Scarlets fear playing with just 14 men in Europe

[Shaggy]

Just wondering, but if the situation does occur where a team has to field 14 players, and the scrums go uncontested, is there a requirement to pack an 8 man scrum - if not, at least this would lessen the disadvantage at scrum time for the Scarletts

... Where do they go from here do they try to train up one of their (3?) Hookers as extreme emergency cover ala John Smit style ... is this a viable option, or allowed under the rules?

 

[Teh Mite]

Just wondering, but if the situation does occur where a team has to field 14 players, and the scrums go uncontested, is there a requirement to pack an 8 man scrum - if not, at least this would lessen the disadvantage at scrum time for the Scarletts

... Where do they go from here do they try to train up one of their (3?) Hookers as extreme emergency cover ala John Smit style ... is this a viable option, or allowed under the rules?

If they can safely cover the front row, anyone can play there. If however in the event of substituting someone into the front row it means that the scum is forced to be uncontested because they (or nobody else available) are trained to prop safely, then that team is forefit of the missing front row player completely.

In other words, "you ain't got anyone who can prop, you get one less shirt on the pitch".

 

[Shaggy]

If they can safely cover the front row, anyone can play there. If however in the event of substituting someone into the front row it means that the scum is forced to be uncontested because they (or nobody else available) are trained to prop safely, then that team is forefit of the missing front row player completely.

In other words, "you ain't got anyone who can prop, you get one less shirt on the pitch".

Thanks, I guess their bench could look like, one Loosehead prop, one specialist Hooker, and one Hooker/Tight head cover in a few weeks then if required ... I guess they would consider anything to avoid starting with only 14 men, even if the scrum is weaker

 

[Peat]

Peat. Maybe Ulster did so the same for one round of matches (2 games), but the problem here is that the three injured players are long term injuries with broken bones, meaning the Scarlets have many more games to play with just two tightheads, including Magners League matches, although if they're sensible they will bring in another tighthead for the Magners games and not risk the two registered for HC games, but this will in turn weaken their Magners team risking their good position they've built so far. This means there's a greater chance of an injury occurring. I don't think the Scarlets would have cared if one or two were expected back in a few weeks, as there's little chance of another injury occurring in that time.

Those were long term injuries. All happened at least a week before the Heineken Cup, I think more like two. Macklin's still not back, don't know when he will be. Fitzpatrick will be running out for the Ravens this weekend, that will be his first game back. Botha wasn't back until into the international window.

And we did lose other props for international matches during that period. Tom Court got his international call up and we were left playing at least one game, I think maybe two, with Bryan Young at tighthead and with two props from the All Ireland League on the bench. So there we go.

The rules about squad size is not there for this reason, this is a special case that woun't happen atall often. Why not do the sensible thing? In the end, they're running the risk of devaluing the competition because of it. In every single facet of life, there is some leniency to laws in certain circymstances, the ERC should do the same.

I agree its slightly stupid. But the Scarlets still have players capable of playing tighthead, so it doesn't need to be looked at yet.

 

[Seaton]

Never played in the front row have you?

On the contrary, apart from first season (with a clueless coach), I have only played frontrow
99 percent of the time at loosehead

I got tried one time at tighthead, it didn't go to well
I just assume that having more than 2 hours of training for a solitary week, and vastly suprerior skill range
That one of their looseheads can play their safely, even if they just lock their legs and don't try advance

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

I play on the Wing or at Fullback, yet was asked to prop on the tighthead for the duration of a school Severns tournement last year and had no real issues besides being the lightest player. Is it really that hard to switch sides?

Still, they've gone with this young Gardnier chap at 3 and two looseheads on the bench, one of which has apparently played on the tight a few years back.

 

[Teh Mite]

A sevens prop is hardly Carl Heyman or Soane Tonga'uiha doing it for real They're more like rugby league scrums with a teeney-weeney element of pushing.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Still more scrummaging than I ever want to do in my life.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

A sevens prop is hardly Carl Heyman or Soane Tonga'uiha doing it for real They're more like rugby league scrums with a teeney-weeney element of pushing.

Superb line!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Scarlets may be after Euan Murray:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/llanelli_scarlets/9283825.stm
Makes sense: Have him for the rest of the season, then he can sign for whoever he wants next. Scarlets have only got 3 Sunday games scheduled atm, with one of them being LV= Cup (Not sure on player registration for that though, so he might not be eligible anyway)

 

[Dougydeluxe]

Getting Murray would be a great fix for the Scarlets. Might even improve their chances.