Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore ready to strike in new scrum sequence to be used in Rugby Championship

HAND signals between halfback and hooker may have to used ensure a clean strike under the new scrum sequence, according to Stephen Moore.

OLD-school hand signals between the halfback and hooker may have to dusted off to ensure a clean strike under the new scrum sequence, according to Wallaby No.2 Stephen Moore.

The new scrum call of "crouch, bind, set" will be used in a Test match for the first time on Saturday night when Australia meets the Kiwis in the opening Bledisloe Cup clash, and both teams are scrambling to get their heads around the theory and practice of the changes.

The primary difference is the removal of the rutting-bucks "hit", with both front rows holding outside arms after the "bind" call is made. It is said to reduce the impact of the collision by 25 percent, and Moore said the post-set shoving battle will see more of a "wrestling" element.

But another key feature will see referees dictate when a halfback feeds the ball, and police it being straight.

Hookers, therefore, will be required to strike for the ball and Moore said it's not something modern No.2s have done much.

"Traditionally the hooker hasn't really (had to) strike for the ball," Moore said.

"He's scrummaged more as a second tighthead I suppose, without taking your feet off the ground. So it will be a bit different in that regard, having to lift your foot to strike.

``You have to work out the timing of when the halfback puts the ball in, I think the referee is going to call that. There will be a few things there we need to make sure we're on top of. I guess it is aimed at making the scrum cleaner and having less re-packs, so lets hope that it works."

In bygone eras, the halfback would tap the hooker's hand as a signal when he was about to feed the ball in.
Could that time-honoured tactic be used by Will Genia and Moore?

"There might be something similar to that," Moore said.

"It might be difficult to hear I suppose, the referees calling it in, with your head stuck in there. We'll figure something out."

Moore has been around long enough to remember the art of hooking for the ball but conceded there were a few youngsters around who may not have ever used the skill.

"I guess there wouldn't be too many hookers around who've had to strike too much for the ball. It is just something you have to pick up and adjust to. There is going to be an important combination there between the nine and the hooker so we will spend a bit of time on it," he said.

"It is a bit different. We have had two weeks now to get our heads around it. I think it is going to be a learning experience for everyone on Saturday, including the referees probably.

"But I am sure there's going to be some teething issues there across the board but I am sure we will work as best we can."

Asked if he felt the changes were too major and potentially impactful to hurriedly inject into a Bledisloe Cup showdown, Moore said diplomatically: "I guess you have got to bring it in at some stage."

"They are pretty adamant they want to clean it up," Moore continued.

"I thought for the most part the scrums in Super Rugby were pretty clean and we didn't have too many re-sets. But this has come from the IRB and it's something we have to work at and implement. We have been given the rules and we just have to adapt to them as best we can. I am sure it's not going to be perfect on Saturday night but our aim is to get as close as we can."