The 4th Backrower

[big ginger 8]

As I'm sure many of you have noticed the best hookers have pretty much become a 4th backrower or more precisely a 3rd flanker.

Du Plessis, Moore, Servat, Mealamu and Strauss are prime examples. We might as well just train flankers and teach them to throw. As the art of actually hooking is long gone. What with scrum halves feeding to the second row. Unless their team use the French arrowhead system they don't even need to be good scrummagers just comfortable for their props.


Don't get me wrong I'm not saying it's bad they make for more exciting rugby I'm just interested in others opinions.

 

[Irishflanker]

During the Ireland A v Scotland A game a few years ago (maybe 3) the RTE commentators kept saying that Sean O'Brien could be transformed into a awesome hooker.

 

[Peat]

Without wishing to be a git, this is hardly news, is it? And an emphasis on round the field contribution is the norm for all tight five members these days, not just hookers, something which I'd argue has more to do with professionalism than mucking around with the scrum. Likewise, having time at the back-row at a lower level is far from unheard of for a lot of forwards, just like all the best backs usually end up playing at fly-half when younger.

That said, making them actually have to hook again would be an excellent thing, as I believe it would lead to smaller front rows and more stable scrums. There's probably better ways of doing it.

I also think you're underestimating the effect a good scrummaging hooker can have on a scrum, and certainly underestimating the potential effects of a bad scrummaging hooker.

Finally, judging from quite a few hookers, teaching them to throw isn't exactly a trivial task. Although sometimes I think they should experiment with a back-row thrower anyway...

 

[big ginger 8]

I scrummaged as prop before hitting a growth spurt and as I said it depends on the system. Obviously you don't want someone of Hartleys standard. But a prop can help out the hooker a lot with the binding sometimes it is all about just being able to get a good bind with your hooker.

I know it's nothing new though more and more seem to be popping up. I just wanted peoples opinions on it. I feel there is more emphasis on props setpeice work so mobility isn't as big a factor.

 

[nickdnz]

In fairness, every position is slowly becoming more breakdown orientated. Locks like Sam Whitelock and Courtney Lawes seem to be good at getting turnovers, while modern centres such as Tana Umaga, Conrad Smith and Brian O'Driscol all essentially act as another loose forward at the break down. It's more a case of everyone on the park becoming more mobile than it is anything else. It's pretty obvious to see that when you look at the work rate of the Franks brothers and Crockett in comparison to Neemia Tialata.

I think many people, as mentioned before, underestimate the importance a hooker plays to scrummaging. Yes halfbacks often now just throw the ball into their side of the scrum, but the hooker has to be able to lead the hit of the props and be strong enough to keep the props tight. There are also some very good hookers which are certainly closer to props than flankers. Look at Aled de Malmanche. He's a beast with ball in hand, and he runs hard, but he's not quite the same as du Plessis or Hore in steeling ball.

I scrummaged as prop before hitting a growth spurt and as I said it depends on the system. Obviously you don't want someone of Hartleys standard. But a prop can help out the hooker a lot with the binding sometimes it is all about just being able to get a good bind with your hooker.

I know it's nothing new though more and more seem to be popping up. I just wanted peoples opinions on it. I feel there is more emphasis on props setpeice work so mobility isn't as big a factor.

As mentioned before, I'd almost say it's the opposite. There is a big importance on scrummaging, sure. But if you look at some of the highest rated props at the moment: Owen Franks, Wyatt Crockett, Soane Tonga'uiha, Dan Cole, Gethin Jenkins etc, all very high work rates and good ball carriers.

 

[big ginger 8]

I suppose but I still think the hookers most important job in the scrum apart from hooking is the set. They set the height and everything. I include leading the actual hit in this.