Judgement day has arrived for Australian rugby over the inadequacy of its scrummaging and something had to be done quickly to rectify it in time for the 2007 World Cup, Australian media said on Monday.
Not only did the Wallabies crash to a record-equalling seventh successive defeat to world champions England at Twickenham last Saturday, but the scrum was humiliated.
In this most painful of team rebuilding ahead of the next World Cup, the Australian press said unless measures were put in place by the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) the Wallabies would fall further behind the northern hemisphere rugby nations in scrummaging techniques.
Media travelling with the Wallabies said last Saturday was the day the Australians were finally cornered by an opposing scrum so formidable, so direct and destructive that there was no place to hide.
”Help is needed, not just in personnel, but in technical expertise,” the Sydney Morning Herald said.
”Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has called for the introduction of a scrummaging school, which is good. It would also be wise if Andrew Blades can be brought back into the fold.
”The former Test prop is an excellent scrummaging technician, who spent time with the Wallabies as their forward coach before departing in mysterious circumstances last year because of differences with Jones.
”Hopefully that relationship can be healed, because in such times of need, smart men such as Blades are required.”
The Herald‘s Greg Growden wrote that with the emphasis at Test level again on scrummaging, Australia will have to do something quick.
”If the scrum continues to be a mess, Australia won’t get anywhere near the finals stage of the 2007 World Cup.”
The Australian newspaper said Australian rugby has allowed itself to be sidetracked for too long by inconsequential issues such as whether George Gregan is the best captain/scrumhalf on offer.
”It doesn’t matter who is wearing the number nine jersey if the tight five is a joke. Nothing else matters, because nothing else works if the scrum doesn’t,” said The Australian‘s Wayne Smith.
”For years the Wallabies have got by on their wits. Lacking the means to stand and fight, the Australians have wriggled and twisted, taken the space of the opposing scrum or, conversely, teasingly backed away to cause a collapse — and then stood up feigning innocence.
”[Open side prop] Bill Young must have spent hours in front of the mirror, perfecting that ”Who? Me?” look.”
Smith said British-based Australian coaches with a proven record of scrum success, like Bath assistant Michael Foley, could be called in along with Alex Evans, the coach who orchestrated the famous pushover try by the Wallabies against Wales in 1984 on the grand slam tour.
The Australian said the ARU is to set up a scrum school next year but it would be too late to close the gap by the time of the World Cup in France in September 2007.
The Daily Telegraph‘s Peter Jenkins said a stable scrum and lineout was needed to provide the platform for a world-class backline currently being wasted.
”Fullback Chris Latham and winger Drew Mitchell were the best two backs on the field on Saturday, only given a chance to shine from counter attacking and kick returns,” he said. – AFP
