Leading up to the semi finals of the CC rugby writers are starting to examine the up coming breakdown battles and the influence of individuals like Heinrich Brussouw on the outcome of the battle for possession.
However a lot of this emphasis on the man on man fight for the ball is misleading to the fans and does not really tell the story of the REAL battle for forward dominance on the day.
Top class forwards today are scientifically conditioned both for strength and endurance like never before in the history of rugby union.
Tight forwards are expected to fulfil their primary roles in the set pieces as well as tackle and carry the ball. This means that they should have enough “gas in the tank” to play at the top end of their ability for at least 60 minutes if they are to be substituted, or for the full 80 minutes.
The same “gas in the tank” logic applies to loose forwards. It is therefore logical to assume that their ability to achieve the above is dependant on how quickly they deplete the “gas in the tank”
This leads us to ask the question: How do we put enough pressure on the bodies of the opposition forwards so that we make them “run out of gas” before we do? This, my friends is the key to understanding forward dominance on the day.
Too much is written about the qualities of one loose forward over another, as if they are machines and not human beings who are going to reach fatigue at some point of the game. As fatigue sets in, skills leave the party.
The above is a fact that cannot be escaped from, no matter who the player happens to be.
So, how do we push the opposition into fatigue? In boxing terms, we simply destroy the body and the legs give up the fight.
Let us look at it from the example of a prop, as the same reasoning applies to all forwards: If a prop is made to spend an enormous amount of energy in trying to defend himself in the scrums then sooner or later his ability to run will be compromised. In the same way a loose forward who has to commit himself to a wrestling match every time he gets near the ball, will eventually feel the results in his legs.
In short, the more demanding the physical battle becomes on the body of a forward, the sooner he will reach the reserve mark on his “gas tank”
So when you see a tight forward running like a wing in the last 20 minutes of a game, you need to ask yourself the question: Has he been loafing when it comes to his primary job, or has his pack been so dominant, that the opposition have not put enough pressure on his body?
The role of a tight forward is to physically destroy his opposition number. As a prop forward, I know that the more I make you suffer in the scrums, the less value you will have to your team as the game wears on. This is an area of scrumming that most fans do not get. It is about the “slow poison” that my pack administers to the opposition until they “run out of gas”.
And something for all to laugh at while we think about TH’s article :rotfl:
GD Th nice article mate , and very true
this is why i think maybe we should go with to props on the bench and unfortunately for burden i think leave him out
let smitty cover hooker
another change we might see is muller back which will strengthen the scrums
so its going to be tough on a few players missing out but the cheetahs will try soften us upfront , they also seem to think our scrum is weak , which could work in our favour
their TH against boland had his head shoved up his ass , so me think they could be in for a rude wakening
@sharky_forever –
1. WHY ARE MEN SO SMART DURING SEX?
(because their plugged into a genius)
2. WHY DON’T WOMEN BLINK DURING SEX?
(they don’t have enough time)
3. WHY DOES IT TAKE 1 MILLION SPERM TO FERTILIZE ONE EGG?
(they don’t stop to ask directions)
4. WHY DO MEN SNORE WHEN THEY LIE ON THEIR BACKS?
(because their balls fall over their butt-hole and they vapor lock)
5. WHY WERE MEN GIVEN LARGER BRAINS THAN DOGS?
(so they won’t hump women’s legs at cocktail parties)
6. WHY DID GOD MAKE MEN BEFORE WOMEN?
(you need a rough draft before you make a final copy)
7. HOW MANY MEN DOES IT TAKE TO PUT A TOILET SEAT DOWN?
(don’t know…..it never happened)
One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his Sweat-shirt Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me, ‘What setting do I use on the washing machine?’
‘It depends,’ I replied. ‘What does it say on your shirt?’
He yelled back, ‘University of Oklahoma.’
And they say blondes are dumb…
———————————————–
A couple is lying in bed. The man says,
‘I am going to make you the happiest woman in the world.’
The woman replies, ‘I’ll miss you…’
———————————————————-
‘It’s just too hot to wear clothes today,’ Jack says as he stepped out of the shower, ‘honey, what do you think the neighbors would think if I mowed the lawn like this?’
‘Probably that I married you for your money,’ she replied.
———————————————————-
Q: What do you call an intelligent, good looking, sensitive man?
A: A rumor
———————————————————–
Q: Why do little boys whine?
A: They are practicing to be men.
———————————————–
Q: What does it mean when a man is in your bed gasping for breath and calling your name?
A: You did not hold the pillow down long enough.
———————————————————–
Q: How do you keep your husband from reading your e-mail?
A: Rename the mail folder ‘Instruction Manual.’
———————————————————–
Dear Lord, I pray for Wisdom to understand my man, Love to forgive him, and Patience for his moods. Because, Lord, if I pray for Strength, I’ll beat him to death. AMEN
The same argument could be used to explain why Bakkies is always substituted after 60 mins. He plays his heart out and then has no more gas in the tank.
2@sharky_forever – Coenie Oosthuizen was playing at tighthead for the first time ever as WP Nel was carrying an injury. Do not expect to see Oosthuizen at 3 on Saturday.
Thanks Tighthead. I enjoyed the article.
@Loosehead –
Loosie, check mail pse.
3@sharky_forever –
lmao
7@Pietman –
sien jy’t my gesoek op die ander thread?
@Ashley –
Heyt, ek roep maar jy hoor nie!
Loosehead soek die Kaapse manne se name en addies, kan ek jou insluit op die lys, hy wil n wynaandjie saam reel?
i would start a sharks front row of beast smitty and jannie
after 30 min move smitty to th bring on bissy then after 60 min bring on carstens and take off beast
with the locks being muller and sykes it seems
albert or hargreaves on the bench
my only concern is , has smitty bulked up so much that the binding between him and jannie and beast could be a problem :rotfl:
Hi everyone, I thought Bissy was injured Sharky?
@sharky_forever – If Bismark is benched he will throw anothet hissy fit and join the WP.
Great article. I’m so glad i found this sight.
Anyway, i suppose the question now will be, which team has the forwards with the most gas…no pun intended :smirk:
Hellooooooooooooo
Andries Bekker must eat tins full of baked beans on a Friday night to give him so much gas towards the end of the game.
@Tripples – was but seems to be fine, reports from durban says he should will be playing
10@Pietman –
yep (hierdie naweek is ongelukkig bietjie vol!!)
e-mail: ashacrg@yahoo.co.uk
14@Greenpoint-Gunner – What a sight that you found this site!!
@grootblousmile –
Thanks for the help on lay out.
Run out of gas in my brain!!
“So when you see a tight forward running like a wing in the last 20 minutes of a game, you need to ask yourself the question: Has he been loafing when it comes to his primary job”
– Andries Bekker.
Great article TH.
@Ashley –
Saak is reg, hy sal julle sekerlik lank voor die tyd laat weet, sal nie hierdie naweek wees nie.
@Loosehead – lol loskpoppitjie one hopes he is bigger then that
and i say bench him first half as he is comming from an injury and i would like to see smitty on the field all the time , he has played through a few games this season so fitness is there
just think his experience is needed on the field
20@tight head – Pleasure, at least I do my Primary Job… and am extremely fit, so I won’t run out of gas…. hehehe
@tight head – :laugh: forwards have brains?? :rotfl: sorry bro couldnt resist , how ro doing ??
@Supa Die Bloubul –
Thank you Super!!
good morning pietie , gbs , greenpoint , ashley , loskoppitjie , supa dupa , doubles and tripples and who ever i missed :waving:
@grootblousmile –
That is why you are our leader!! 🙂
28@sharky_forever – Hello Visvoete… how are you?
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