During his transition from training to Auch in the second level of France, Tom Harrison learned the Mantra Gallic which is as true as never before: “No melee, no victory” – “no melee, no victory”.
This philosophy is particularly relevant to the recent fortunes of England. Last year, section difficulties were a factor in the dying series of the national team of narrow defeats. But this year, the scrum of England was the best of the six nations and provided a dominant platform which allowed them to win four out of five victories, to finish closely behind the champions of France after a promising campaign.
Rewind nine month and Steve Barthwick deplores the problems at the front, which knew its side.
In the aftermath of the consecutive defeats of the tests in New Zealand, the head coach said in a precise manner: “Obviously, we must find other heads of the on-board. It will be a big development project for myself and Tom Harrison. The scrum was under pressure, so this is an area that we have to improve.
From this low point, England has been transformed. They “found” a trendy head that was hiding in sight – Will Stuart – and he took the calculation as a potential test starter for the Lions. The field of weakness has become a deadly asset, as Captain Maro Itoje noted before the championship final in Cardiff when he said: “This (mixed) has become a massive weapon for us.”
Harrison, with only 33 years old, has been widely acclaimed for its renaissance mission behind the scenes. He worked with diligence to forge close links with the flourishing production line of age groups and with the counterparts of the Premiership clubs.
England coach Scrum Tom Harrison has transformed his major weakness into their biggest weapon
Harrison, with only 33 years old, was largely acclaimed for its rebirth mission behind the scenes
There was a technical adjustment but also a main objective on the creation of a goal unit
All meticulous coordination is bearing fruit. He finds it difficult to emphasize that there is still work in progress – but progress to date is clear to everyone.
Talk to Sport Mail In Northampton, Harrison explained the resurgence in its area of influence and how England adapted to life after Dan Cole and Joe Marler – twin pillars of their first row during a generation.
There was a technical adjustment; Scrumming lower because it is suitable for Ellis Genge in Loosehead, but also to a priority on the creation of a goal unit, helped by useful pointers of a decorated water sports expert.
“When you have – in the attackers – eight clubs contributing to a fray, it is a question of thinking:” how to bring everyone over the same wavelength, “said Harrison.” Timing is the key.
“I spent a little time during the last World Cup talking to Steve Trapmore. He won a gold medal at the eight of the man at the man at the Sydney Olympic Games, then won gold at the Paris Olympic Games as a rowing coach. We have talked a lot about how to get timing, rhythm and cohesion, so that eight guys do the same thing at the same time.
Each coach of the Installation of England needs on the one hand precious part of the training calendar. Harrison has two main slots in the accumulation of each test. He brings together his attackers in a shaded corner of the field on their Surrey base and oversees a limited number of live melee, who become fiery without boiling – and sometimes attract a crowd.
“The first day of training in a week of testing, we will do implementation work with the first row and what we expect from the opposition,” he said. “The second day is more physical and will be our big blow. We will go live and it will be really competitive; With seven or eight mixed – max. Then, Thursday, with our last session, we will do four scrums live – Max. It is a question of teaching under fatigue, of preparing.
“This is the best part of the week. The backs come to watch, which gives an additional idea of its importance. Ollie Lawrence or Tommy Freeman will come on the side. We will take out someone and put one of them, to cover our sin of sin.
Meticulous coordination is bearing fruit, but Harrison stressed that it is a work in progress
Harrison has two main slots in the accumulation of each test. He oversees a limited number of live melee, which become fiery without boiling – and sometimes draw a crowd
The melee of England was the best of the six nations and provided a dominant platform which allowed them to win four out of five victories to finish little behind Champions France
The scrum of Scrum of England was illustrated by the impact of a particular man – Stuart, the Tighthead Bath, who reached his 50th ceiling in Cardiff last month, to carry out a capital campaign for the 28 -year -old player. It has gone from a largely unusual figure, out of the starting XV, in a formidable cornerstone of the pack and a pending lion.
Harrison revealed that a meeting in the West Country at the end of last year had a galvanizing impact. “I sat with him in a coffee in Bath and I presented myself what it could look for,” he said. “It was in December – after fall tests. It was near his house, in a charming place that his girlfriend reserved.
“A large part of our cat was to understand what he needs and how I can help. He attacked it so hard. We are talking about on the phone every week and I talk regularly to Stevie Scott, Bath’s scrum coach. We have tried to have a consistency about how we train it and how the S&C teams (strength and conditioning) try to put it in better physical shape. He has always been phenomenally strong, but he worked on his acceleration and his repeated capacity, and on a good heavy shape – not only heavy.
In addition to a physical transformation, there was a mental for Stuart too. He consciously sought to leave the shadow of one of the icons of all time in England. “He realized that there is a huge opportunity and that there is no Dan Cole security coverage now,” added Harrison. “We talked about it. He realized: “I am no longer the young puppy – it’s time to come to the foreground”.
He certainly did it during the six nations, especially with a game of fancy legs in open game. An astonishing cutting in victory over Italy has clearly revealed so effective and pleasant that Stuart tried to repeat it several times the next week.
“It was incredible, but we arrived in Cardiff and he tried it with each carry,” said Harrison. “We had to say:” Okay, it doesn’t need to happen every time! “But his leg game was celebrated.
For the future, Harrison has an exciting harvest of recruit accessories emerging from the England under 20, which won the Junior World Cup last summer. The first to graduate was Asher Optoku-Fordjour, the feeling of sale that can work on both sides of the first row. He made his senior debut against Japan last November and came to smile, knowing that his first task would be to join a fray.
“What I liked on this subject is the way Maro went to him,” said Harrison. “The other seven guys in this fray knew that it was his moment; And they were going to make it his moment. He was there with Luke Cowan-Dick, with whom he played all his club matches, so it was as if he had his big brother there to take care of him. Not that he needs to take care, he is a strong boy!
During his visit to Auch in the second level of France, Harrison learned the Mantra Gallic which is as true as never before: “No Melee, no victory” – “No melee, no victory”.
The weakness area has become a fatal asset after transformation under Harrison
After a career as a companion in his days of play, Harrison hits the heights now as a coach
The next online for a promotion to the England team is probably Afolabi Fasogbon, the head of the Gloucester Massive touch which has taken greater importance this season when he brought Genge in a melee, then agitated the veteran when he was replaced a few moments later. It was the cheeky act of a confident character. So, Harrison loved the assertive attitude?
“I am a big one to walk before talking about the conversation,” he said. “He is taken care of in the firstship but he must continue to safeguard him. Our selections for the summer tour will obviously be influenced by the Lions. If Will Stuart accompanies the Lions, we will bring another head of the on -board. It could be him.
Fasogbon will be in service for Gloucester at Saracens on Saturday, while Open-Fordjour will lock the horns with end Baxter at the Stoop. Stuart will be in Sandy Park, aimed at helping Bath to improve their status as a premiere post office.
Sunday, Genge will concentrate up to Cole / Heyes at Ashton Gate, where Harrison will look from the stand.
After a career as a companion player, he hits the summits now as a coach. “I love what I do,” he said. “It’s really the best job.
With all the additional fire power passing, the “weapon” it is building should become even more deadly in the months and years to come.
