One for the dinasaurs!

[Sandgroper]

This is something that has bugged me for a while - would appreciate someone with a better memory giving a view!

When the young Frank Myler was plaing outside Brian Keavney I seem to recall that he stood almost behind the scrum, rather than in the conventional stand off spot.  This gave him the flexibility to go either side of the scrum and made defending against him more difficult.

Am I right or am I taliking rubbish?  Of course in those days scrum halves did more from the scrum and Keavney  was a wily old so and so.  I know that Frank rated him as he was a good pattern to follow for a young player.

[Peter]

This is something that has bugged me for a while - would appreciate someone with a better memory giving a view!

When the young Frank Myler was plaing outside Brian Keavney I seem to recall that he stood almost behind the scrum, rather than in the conventional stand off spot.  This gave him the flexibility to go either side of the scrum and made defending against him more difficult.

Am I right or am I taliking rubbish?  Of course in those days scrum halves did more from the scrum and Keavney  was a wily old so and so.  I know that Frank rated him as he was a good pattern to follow for a young player.

You are quite right. When at stand off Frank Myler used to stand quite deep and come on to the ball  very quickly. With Billy Thompson and Harry Dawson in the centre there was a lot of try scorers any defence had to watch out for.

[Sandgroper]

Thanks for that Peter!  I began to think that I was dreaming it! It's my belief that many of the 'old' tactics would be 'new' now.  Watching Ben Black it really hit home how the game now lacks real scrum halfs.  It looked as if Andy Greg was back!

The thing about Frank Myler was brought up when Crompo said that Martin Keaveny had re-signed for Blackpool but that he 'was far too good for this division...' , also that he wouldn't stand in his way.....  When he was in our Academy team he did look quick and lively - thought he might be worth a look again.  If he's half as good as Brian Keaveny he'd be a star today!

[scooby]

Thanks for that Peter!  I began to think that I was dreaming it! It's my belief that many of the 'old' tactics would be 'new' now.  Watching Ben Black it really hit home how the game now lacks real scrum halfs.  It looked as if Andy Greg was back!

The thing about Frank Myler was brought up when Crompo said that Martin Keaveny had re-signed for Blackpool but that he 'was far too good for this division...' , also that he wouldn't stand in his way.....  When he was in our Academy team he did look quick and lively - thought he might be worth a look again.  If he's half as good as Brian Keaveny he'd be a star today!

You are talking about the days when stand offs were stand offs, and scrum halves were scrum halves. Nowadays at scrums the scrum half is stood on the wing, the stand off could be anywhere from loose forward to prop, the prop could be at stand off, the full back will be at loose forward, the winger will be at stand off, the hooker will be having a drink,............you get my drift. The bottom line is that the old skills have been taken out of the game at the expense of a non contact scrum and a quick PTB.

[Peter]

You are talking about the days when stand offs were stand offs, and scrum halves were scrum halves. Nowadays at scrums the scrum half is stood on the wing, the stand off could be anywhere from loose forward to prop, the prop could be at stand off, the full back will be at loose forward, the winger will be at stand off, the hooker will be having a drink,............you get my drift. The bottom line is that the old skills have been taken out of the game at the expense of a non contact scrum and a quick PTB.

Very true. Much less confusion, more skills, and everyone knew what they were doing.