‘Grumpy’ Alan Muir’s Scrum Factory producing the goods

When you think of Fijian rugby images of free-flowing backline moves and wonderful offloads spring to mind, not the nitty-gritty of set-piece play.

If push comes to shove, excusing any puns, Fiji’s future generation of players generally aspire to be the next Nikola Matawalu or Nemani Nadolo not a gnarled tight-head prop.

Many more performances like the ones delivered at RWC 2015, however, and the behemoths of the Fijian pack run the risk as being cast as role models.

Fiji’s scrum, traditionally an area of weakness, delivered good ball in spades in England – Fiji were one of only three sides not to lose a scrum on their own put in. – and it is hoped that a Scrum Factory initiative will help make this is a long-term gain.

Over the past fortnight, in three different locations, Scrum Factory sessions have been held by former Wellington coach Allan ‘Grumpy’ Muir, with priority given to the Vodafone Under-20 team preparing for the Oceania qualifier for the World Rugby U20 Trophy.

Players and coaches from seven different provinces have been involved in the two-hour sessions.

The Fiji Rugby Union reports that, “the overall feedback from the three centres has been very positive. Coaches and players alike have begun to see and understand the processes involved in the scrum and are now having a much different approach to how the scrum is an essential part of team preparation. This change in attitude is a carry forward from our scrum domination in the recent RWC.”

The Scrum Factory roadshow rolls into three more locations over the next fortnight where players and coaches from five additional provinces and pupils within the Fijian secondary school system will benefit from the expertise of Muir and five hand-picked assistant coaches.

From having statistically the joint worst scrum at World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2015 to having the joint best at RWC 2015 takes some doing in the short space of four months. It might even give ‘Grumpy’ Muir something to smile about. OCEANIA RUGBY

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