Six Nations: Scotland urged to improve scrum skills

Scotland must improve their individual technique if they are to compete against the best sides in the world, according to forwards coach Hugh Campbell.

Campbell has launched a plan to promote scrummaging skills throughout Scotland's representative sides.

He believes improved coaching is the only way Scotland can match the best.

Campbell said: "Looking at the national team we always tend to be smaller than the opposition and, to an extent, at a physical disadvantage.

"Therefore it's absolutely crucial that our technique is sound.

"Our emphasis on technique, especially within the age-group squads, can only be of immense benefit to the game in Scotland.

"In the past if you've watched a scrummaging session it's been about all eight forwards hitting a machine or packing against another pack.

"Now, in a move that's ground-breaking for us we're looking much more at individual technique and how units within the scrum inter-relate to others."

Campbell believes scrummaging has become something of a neglected art over recent years.

"What I'm looking to do is develop a scrummaging culture in Scotland," he said. "As a first step we are appointing specialist coaches to work with all the representative teams.

"That means that our best players at district and age-group level are being coached in the best scrummaging techniques and that has to be good for the club game."