John Drake: When push comes to shove, it's technique

Modern rugby at all levels is about running, passing and scoring tries, lots of them.

But it's the teams doing the basics well - particularly forward play - who are now emerging as the ones who can create more scoring opportunities.

The analysis of possession and territory is often quoted to show how well particular teams have performed.

These statistics concentrate on quantity rather than quality, and frankly do not give a true indication of the real dominance of a team, and thus giving the platform to score points.

There will be no better test of the improvement of the All Blacks scrum than against England. If you think I'm joking, then think about the poor Australians last weekend when their jellyfish scrum was exposed again.

Or 2003 at Wellington, when the All Black eight could not dominate a six-man England unit for a 10-minute period.

The British media have got quite excited about loosehead prop Andy Sheridan's performance last week in only his second run-on test, and his upcoming clash with Carl Hayman on Sunday morning.

Both are heavy and, more importantly, very tall for props, which is unusual and can make it difficult to get low enough at the engagement.

A common misunderstanding about scrummaging is that it is a man-on-man battle; that is, Sheridan v Hayman as individuals.

The reality is that a dominant scrum has more to do with combinations and teamwork of firstly the front row and then the whole eight forwards.

It may be, say, Hayman who looks to dominate Sheridan. But the truth will be that hooker Keven Mealamu and Hayman will work together on Sheridan, and Ali Williams and the flanker, either Richie McCaw or Jerry Collins, will add to the pressure.

If, say, Williams and Hayman are not in complete unity, then Hayman's job is difficult, if not impossible.

It is only when the timing of all forwards is exactly the same on formation, engagement and push that Hayman will be able to think about using different angles of force to unsettle Sheridan and the whole England scrum.

The next myth is that strength and power are all that count. Sure, you need the required muscle but technique, co-ordination and preparation are perhaps more important.

I recall star All Black lock of the 1970s Peter Whiting coaching scrum techniques to me early in the decade. He told of the occasion he played with the controversial Keith Murdoch against Wales in Murdoch's last match for the All Blacks before being banished from the tour.

Whiting said he found Murdoch - a huge physical beast of close to 120kg - bent backwards over Whiting's shoulder in scrum after scrum. The damage was done by a squat roly-poly Welsh prop of about 95kg, and his similarly sized hooker working tactically as a pair against the lone Murdoch.

Whiting never forgot the experience and made it his business to learn the reasons why technique wins over muscle.

Experience is the third factor. No two scrums are exactly the same. The more scrum time against different opposition and techniques, the better a scrum will become.

Sheridan squared off for about half a game when the Lions played the Maori at Hamilton in June. It looked like a decent matchup, until Sheridan was sinbinned and didn't return in the second spell.

He was also missing from the Lions test team and became something of a mystery figure on the tour. Sheridan has only recently converted from lock to prop and may still need more experience, although he seems to have learned very fast.

When real pressure comes on at scrum time the prop's body feels like it is in a press with someone trying to make one's height go from 6 feet to 5 feet 10 inches in about four seconds. That's real pressure. The experienced and mentally tough prop guts it out and stays steady. The mentally and physically weak head up or down, therefore conceding to the pressure and squeeze.

England think if they can win at scrum and lineout, they will take the match. So if the All Blacks can get dominance in these areas, then psychologically England will be gone.

I believe this All Black team have the power, technique and mental hardness up front to absorb whatever England deliver at the set pieces and breakdown.

This should allow the backs to do the running and passing, knowing the winning of the battle up front led to victory in the war.

* John Drake is a former All Black prop.