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New Sequence Will Reward Good Technique - James 18 views 0 Images
12 September 2013 by Englandfan
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Bath prop, Paul James, has given his backing to the new engagement sequence at the scrum, which he thinks will reward good technique and tidy up the scrum area.
The new engagement sequence which asks front rows to ‘crouch, bind, set’ is currently being trialled in the Aviva Premiership and fans who bet on rugby hope that it will put an end to the epidemic of scrum collapses that has blighted the game in recent years.
For James, the changes could not come soon enough and he feels that, now the players have to bind before engagement, it will become far easier for referees to spot props who deliberately drop scrums when they are under pressure.
"There will be no hiding place: you'll either be a good scrummager or you'll be found out," the 31 year old said. "Last season you had 50-50 calls and people could take a scrum down but hopefully that will all be taken out and they'll clean it up.”
As well as preventing collapses, the new sequence will also ensure that front rows are closer together before the hit at the scrum and whilst some may think that this will reduce the importance of that initial impact, James feels that the reduction in available space will make the hit all the more important.
"You haven't got the big hit and chase now…but the hit is actually going to be more important than ever. Even though it will only be about a foot (that you're fighting for), you still need to try and win that foot,” the Wales man said. “You certainly don't want to be caught short on the hit,” he added.
ames’ Bath side ran out convincing 21-0 winners at Newcastle last weekend but the latest rugby betting suggests that the man from Neath could have a much tougher time in the scrum this weekend as his side host the mighty Leicester Tigers on Saturday.
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