Locking body position

When I first started locking - that is, when I first got dragged over from wing to be a flanker, and occasionally got thrown in to lock during practice - I learned to start on my knees. Put my head in low between my front row, then go up and make eye contact with the lock across from me.

Then I went to a MARFU scrum clinic with Lisa Rosen, and we talked about good body position and the advantages of second rows starting in a stable body position on her feet. Putting the head straight between my prop and hooker, and keeping it in a neutral position, looking through my eyebrows and "over the sunglasses".

After that, I felt much more comfortable when I needed to step in at lock, whether during practice or in games. I was more stable starting on my feet, instead of frantically trying to pop up and readjust my body position in the seconds before "Engage!" So I became a huge advocate of starting in that crouched position, stabilizing myself with my prop and ready to power forward instead of just resting on the ground.

That is, until I started locking for Maryland. We're short on second rows so I've primarily been playing there rather than in the back row. However, I've been having trouble getting stable - the front row has a different cadence than I'm used to, and it gets them lower, but has been throwing me off.

Until last night, when Maria suggested that I start on my knees, and wait to get up into good scrumming position until after the front row had dropped - but well before the ref starts calling the cadence.

And wouldn't you know, it worked! I guess there are advantages to both methods; now I'm just trying to figure out what, exactly they are, so I can begin using both more intelligently depending on who I'm second rowing behind.