing a hammie….

  • 98.grant10: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:45 pm

    @Richie_7: 96

    And yout retardation and moronic ramblings are bordering on the criminally insane….

  • 99.WP_: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:48 pm

    @grant10: You and your vendetta is hilarious.

    Get a fking life dude!

    How ironically apt that you should mentioned the following AS IT DIRECTLY APPLIES TO YOU, YOU DIMWTTED DOOS:

    “And your retardation and moronic ramblings are bordering on the criminally insane….”

  • 100.Richie_7: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2010, 14:49 pm

    @grant10: Tell you what son, go back to rambling about John Smit and how much you dislike seeing him in the #3 jersey, or your self termed “turbo reverse” theory. At least sound half intelligent and manage to fool half the people here

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