The ABC Club

On Saturday we played a passionate Cranleigh side. A fire and brimstone game, to nil Cranleigh was a great achievement considering they were in our half for most of the second period. However, the game demonstrated the changing nature of the front row and how the front row has gone from powerful meatheaded players to more skilful, well rounded footballers. One got an interception try and the 2 others (including myself!) with good assists using silky hands and offloading.
You can draw parallels from the performance on saturday to current successful front rowers. The pugnacious Brian Moore and Keith Wood-esque players have been replaced with the dynamism, agility and ball-handling ability of the likes of Sinckler, Coles and Furlong. The changing nature of the sport requires more multi-dimensional players that can adapt to a plethora of situations such as passes 'out the back' and stepping into back's moves. However, the basic staples of scrummaging and lineout work are still at the forefront of a prop's identity and will remain until rugby dies.

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