The most obvious characteristic of the Bajada is that second-rowers bind with their external arms around the prop's hip rather than between their legs. But, as explained by Springbok coach Jake White, one defining characteristic of the method is that "all the power is directed into the hooker. In other words, they scrum along an imaginary arrow drawn pointing inwards from either side of the No 8, which means all the power is directed towards the hooker."

Empuje Coordinado is the resultant of a lot of little details in the way that the props place their feet, the locks bind,and the flankers and the number-eight bind and push too. The eight players push at the same time and in three movements, put all the power to the center of the front row.

To have a successful scrum with all eight forwards pushing in a coordinated way, the players' obligations are:

• to respect individual techniques;
• to respect group techniques;
• to not initiate individual confrontations;
• to stay in place before the opponent and focus on the task to be carried out; and
• to undertake physical training appropriate to the demands of their position.

Individual skills

• Backs to be straight
• Heads lifted up
• Hips lower than shoulders
• Knees flexed to 90 degrees
• All eight forwards must bind strongly and there must be no space between players
• Feet placement must not change when the scrum is formed
• All players must be able to see the ball at every moment in the scrum
• Feet placement must be shoulder width

Correct body position

Front row

• Props bind strongly on the hooker below the armpits, and the hooker binds on the props in the same way
• Hooker's feet in line
• Props' internal foot in line with the hooker's feet, and external foot a little bit backward
• Hooker determines the right distance between packs
• At referee's signal to engage crouch and drive forward
• Never enter diagonally or across the opponent
• Heads should be in contact with the chest of the opponent
• The push must be FORWARD

Second row

• They bind on the other second-rower around their back
• They bind on the prop with their external arm around prop's hip and strongly pull together the front row
• Before engagement must have the knee of their internal leg resting on the ground
• Internal foot a little bit backward
• The shorter second-rower binds under the taller one
• Heads below props' and hooker's buttocks

Back Row

• Flankers bind on the second-rower below the other second-rower's arm
• Flankers' external hands on ground
• Number-eight binds around the second-rowers' hips
• All must have feet in line
• Flankers put shoulders below prop's buttocks
• Number-eight puts head between the second-rowers' buttocks

Pack Technique

• After referee's command: "Engage"
• First command by the scrum half: "Pressure" - on this command the eight players must grip strongly with their arms and fill up lungs with air
• Second command by the scrum half: "One" - at this time all eight players must flex their knees to 90 degrees
• Third command by the scrum half: "Two" - the scrum half puts the ball into the scrum, or his opponent puts the ball in, and the players must expel the air in their lungs while pushing violently FORWARD, never up or down, nor to the side
• With this all the force is transmitted to the hooker
• Players must never move their feet off the ground until they overcome their opponents and have positive inertia - it is very important that the hooker respects this even though he has the ball under his feet
• It is not necessary to hook the ball, but in my club we use hooking when the ball is put in by us, and all players push when the ball is put by the opponents.