Quote Originally Posted by Scozzie View Post
Flankers certainly don't contribute to the scrum push as much as the front row and locks, or even the No. 8, but they still play a part and their weight is counted in the overall pack weight. It's also fair to point out that if the flankers are playing open and blind (normally 7 is open and 6 is blind), then they have different roles to play and are usually picked on different strengths.

It wouldn't be fair to put the sole blame for scrum issues down to the front row, the rest of the pack need to play their part, for example you'd be expecting the locks to do as their name says, and lock the scrum down........stop it moving backwards when under pressure..!
I agree with some of your post about Flankers having an effect on scrums ... Just watch a warratards scrum from the weekend.. My wife was commenting on how the Saffas have been doing a dirty on scrums in NZ were they pull back for a millisec then push causing the scrum to collapse ... So watch Potgetuir doing a great job by pulling the prop back and then pushing him back to make the scrum collapse..
was amazing to watch, the camera was side on and right there. and they showed a replay of it in slow motion..