scrum halfing

Ciaran123

hey guys,
I'm new to this position and I am finding it tough going. Does anyone have any experience that they could share.

• Around the scrum
• controlling forwards (communicating)
• practice passing
• kicking
• any specific weight training

With the last one, I can pass ok on both sides but I find that I am left handed playing rugby (normally right handed) so although I have accuracy I find that my passing distance is not great. Any tips on improving technique???

Tim Robbins

Ciaran123 wrote: »

With the last one, I can pass ok on both sides but I find that I am left handed playing rugby (normally right handed) so although I have accuracy I find that my passing distance is not great. Any tips on improving technique???

Position of your feet 1: Have a wide stance so that you don't have to bend as much to pick up the ball. Have your formost foot pointing to the scrum and your back foot pointing towards the touchline. This opens the hips and makes it easier to pass.

Position of your feet 2: If you are doing a pop pass, your feet don't have to be as far apart.

Passing: Practise getting it off the ground in one swoop. Pick a target (e.g. a Rugby a post) and get some balls and do it again and again aiming for the target.

Then practise running up to a deadball, stopping and the same passing technique.

JWAD

Ciaran123 wrote: »

hey guys,
I'm new to this position and I am finding it tough going. Does anyone have any experience that they could share.

• Around the scrum
• controlling forwards (communicating)
• practice passing
• kicking
• any specific weight training

With the last one, I can pass ok on both sides but I find that I am left handed playing rugby (normally right handed) so although I have accuracy I find that my passing distance is not great. Any tips on improving technique???

I played halfback in both codes of rugby.
You're asking a lot of information in one go I tells ya!
Many different types of halfback. Some can be a fourth backrower. Some excellent sniping runners. Some just basically can pass. Styles of play also depend your team too.
One thing you do need to be is a quick decision maker and a bossy bugger.
Only way to perfect that wrong hand passing is practice, practice, practice, I'm afraid. And one more thing, forget the obssession with spin passing when players can receive a ball just as quick if flipped out to them.
Weight training? For passing obviously upper body strength is important. Both sides. You need to be able to take a hit too when you take the run option.

DanOB

Ciaran123 wrote: »

hey guys,
I'm new to this position and I am finding it tough going. Does anyone have any experience that they could share.

• Around the scrum
• controlling forwards (communicating)
• practice passing
• kicking
• any specific weight training

With the last one, I can pass ok on both sides but I find that I am left handed playing rugby (normally right handed) so although I have accuracy I find that my passing distance is not great. Any tips on improving technique???

As it was said above me, you need to keep a wide stance with your legs when your taking the ball from a scrum or ruck

With regards to controlling forwards, SHOUT SHOUT SHOUT, from my experiences a pack of forwards are basically a pack of thugs (sorry lads), and the only form of communication they understand is being shouted at, so dont be afraid to raise your voice a little- even if traditionally your the smallest lad on the pitch

For practicing your passes, place the ball on the ground and adopt the stance which was mentioned above, have a mate ready to catch the ball from a few metres off of your wing, keep practicing this and your speed, accuracy and power will improve drastically

thats all i got, hope its of 'some' use

Nestor

Ciaran123 wrote: »

hey guys,
I'm new to this position and I am finding it tough going. Does anyone have any experience that they could share.

• Around the scrum
• controlling forwards (communicating)
• practice passing
• kicking
• any specific weight training

With the last one, I can pass ok on both sides but I find that I am left handed playing rugby (normally right handed) so although I have accuracy I find that my passing distance is not great. Any tips on improving technique???

To control forwards, use your arms as well as your voice. Pull forwards where you want them to go or point vigorously towards where you want to go. You have to remember that at the breakdown, all of your forwards are involved in violent wrestling matches with a gang of burly gentlemen and that sort of takes away from their ability to hear you, never mind see the big picture. Although it is a bit unnatural to physically boss a pack of giant forwards around, that's your job. Just copy Peter Stringer, apart from his passing, his main strength is his ability to communicate to his pack - which is why he seems so annoying with all that arm-flapping and shouting.

