Power scrum all about Lions’ unity

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 16: Ruan Dreyer of the Lions in the maul during the Absa Currie Cup match between Xerox Golden Lions and Eastern Province Kings at Ellis Park on August 16, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images)

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 16: Ruan Dreyer of the Lions in the maul during the Absa Currie Cup match between Xerox Golden Lions and Eastern Province Kings at Ellis Park on August 16, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images)

Published Oct 23, 2014

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There’s not much to choose between Western Province and the Lions ahead of Saturday’s Currie Cup final at Newlands, but the big question ahead of the clash is: Can Allister Coetzee’s scrum hold up against arguably the best set-piece in the country?

At the start of this season, not too many people had heard of Ruan Dreyer, Schalk van der Merwe, Robbie Coetzee, Julian Redelinghuys, Jacques van Rooyen and Armand van der Merwe, and if they had heard of them, they probably wouldn’t have taken much notice.

But after 11 weeks of non-stop Currie Cup action everyone who follows the game in South Africa knows exactly who the Lions’ front-row players are. Their names are on the lips of everyone, some of them being talked about as “musts” for the Springbok team that will tour Europe next month.

Just last week, the starting front-row of Dreyer, Coetzee and Van der Merwe and their fellow pack members dismantled the Sharks scrum. When the referee has got it right at scrum-time, like Jaco van Heerden did in the semi-final last weekend, the Lions have dominated the scrums, winning penalties and getting quality front foot ball.

It is then not surprising that in two of the three matches the Lions lost in the round-robin phase of the competition – against the Bulls (Pretoria) and Sharks (Durban) – the Lions were heavily penalised by the referee, who many would say got it wrong at scrum-time.

So what has coach Johan Ackermann got right to turn a bunch of nobodies a year or so ago into the best scrumming unit now?

Balie Swart, Saru’s scrum consultant, says Ackermann’s no-nonsense approach to applying the correct scrumming techniques has been key. “I’ve visited most of the teams in the Currie Cup to ensure they get their scrumming right and play according to the laws, but the Lions have always been a step ahead,” said Swart yesterday.

“Ackermann has a no-nonsense approach regarding the laws at scrum-time. He makes sure his players do everything correctly. He’s close to his players and they know exactly what’s required of them. It’s that simple.”

But Swart admits there’s a bit more to it than simply scrumming correctly. “They’re a close-knit unit and for the Lions it’s a case of all for one and one for all. Look at their scrum, all 16 feet are working together, they’re all pushing.”

Indeed. When the Boks took a beating in the scrums against Argentina earlier this year, Ackermann told The Star: “The locks aren’t pushing. The pack isn’t working as a unit. The secret to a good scrum is unity ... it requires an eight-man performance.”

What has set the Lions apart this year is that even their back-up men come on from the bench and keep the pressure on the opposition.

Swart says the Lions scrum is a huge psychological weapon. “When you’re getting pushed off the ball you’re going to start questioning yourself, wondering what’s going to happen the next time. The dominant team grows in confidence, they get bigger chests, while the guys from the dominated scrum creep into their shells.”

Former Bok hooker Hanyani Shimange says the Lions may not necessarily get the upperhand at Newlands on Saturday. “Remember the team feeds off the reactions of the crowd when at home, as the Lions did last weekend, but they’re not going to get the same cheers at Newlands. That could be crucial.” - The Star

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