Argentina v Australia II @ 5.10am 14/08

[Tomthumb]

Who are these dominant scrummaging front rowers we're not currently selecting?

Right now? No one, because it's been neglected for so long. They need someone like Dan Palmer working with schoolboys to teach them. But it will never be like that as long as running with the ball is the only skill Aussie rugby cares about with props

 

[Slim 293]

Right now? No one, because it's been neglected for so long. They need someone like Dan Palmer working with schoolboys to teach them. But it will never be like that as long as running with the ball is the only skill Aussie rugby cares about with props

First, Palmer is a coach at the Brumbies...

Secondly, you don't think that since 2005 Australian front rowers haven't made scrummaging a top priority?

OK...

 

[Braveheart81]

With Bell, Slipper, Ala'alatoa and Tupou we've arguably got the best group of props we've had in forever.

 

[Tomthumb]

First, Palmer is a coach at the Brumbies...

Secondly, you don't think that since 2005 Australian front rowers haven't made scrummaging a top priority?

OK...

I know, but he would be better suited dealing with it on a national scale

Who has made it a priority? and if they have, it hasn't showed. We still get pasted by everyone

 

[Tomthumb]

With Bell, Slipper, Ala'alatoa and Tupou we've arguably got the best group of props we've had in forever.

Around the field, Yeah. Scrummaging?? Nah, not by a long shot. Ala'alatoa is the best of the bunch and he's a converted loosehead. Tupou relies on strength rather than technique, Sliper and Bell arent exactly devestating looseheads, who is really the remit of a loosehead on opposition ball

 

[Braveheart81]

I know, but he would be better suited dealing with it on a national scale

How do you think that works though? Does someone attending one or two training sessions in a year have a measurable impact on someone's ability as a scrummager (or anything for that matter)?

 

[Braveheart81]

Around the field, Yeah. Scrummaging?? Nah, not by a long shot. Ala'alatoa is the best of the bunch and he's a converted loosehead. Tupou relies on strength rather than technique, Sliper and Bell arent exactly devestating looseheads, who is really the remit of a loosehead on opposition ball

When was our last group of props that were better than this group at scrummaging?

Our scrum has been stronger in the last couple of years than I can remember in the last 15+ years.

 

[Tomthumb]

How do you think that works though? Does someone attending one or two training sessions in a year have a measurable impact on someone's ability as a scrummager (or anything for that matter)?

Works the same way it did with Mike Con in NZ. Work with all the age group teams, and coach other coaches so that the knowledge is shared to lower level coaches

Coaching the coaches is the most sustainable way. Having all the knowledge only at super and International level is a waste, as by then it is too late for scrummaging

 

[Tomthumb]

When was our last group of props that were better than this group at scrummaging?

Our scrum has been stronger in the last couple of years than I can remember in the last 15+ years.

The fact this might be the best scrummaging group of the professional era is an indictment, right

 

[Slim 293]

The fact this might be the best scrummaging group of the professional era is an indictment, right

I’m not sure I recall all these major scrum shamings we’ve received in the last few years?

 

[Brumby Runner]

When was our last group of props that were better than this group at scrummaging?

Our scrum has been stronger in the last couple of years than I can remember in the last 15+ years.

Nah BH. In the past couple of years, Sio has been carrying injuries, Slipper had quite a bit of time out of the game, Bell has mostly been weak at scrumming and Tupou only bores in and gets away with it with a couple of Aussie refs.

There are recent signs of improvement though. Sio looks to be back somewhere near full strength, Slipper has regained form with more games and is looking very steady at LHP, Bell is showing significant improvement in scrums but Tupou continues to earn the wrath of NH refs at scrum time.

We appear to be on an improving track atm, but I wouldn't call their efforts for some of the past couple of years as being particularly strong.

 

[Braveheart81]

I would have said that since about the Ireland series in 2018 we've been at least holding our own in scrums on the most part.

That doesn't mean we dominate but I'd say we've had more tests than not where we've had at least a slight upper hand in the scrum.

Our scrum was stronger than NZ and Argentina last year from what I remember and held its own against South Africa.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Our scrum and lineout haven't been the problem in the main. Both aspects of set piece have been pretty solid over the last few years.

The breakdown and decision making in attack are far bigger issues for mine.

 

[Derpus]

Our aerial work hasn't existed since Folau left and our outside backs generally take poor counter-attacking options. Out of hand kicking pretty damn poor too.

Be more worried about that than the penalty lottery scrum. As far as i can tell no team ever really dominates another in modern scrums. Refs tend to even the penalties out. It really is a bit of a joke.

Our lineout is a strength id argue. It was more effective than England's, anyway.

 

[Dctarget]

Our aerial work hasn't existed since Folau left and our outside backs generally take poor counter-attacking options. Out of hand kicking pretty damn poor too.

Be more worried about that than the penalty lottery scrum. As far as i can tell no team ever really dominates another in modern scrums. Refs tend to even the penalties out. It really is a bit of a joke.

Our lineout is a strength id argue. It was more effective than England's, anyway.

need to poach a few tall boys from AFL

 

[Shiggins]

James O’Connor has never, and will never be a world class 12

He would have been if we didn't move him around everywhere the same way we ruined gits

 

[Joe Blow]

I’m not sure that JOC (James O'Connor) has the appetite for contact needed to be a test 12 these days. 10 or 15 were the only places he was going to be selected.
Maybe he could be a decent bench option if Hodge was not available?