For passing at the scrum, spread the legs wide but try to keep your trunk upright for balance and keep your knees and elbows slightly bent when you reach for the ball in order to maintain balance and a more narrow arc of your arms as you pass (for control and to stop the opposing scrummie from slapping your arms as you swing). Also, if the other scrummie is all over you because the ref is senile or your scrum is in trouble, either get the number 8 to take it on, or take it into contact yourself, rather than flinging out a wild one.

For passing practice, place a bunch of balls in various spots on the ground around a fixed target and time yourself as to how long it takes you to hit the target with all of the balls.

Don't feel that you always have to whip the ball away with a perfect spiral. If the breakdown is a mess, it's always better to take a step back, run sideways or have a snipe than to fire a wild one.

For kicking, practice a single-motion sweep from the ground to a high kick from behind your body. Then practice disguising it.

For weights concentrate on the trunk and legs rather than chest or biceps - you don't want to restrict your passing movement.

.DarDarBinks

Ciaran123 wrote: »

hey guys,
I'm new to this position and I am finding it tough going. Does anyone have any experience that they could share.

• Around the scrum
• controlling forwards (communicating)
• practice passing
• kicking
• any specific weight training

With the last one, I can pass ok on both sides but I find that I am left handed playing rugby (normally right handed) so although I have accuracy I find that my passing distance is not great. Any tips on improving technique???

Around the scrum - Annoy the s**t out of the other No.9 (step on his toes is a good idea, push him, insult him etc.) Also Be quick up on the other Scrum Half make his life living hell. As for your passing from scrums make sure you talk with your forwards and get protection! Dont wind your pass, be quick, sharp, fast and accurate! You can use a diving pass if your not comfortable.

Controlling Forwards - You are the leader of the 8 Retards, they are at your service, make them know that, they are idiots. Call them by their names not just 'lads' as this will get a reaction. Always talk, talk, talk.

Practice Passing - Set yourself a target (e.g a tree) Practice till you can comfortably hit the target atleast 8 out of ten times on both hands. Then set an elevated target (e.g draw a circle on a wall) repeat process, then introduce a runner. Also note, try and prefect the ''sweeping'' pass and try to steer away from ''winding'' before you pass.

Kicking - Unless you are a very capable kicker, i would avoid this section. Box kick, from a ruck take a step back and with sweeping leg, kick the ball. Mark out a section near the touchline with cones and aim for them (make sure the ball bounces into touch.) But if possible keep the ball in hand!

Weight Training - Dumbells. Your a scrumhalf not a prop =L

Other General Comments - On defending a ruck, organise your forwards and as the ball gets spun out on the other team, track the ball by jogging behind your backline and be ready for any missed passes or kicks over the top and then you can act as the second cover indefence!

Tim Robbins

.DarDarBinks wrote: »

Controlling Forwards - You are the leader of the 8 Retards, they are at your service, make them know that, they are idiots. Call them by their names not just 'lads' as this will get a reaction. Always talk, talk, talk.

I like this one.

Nestor

Annoy the s**t out of the other No.9 (step on his toes is a good idea, push him, insult him etc.)

I only ever met one or two scrum halfs who worked like that, but I never came across a good scrum half who had to stoop to such levels. In my experience, it's only the talentless who even bother thinking about such stuff. There are more than enough legal ways to mess with an opposition scrum half. If you have to start stepping on his toes and calling him names, you've already lost. It's a position where tactical awareness is much more important than willy waving machismo. Be robust in defending the ball at the breakdown, but getting into physical battles with your opposite number is a game for the "retards" up front, not the scrummie.

.DarDarBinks

Nestor wrote: »

I only ever met one or two scrum halfs who worked like that, but I never came across a good scrum half who had to stoop to such levels. In my experience, it's only the talentless who even bother thinking about such stuff. There are more than enough legal ways to mess with an opposition scrum half. If you have to start stepping on his toes and calling him names, you've already lost. It's a position where tactical awareness is much more important than willy waving machismo. Be robust in defending the ball at the breakdown, but getting into physical battles with your opposite number is a game for the "retards" up front, not the scrummie.

Yes, talentless :P

If wou want to win you will do anything, well atleast for me it is, all fairness goes out the window until the match is over then, you can be friends!

Ciaran123

lads,
cheers for all the help, some really useful tips. thanks a million and I'll definitely be shouting at the forwards with a little more vigour.
Thanks Again,
Ciaran