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Following intense debate as to the relative size of Australian forwards on the international scene, I wrote this on Rugby Heaven a few weeks ago:
Reading through the Western Forces squad for next year and, although I don't suggest this is a first pick scrum, this is what I have come up with in terms of beefing up a pack. With arguably the best two forwards coaches in Australia in Mitchell and Darwin it will be interesting to watch these players progress over the next few years.
1. Angus Scott 114kg, 185cm
2. Tai McIsaac 112kg, 175cm
3. Dave Fitter 119kg, 183cm
4. John Welborn 118kg, 197cm
5. Nathan Sharpe 115kg, 200cm
6. Luke Doherty 105kg, 195cm
7. Tim Davidson 103kg, 194cm
8. David Pusey 110kg, 196cm
That's an 896kg scrum at an average of 112kg and with two genuine lineout jumpers and three backrowers over 194cm for changing it up.
As mentioned, I don't think this is a first pick scrum (Hardy, Cannon, Vedelago, Hodgson and Fava are all in the mix) but with the inevitable injury toll in the forwards we may get to see it sometime in the future. If they all put on half a kg over the preseason they’ll hit the elusive 900kg for an Australian scrum!