Secrets of the Front Row - The Props
Despite seeming to perform the same role - though in reverse - what's required of each prop differs in a number of key ways.
There are many differences between the requirements of playing loose-head and tight-head prop. Some of which are technical, while others reflect the character of the player.
The typical tight-head prop
The tight-head is stronger, a better scrummager and likely to be the bigger of the two props. He is the cornerstone of the front row and the scrum. He must take pride in this role first and foremost, and be prepared to confront the opposition.
The tight-head should be the more technical player, especially since he is up against two players, not one.
The typical loose-head prop
The loose-head usually prefers to play a more open game than the tight-head. They tend to be more aggressive and likely to want to disrupt the opposition. "[Loose-heads] like a chance to be a pain in the [neck]", says Rob Ambler, hooker, Cranleigh Rugby Club.
Because they are only engaging the other pack with one shoulder, a loose-head prop is better able to "aggravate" the opposing tight-head. Put simply, they have more freedom to change angles and use their free arm disruptively.
So why is Carl Hayman a tight-head and Andrew Sheridan a loose-head?
The following is a comparison of two of the biggest props around. They have similar physical characteristics, but play in opposing positions. Why is that?
The former All Black tight-head, Carl Hayman, stands 1.93m (6' 3") tall, and weighs about 115kg. He is widely regarded as one of the world's best scrummagers. Not only physically enormous, Hayman is also technical strong and so fufills the main criteria for a tight-head prop.
Andrew Sheridan plays for England and was part of the British Lions squad that toured New Zealand in 2005. Like Hayman, Sheridan is huge and powerful. He is 1.96m (6' 5") tall, weighs in at 130kg, and can bench press two and half times his body weight. Consequently, one might think that Sheridan has the physical characteristics of a tight-head.
However, Sheridan only converted to the front row relatively recently, and so plays on the less technical loose-head side. In addition, he contributes well in open play, so playing loose-head gives him more flexibility out of the scrum.
With more experience, he may be a tight-head for the future. As Andrew Millward of the Ospreys says, "Most props, if they are going to change, will start on the loose-head side and then move to tight-head."
The pros and cons of specialising
Specialising
It is good to specialise because you can perfect your art. If a player is faced with a different prop each week, they will, over time, encounter similar situations, learn what to do, and then immediately be able to react. Each role suits certain body shapes and types of mind. Some players just prefer to play only one side because they want to be a certain type of player.
Darren Garforth, formerly of Leicester and England: "Tight-head is a completely different position. I couldn't play at loose-head. Tight-head is a more confrontational position where you have to be strong to stay square, whereas loose-head involves agility and getting into gaps."
(Quoted on Leicester Tigers website: www.tigers.co.uk.)
Playing either role
A prop who can play either role provides the team with flexibility. He can either "step across" if there is an injury to the other prop and the substitute is too inexperienced to play in the injured prop's position, or play as a replacement for either prop.
If one prop is under enormous pressure, or weaker than the other prop, then they can be given a break in the game by swapping sides at some of the scrums. It can be useful when one of the props is visibly tiring as well, or to simply surprise or disrupt the opposition.
The most capped prop in the world, Jason Leonard (the former England and British Lions player), highlights two advantages of playing both tight-head and loose-head. First, Leonard earned his early Lions appearances from his ability to play out of position. This flexibility gives props more game time because they can compete for two places.
Second, though he had to change his technique, Leonard understood what the opposition prop least wanted to face, because he knew what it was like to play there.
However, Leonard considers that whilst players can play both roles, they shouldn't flit between the two. They need "long enough to get used to it [playing each position]" to play well.
The real struggle comes when the player becomes tired and loses concentration. As Leonard says, "The positions are very different and demand opposite body angle and the use of different muscles."
This article is taken from Secrets of the Front Row, my ground-breaking coaching and skills manual that shows you how to get more power from your scrum and deliver top quality first phase ball. Click here to read more about it and to order.