Alffi_7 wrote:
Isn't this the same as playing the third prop at 13? Or are you thinking we would have an advantage by having the third prop lining up at hooker in the scrum?
No it isn’t really the same, and yes the advantage is there with a 3rd prop on the field pack size. Playing the prop in between 2 props...means Clark is free to break the scrum at the rear and link up in an attack from the scrum, if he packs down between two props, he is effectively out of play for at least 1 tackle.
Reading on, it’s lost to some on here that a scrum is effectively a penalty, Taking the big guys out and opening up play for the backs. There was some craft by a 7, stand off and quick breaking loose forward from a scrum, working it to attack the line close up, enjoyed seeing blind side attacks of yesteryear...
I have to go back to Nat Wood at 7, and before him, Mike Gregory at 13 to recall an attack from 2 of those positions from a scrum. We can see Clark doing something from the ruck occasionally, but he doesn’t have the space as he may get from a scrummage break.
Pack size and broken field are the ingredients of margin, the difference between 2 equally funded teams not running a tie every game....yes I know, there a factors, but when all is equal, that is what you get.
