Rugby blisters...dealing with it and front row question

Question
Hey Nick! I'm in a pretty bad situation right now. I play for my U-19 high school rugby squad as starting Loosehead. I wore brand new boots(bad idea) to a game I recently had on Sunday. During half time I had intense pain on the back of my ankles and I new blisters had already formed. I finished up the game and looked at my feet and the back of my ankles had 2 huge popped blisters. It is the worst pain, and quite debilitating because when I'm running the pain gets worse, and in the scrums intense pressure is put on the blisters. I have a tournament this upcoming Saturday and I'm wondering if there are any remedies or ways of getting the pain to go down, and ways to protect the blisters and alleviate the pain somehow for the game.


On a side note, I've heard from many people that some loosheads dont quite bind on to the opposition right away during the scrum. They simply put the hand to their side and then bind on later. Are there any advantages to this? Also, I'm going against a much taller prop than myself on Saturday (hes 6'1 im 5'10). Are there any better body positions that I can use to get a better drive on him. Thanks for the help!

Answer
Hi

Blisters do suck. One this I have seen guys do is use rubbing alcahole to season the skin and get it to "leather up" it stings like crazy I wont lie but is kills germs and makes the raw skin less sensitive in the long run. Also you might try to get some "Second Skin" from the pharmacy and apply that. It also stings but covers the raw skin. Do all this and then cover with large medical style band aids the ones made of cloth. On top of that apply a lot of vasalene. If you have leather boots you can mold them by putting them on, doing up the laces tight and submerging them in water and then where them until they dry. This is a trick that hikers use with new boots. As the leather dries it takes the shape of your foot.

As for scrumming being short is the advantage in my opinion. Bio-mechanically you have and advantage with better leverage. I suggest making your crouch as low as you can. Bent knees, straight back and eyes up. As for your arm watch professional players you will see each prop "punching" their arm forward to get the grip. You need to get your grip hard and fast. Do not wait or make the other props life easy in any way. I have pasted a previous answer below that covers this....


The first two links cover the body position you should get used to. I feel they are the best links for explaining scrums.

I also suggest reading through my older answers especially on tackling.

Here are the links I suggest, the first one is the better I believe but overall they are good. You may need to "cut and paste" the links...

Scrummaging:

http://www.coachingrugby.com/rugby/coaching/unitskills/scrum/buildingthescrum.ht...

http://www.usarugby.org/media/EDocs/scrum.pdf


http://www.texasyouthrugby.com/download/748/docs/Building_the_scrum.pdf

All technique: Scrum, Running up the Ball, Tackling

http://www.rugbysmart.co.nz/plan/technique.html

The first article can be applied to more than just the scrum, this body position should be applied to rucks/ mauls, tackling etc.

The technique is 90% of the part of propping but the most important is the 10% that is attitude.

Scrum time requires intense focus. It may be considered a "restart of play" by the ref or the backs but the whole pack, flankers included need to be present and totally focussed on the task at hand- the scrum.

This is worth a mention at training and prior to the game and prior to each scrum!

You as a loose head have the job of creating as big a "whole" for your hooker to work in. Your job is to "lift" the opposition tighthead up so your hooker can strike the ball easier. Also you need to provide a channel between your legs for the ball to go through. The tight head will be trying to pull you down.

Think of the scrum from the hookers point of view for a second and you will understand how his job is made easier by the loose head doing his job well.

You want want to aim for a solid straight back, low body position, eyes up. Aim for the opposition props groin with your shoulder, EVERY time. He will have to change his technique to come to you. Make him change. Your shoulder may slam into his head, hip, groin, shoulder and be uncomfortable and sore during and after the game. Frankly it should look like someone has been playing "slaps" on your right shoulder after game. If you want a "gentlemans" engage you will be muscled by bigger players and also smaller props who have to work to make up for their smaller size.

Try to grip your left are solidly on the oppositions props pants line. Attempt to pull his ass out from the scrum and thus through him off balance.

After the initial hit attempt to drive the other prop back and up. Don't lift, drive with the legs, little steps. If the prop is good you might only get an inch or two, but that is enough.

Work with your lock and flanker to push on you hard. Your lock should be using you as a ram. If you have a good big lock sometime all you need to do is keep a good body position and keep stepping forward.

If you can get someone with a good camera to take pictures or film of your scrum training and your scrums in games. Analise your technique and compare against the professional to always improve your technique.

View a lot of rugby on TV and really focus on the props. It looks like a nice clean engage but it really isn't.

Also don't get too in love with the scrum machine that is a good tool for timing, and combinations but nothing can replace live scrummaging. Get another team in the club to practice with you if you don't have enough reserves and take it seriously. Practice like you'll train.

Give no quarter and make the other props job hell.

Have fun.