Wallabies pack going forward: Waugh

Wallabies pack going forward: Waugh

c/o Rugby Heaven
Thursday, January 25, 2007

Wallabies stalwart Phil Waugh says the Australian scrum still needs to improve a considerable amount, but believes the pack has made huge strides and has the potential to be a dominant force.

The scrum was the most heavily talked about and scrutinised facet of the team for much of 2006 after it was shown up on the 2005 spring tour of Europe.

New coach John Connolly blooded several forwards last season including front rowers Rodney Blake, Benn Robinson, Guy Shepherdson and Tai McIsaac.

While the Australian eight still had some shaky moments it appeared a more competitive beast than the one cowed by its European foes the previous year.

Heading into a World Cup year the improvement was noted by flanker Waugh, who endured the horrors of 2005 and passed the 50 cap mark last year.

However, the 27-year-old back rower, who captained the Wallabies against Wales in Cardiff last year, was under no illusions about the work Australia still had to do to make the scrum a consistent weapon.

"I think we've got to improve a considerable amount, but a realistic amount, I think we can achieve that," Waugh said.

"I think to win a World Cup you've got to be dominant in those areas, in the scrum and in the lineout, and I think that the foundation has been laid and now it's just a matter of building on that.

"With the guys in the Wallaby squad in 2006, there's certainly enough players to be a dominant forward pack and it's going to come down to the performance in the Super 14.

"But I think the guys have made huge strides in becoming a better forward pack."

While acknowledging the young front rowers should be even better in the years ahead, Waugh was still optimistic they would be ready for the rigours of a World Cup campaign this year.

"They've had a year of experience and now it's a real opportunity for the guys to come out and dominate the opposition," Waugh said.

Waugh was on the bench behind George Smith throughout the 2006 domestic program, but regained a starting spot on the European tour.

The two openside flankers and Queensland number seven David Croft will all be vying for places in the World Cup squad.

"It's an interesting one," Waugh said.

"It's about performance, it's about consistency, it's about experience and what you're capable of and making sure that you deliver, so it's going to be a tough year, but competition is great for all of us."

The industrious back rower has the new job of captaining NSW, a responsibility he described as huge.

An Australian captain at schoolboy under 21 and A levels, Waugh would be among the leading contenders for the Wallabies job.

AAP

I reckon he is a prime candidate for the captaincy,he always leads from the front...I also like the fact he never referred to the useless piece of meat Baxter, rather the young props who are coming up, as the players who have work ahead of them to be competitive, maybe he is a realist and can see what everyone else does in the useless bastard, other than his respective coaches knuckles and link...