Wallabies' scrum will just get better
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Source: The Daily Telegraph
PROP Benn Robinson says that while Test rivals are suddenly starting to sit up and take notice of the revitalised Wallabies scrum, the best is yet to come.
The powerful performance of the Australian pack with Robinson as the cornerstone of the front row was one of the positives of the Spring tour.
"I think you will find the northern hemisphere sides are definitely doing a lot more analysis of our scrum," Robinson said after arriving home. "We ended the tour with a bit of confidence and we knew at crucial times if we put the heat on the opposition then we could get some results.
"I think there is plenty of improvement left in us ... there have been glimpses of off moments or moments where we can pick it up a bit. That is the beauty of the scrum, each one has its own impact, each one is going to be unique. We need to manage that, we need to adapt to every scrum and I think we are getting better at that."
Robinson said in past seasons some scrums that have been really good and there have other where they have turned the ball over. "Consistency is a big part of scrummaging and making sure that every scrum on your ball is nice clean ball so the backs can do their fancy stuff," he said.
And fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper said after a reshuffle with a lot of newcomers, the backline had gelled really well on the tour.
"Digby Ioane performed great at outside centre and Quade Cooper really stepped up at inside centre," Ashley-Cooper said. "That allowed Gits (Matt Giteau) a lot more freedom."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225805927916
Wallabies props Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander have work to do to
Bret Harris From: The Australian December 02, 2009 12:00AM
THE Wallabies received much deserved praise for their scrummaging on the tour of Britain and Ireland but have not fully established a platform to launch their World Cup campaign.
Led by loosehead prop Benn Robinson, the Wallabies were aggressive and disruptive on the opposition's scrum feed.
But they were not as effective on their own scrum feed, which reduced attacking opportunities.
The easiest way to play attacking rugby is to dominate the scrum, but this pack cannot guarantee clean ball for the backs at the set-piece.
In Australia's shock 9-8 loss to Scotland in Edinburgh two weeks ago, it had two put-ins to a five-metre scrum, which is the best attacking platform in the game.
In the first scrum the lighter Scottish pack shoved the Wallabies backwards and disrupted a planned backrow move involving number eight Wycliff Palu.
Later in the game the Wallabies lost a rare tighthead to the Scots.
"I don't think we'll ever sit back on our heels and think things are going to be nice and easy on our ball," Robinson said yesterday.
"Look at the Tests throughout the season and you'll see there have been glimpses of off moments or moments we can pick up a bit.
"That's the beauty of the scrum. Each one has its own impact and each one is unique.
"We need to manage that. We need to be adaptable to every scrum we play against and I think we are getting better at that."
While the stocky Robinson is the perfect shape for a loosehead prop, his frontrow partner, Ben Alexander, is still making the difficult transition from loosehead to tighthead and this is causing problems on the scrum feed.
The bolter in coach Robbie Deans' first 30-man squad named in June last year, Alexander only secured the starting tighthead position midway through this year's Tri-Nations series.
One critic described Alexander's original selection at tighthead as "madness", but he has actually performed reasonably well given his limited experience. And he has become part of a dynamic attacking scrum, while his work around the field is outstanding.
"The good thing with Benny is that he has only played a limited number of Tests at tighthead, but he has the aggression and determination to do well," Robinson said. "He is keen to learn. He is talking to older blokes in the team like Matty Dunning who have played there plenty of years.
"He is soaking it all up, but for me to see Benny go out there and want to go hard and get stuck into the opposition is the best thing."
While the scrum is still a work in progress, Robinson and Alexander have distinguished themselves as the best pair of ball-running props in world rugby.
The interplay between them in the midfield, which led to five-eighth Matt Giteau grubber-kicking for outside centre Digby Ioane to score a try against Wales in Cardiff last Sunday, redefined the possibilities of frontrow play.
"It gets a little bit scary being out in the open too much," Robinson said. "Robbie pushes the team to make sure they are upskilled and offering all of the time.
"I got a few cheeky runs on this tour and Benny is pretty skilful with the ball. It was good to see him step up and put some players through gaps as well."
The good news for the is that by the time they arrive in New Zealand for the 2011 World Cup, Alexander will have mastered the art of anchoring the scrum. And that will open the door to a whole new world of opportunity.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1225806019594
