Why can't the Wallabies scrum ? (2012 article)

[Big Ewis]

A pretty entertaining rant from a kiwi from around the 2012 TRC time. Maybe some haven't read it when it came out like myself...
I must admit...it's quite an intriguing fact I find personally ! Why won't they just get......well read the article.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10827089


P.S.: I'm pretty surprised it's such a mystery. I thought for sure "insiders" or pro analysts knew.

 

[ratsapprentice]

The first step to solving a problem is recognising it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I like how they started looking further afield and have snapped up Max Lahiff from London Irish as he's qualified for Australia through blood....but then he's exactly the same as other Wallaby props: Good in the loose, terrible in the scrum.

 

[Big Ewis]

The first step to solving a problem is recognising it.

That's right ratsapprentice, that's a good contribution to the group from you. Now, tomorrow we can start the actual detoxification and we'll see how the doctors respond to the tests.

I like how they started looking further afield and have snapped up Max Lahiff from London Irish as he's qualified for Australia through blood....but then he's exactly the same as other Wallaby props: Good in the loose, terrible in the scrum.

that's right, I was glad to read this in the article as a proposed, supposed reason in potential. I thought for sure: the Wallabies must obviously get something out of this, and their tight 5 do play a bigger role at the breakdown than other nations who use their props n locks more 'traditionally'...but then again, as stated in the article, they did lose big games due to this almost wholly, and a grave example would be the 2007 RWC 1/4F, a defeat caused by scrum disadvantage and English tight defense basically, a low score grind-it-out affair.

 

[smartcooky]

The curious thing for me is that that they don't appear to have the same sort of trouble at the next level down. Their Super Rugby teams seem to cope adequately at scrum time.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Aussie havent had a front row of note since John Eales was around.
Ben Alexander is their only international quality prop and Stephen Moore is their only international quality hooker. I haven't seen enough of Polata-Nau to make a call on his ability at the top level.
Aussie seem to get around this issue until they come up against traditional tight five grinders like the Boks and the Poms. Then they really struggle inthis area, and over the years I've seen the AB's hurt them at the scrum as well.
The Puma's gave them a real hard going over at scrum time in Perth during the Quad nations.
It is Aussies single long standing recruitment issue.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

Not sure what happened last night, but we seemed to get it together. Hope it lasts!