SA scrums like Samson after a hair cut

Just as South African back lines finally learn to run straight (advancing to switches and other finesse are for another decade) the forward packs loose their power, like Samson after a haircut.

Once the pride of South African rugby and the fear of all other nations, the SA provincial packs are looking like schooboys agasint me.

In Round 3 the Waratahs destroyed the Bull, and in Round 4 the Brumbies destroyed the Cats, as two examples.

Improved Australian scrums or weakened yarpie scrums? Time will tell.

Waratahs scrum smashes the Bulls

I was very impressed with the NSW Waratahs scrum in Round 3 vs the Bulls. Destroyed them. Too early in the competition to judge the Bulls scrum, but traditionally they have been the gold standard. 

The scrum coach Michael Foley deserves the credit for this. In the past members of that pack have been the proud owners of highly used roller skates.

The ernomity of this task was not lost on the Sydney Morning Herald Journalist late last year when he wrote:

The former test hooker leaves the Wallabies coaching team after three seasons, during which he has been instrumental in achieving major gains in Australian forward play - to the extent that a pack which was often laughed at is now accepted as being of international standard.

But that challenge could be in the mini-league compared to getting the Waratahs pack sorted out next year, especially as they will be without three vital players - their lineout leader Dan Vickerman, and back-rowers Rocky Elsom and David Lyons.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/columnists/greg-growden/592444/i-Foley-focused-on-filling-big-gaps-in-Tahs-pack-i

Now all they need to do is become a winning outfit, something they have never been in the 19 odd years of Super Rugby History.