News: Wallers
By Broonie
March 3 2014
Interesting that the coaches took the opportunity to accelerate Ethan’s learning curve and at the same time give Alex a small rest against Glaws. It no doubt helped that Ethan has previously given Harden a good thrashing at Wandies and (I think) LV level, so no risk, all gain. Harden is more experienced than Alex, let alone Ethan, so it’s no small thing , but Ethan schooled him.
The Waller Brothers
Harden is one of the 6’3” 19+ stone props who have been dominating the premiership in recent seasons and who are finding the new scrum dispensation err…difficult. Recently St Tub described the England tighthead (injured at present as “obsolete at 25”) and there’s a grain or more of truth in this.since Vickery started these quasi-props have relied on having a height and weight advantage at the “hit”. Becase of the extra height they could hit downwards which added force and (with the added weight ) develop momentum , from which the other pack could not recover, cue strings of penalties, early hits, soft engages , the full tedious gamut on both sides.
Ethan got his side up consistently and credit to him for a lot of the “feeding “ penalties against Glaws.The glaws tight head side was disappearing backwards faster than the glaws 9 could feed his 2nd row – to give his pack a chance at the ball Robson had to be really outstandingly obvious in his Squintfulness and as Wiggles had set out his stall by penalising Kahn for a relatively straight feed first up, he had to penalise glaws who were unable (because their hooker can’t hook and Harden was on skates) to adjust, so it kept happening . Harden’s only option (which he made fairly obvious) was to drop his bind, head inside, and stand up underneath Mikey Haywood. Lucky for Glaws, Wiggles seemed to get tired of pinging them and decided to view this as both sides standing up, so reset.Quite why he thought Saints should voluntarily stand up is a mystery.
By the time Alex and Tom Mercey came on Glaws were absolutely ripe for it and were duly blown out of the water at that huge scrum in the second half – an absolute thing of beauty. As far as several of the somewhat stately glaws forwards were concerned, it must have been the fastest they moved all day lol.
If they do decide to convert Ethan it will have to be something they think long and hard about and he would have to want to do and feel confident about. At present they are a huge advantage to the club as we need not recruit on that side for years and years . If Ethan decided to give it a go, he’d have to take a step back, he’d have to strengthen the left side of his body and go up a stone and a half , with all the implications with leg joints for young players whose bones are not yet fully set . The financial rewards for tightheads are potentially greater, but it would be a massive decision and my reaction would simply be – Why?
Alex would probably be less suited to tighthead as his back is longer , but they do both “look” like born looseheads and they both seem to absolutely love playing for Saints.
We have a good young tighthead in Danny Herriott who’s gone through the England age groups as has Danny Hobbs , who is more of a loosehead , a terrific carrier who might be able or willing to play both sides. after them it’s been a bit quieter in the academy when it comes to props, but there are some very big front row lads who can really drive who were starting and benching in the winning Academies Cup final team recently. Some of these were well under age group and will be coming under Nobby’s wing soon.Moseley of course, with Dave Hilton coaching the forwards, is as good a place as any to park them for dual registration. The new crop entering the senior academy over the next couple of years will really bear watching ; if I was an ambitious 16 y.o. prop in Cumbria or Cornwall, I’d be getting Mum and Dad to move to Northampton sharpish , it’s no coincidence that we’re sitting pretty up front.
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“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
In the first half, you wouldn't have seen much of Harden's attempts to bind on Ethan. At each scrum he started ok, long bind on the shirt at about chest level but when Wiggo called "Set" his arm came back and bent and he bound on the back of Ethan's sleeve with his elbow pointing to Australia. Then he gets up wondering why he's got mud all over his face!
Ethan and Alex are, as you say, a pair of stars and can only go from strength to strength at the Nobby West University of the Front Row.
And yes, that scrum in the second half was indeed something special. Tide turned then...
It was worth the admission on it's own.
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
It may be the view that they are not quite up to it for a first team contract and they are blocking Danny and Danny. That would be a great shame , although understandable . Whatever happens , they are serious contenders and they have a future in the game ; whether it's at FG or elsewhere we'll know soon . Good luck to them whichever way it goes.
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
Quote:Bob Stainsby
As erudite a post as ever from the scrum proffesor thanks for the knowledge. And yes THAT scrum was wonderfull the glaws pack looked like a bunnch of scooby do characters with reverse windmilling legs MARVELOUS!
+1 to each and every bit of that Bob.
thanks for the analysis Broonie, excellent to have this insight.
Bridesmaids no more.
Once a scrum half .... always a scrum half
Makes watching that much more interesting
I'm also loving a return to proper scrummaging. Watching the Wales France game reminded me of how frustrating the scrum had become in recent seasons.
The downside is our 2 most likely semi-final opponents as things currently stand, Tiger's or Bath, have formidable scrums!
Per Ardua Ad Astra