The tight head prop is the anchorman in the scrum and leads the attack on the opposition scrum.  He must be a rock solid scrimmager.  Total concentration at the scrum is required to be effective, making the scrum an attacking weapon, wearing down the opposition as the match progresses.  As with the loosehead going backwards in scrums should not be an option. Good scrimmaging = good rucks and mauls.   

 

The tighthead will usually be one of the key driving forces in a maul either offensively or defensively.  In defence he must look to disrupt opposition ball and attempt to drive the attackers backwards.  In an attack maul he needs to help protect the man with the ball whilst driving the maul forwards and will often act as a pivot when the maul switches direction.

 

His focus should be on the quick burst carrying the ball into the defensive line trying to suck in defenders: explosive steps, agility.

 

Props must be the most intense players on the pitch. This intensity must come to the fore during a scrum. The focus and concentration--physical, mental, emotional--required to dominate in the scrum.  The tighthead will always be facing both the opposition Hooker and Loosehead and will always be dominated, he should be determined to pin the opposition Loosehead down.

 

Every rugby fan has his own idea of what greatness is and more often than not the list will feature an inordinate number of his contemporaries because those are the players he knows best; I make no apology for doing likewise.  So without further adieu, here is one man’s opinion of who occupies Rugby Union's Mount Olympus. Here are my top 5 Tighthead Props in the history of the sport.  Let the arguing begin.