Setting your scrum

• Quick run through in pairs, with each member of a pair checking their partner’s body shape (for example, using the ’Tower of Power’ shown above).
• Move to each pair critiquing each other in a static position against a scrummage machine or suitable non-moving structure, such as a corner of a building or floodlight pole (with usual risk assessments in place).
• Session should finish with gradually built-up live mini scrummages of 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 (see illustration, below), emulating the real pressure areas of actual scrummages.

These are practices for all scrum participants.

Week 2: Driving and channels

The focus now is actually on working as a unit in a scrummaging pack. 

If numbers permit, by all means scrummage live with one pack against another, although a scrummage sled may be useful anyway just to make sure everything is in place correctly.

• Set up the scrum and look for ’spines in line’ (see illustration, below).
• Now work on driving forwards together. Primarily, players should drive with their inside legs - that is the leg closest to the scrummage midline drawn between the hooker and number eight’s heads. 

These are some of the technical outcomes of the inside leg drive:

Props: Maintains their square shape, that is directly up the pitch helping prevent their inside shoulder from collapsing and them ending up ’boring in’.

Second rows: This also helps their prop’s hips stay square.

Flankers: Maintains shape.