generaling the forwards

Question
hi, i play scrum half and general the forwards quiet well, but what exactly should a scrumhalf be telling the forwards? Also what makes a good ruck or maul? cheers

Answer
What a scrumhalf should say on the pitch is really dependent on what his role is for the team.  In the best case scenario, he is the manager of the pitch.   In this role, he is the prime communicator.

He is the primary field manager of the team.  He must work with his forwards to cleanly get the ball and pass it out to his backs to press the attack.  The Scrumhalf runs the offense and must communicate with both the forwards and backs.  For the forwards, the scrum half needs to tell them what the backs are intending (kick or run) and where (most teams divide the field into sectors- 3 for the width and 4 for the length) the ball is supposed to go.


He is the player who puts the ball into the scrum and passes the ball to the backs.  In this role, his primary communication with the forwards is through the eightman, especially if it involves a play by the loose forwards.

The scrumhalf also receives the ball from the forwards in lineouts, rucks, and mauls.  Generally in this situation the scrumhalf communicates when he wants the ball.

In rucks and mauls, the scrumhalf directs the forwards to counter the opposition and retrieve the ball.  This is where a vocal manager can really do some good.  A good scrumhalf actually establishes the size and tempo of the ruck or maul by communicating which players should go where.  Forwards are a lazy bunch and will not always go the to the best position, just the closest..  So he specifies which forward goes into the ruck/maul, and more importantly who needs to stay out and form a pod (support group of forwards).  Additionally he will specify where a player go.  For a rolling maul, the scrumhalf specifies direction of the roll, who will strip and roll, and when the go forward and when to establish a base.  For a normal maul that is advancing he continues to tell them to move forward.

There are two specific Strategic skills that a good scrumhalf develops::
-To command forward respect and to direct the delivery of ball from forwards to backs
-To ensure proper balance of forwards is involved in loose play

Both of these require talking to the forwards.

A good ruck/maul is one that your team either maintains/or gains possession of the ball.  An efficient one is where the proper number of players are in the correct place to make it a good one.  That is your job.


What he actually says is for less important than what and when he communicates.


Deane Shephard
Stuttgart