Scrum power key for Cheetahs

2006-04-05 21:32

Hendrik Cronje

Bloemfontein - The Sharks front row comprising Deon Carstens, John Smit and BJ Botha showed against the Reds that a solid scrum can have a major impact on Super 14 matches.

The Cheetahs have world-class props in Os du Randt, Ollie le Roux, Wian du Preez and Jannie du Plessis and the Sharks have reminded them just in time that they also have this dangerous weapon in their arsenal.

Solid scrums could be the Cheetahs' biggest trump-card in their match against the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday. If there is one chink in the Brumbies' armour, it is their scrumming.

This is the one area where the Cheetahs could neutralise the dangerous Brumbies backline, but the question is if the experienced loosehead Brumbies prop, Bill Young, will allow this.

Young is the master of tricks. It is not just his scrumming technique that is suspect, but the Wallaby is also considered a master in getting the scrums to move sideways and thereby neutralising the opponents' strength.

This trick could prevent the Cheetahs doing the same with the Brumbies scrum the Sharks did with the Reds.

Give strongest pack the advantage

Du Randt and company will want to show all and sundry that it is the Cheetahs scrum and not the Sharks that is the strongest of all South African teams, even if they have to prove it without their Bok tighthead, CJ van der Linde (fractured leg).

The bad news for Young is that Steve Walsh of New Zealand will be the referee. He has shown in the Sharks match that he is probably the referee who enforces the new scrum rule the best.

Walsh succeeds well in giving the strongest pack the advantage, but the Cheetahs also have their own plans to curtail Young's clever ploys.

Cheetahs scrum guru, Naka Drotske said: "We will talk to the referee about Bill's tricks beforehand. We will definitely discuss all the aspects."

Even though Van der Linde's absence is a setback, Drotske has a lot of confidence in Du Plessis.

"Jannie has shown us that he is developing into a top tighthead."

The absence of Van der Linde, Juan Smith (flank, captain, knee injury) and Hendro Scholtz (Bok flank) is however making coach Rassie Erasmus' planning more difficult.

Scholtz has recovered from a shoulder injury, but needs match sharpness. Alwyn Hollenbach (centre) also earlier featured in Erasmus' plans, but he will probably play Vodacom Cup rugby first following his shoulder injury.

- Volksblad