Rugby World Cup: Wallabies v England, Aussies prepare for scrum ‘war’

THE Wallabies are preparing to go to “war” with an English scrum they reckon is out to bully them — and are counting on a little help from the referee.

CARDIFF, WALES - SEPTEMBER 23: David Pocock of Australia pushes the scrum during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Australia and Fiji at Millennium Stadium on September 23, 2015 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

THE Wallabies are preparing to go to “war” with an English scrum they reckon is out to bully them.

But they are also banking on referee Roman Poite preparing for the match by analysing England’s scrummaging tactics in their last two games, which have attracted criticism from experts for their questionable legality.

England’s scrum dominated Wales early in their clash at Twickenham but aerial images showed loose head prop Joe Marler clearly — and illegally — boring in at an angle on the Welsh tight head prop. It was a tactic also seen a week earlier in England’s win over Fiji.

Former Test referee Jonathan Kaplan, who holds the record for most Tests officiated, was moved to tweet: “I’d like to see if the England pack is square on the loose head side ... just the once.”

@RefJK Marler, with Robshaw helping, was binding at this angle right in front of Garces. Farcical scrum refereeing. pic.twitter.com/RYceyR6ge5

— Powell (@TheVietGwent) September 27, 2015

Australian scrum coach Mario Ledesma said last week that Poite, a noted scrum specialist, would “spot those angles” if England tried them because of the all-eight, all-straight scrummaging style the Wallabies now employ.

Asked if he hoped Poite would do his homework on England’s scrummaging tactics, Cheika said: “The referees prepare very well for the game.”

“All we can do is stay as square as we possibly can and make the opposition make their play from there, and see what happens,” he continued.

“That’s very much our strategy. I don’t think it is any secret. And also, put in massive amounts of weight. Really push hard. That’s the way our scrum is set up. I am sure they will have a tactic ... they very much bullied us in the scrum before and I think they will try and do it again.”

David Pocock drives the Wallabies scrum during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Australia and Fiji at Millennium Stadium.

Australia were annihilated in the scrum in their last visit to Twickenham, and it led to a concerted push to improve the set-piece by Cheika, and the appointment of Ledesma. It has worked well and a lack of focus on Australia’s scrum at the World Cup is evidence enough.

But Cheika believes the English will turn back to the scrum, believing it can still be a Wallaby weak link.

“That’s where they have dominated us before, the scrums and the mauls and stuff like that,” he said.

“It’s not the only thing. I think they have more in their game. But I think they will come hard for us there. You have to be ready for war in that part of the game.”

The Wallabies are likely to make minimal changes to their side that played against Fiji to take on England.

The England front row (R-L) Joe Marler, Tom Youngs and Dan Cole will attempt to bully the Wallabies.

There is potential for Drew Mitchell to come into the side and the injury to Will Skelton opens up a spot on the bench. Cheika said he’d likely require another big body but conceded Sean McMahon’s superb form had given him food for thought about finding a way to get him involved.

“There is always a way, somewhere. We have 6-2 options before and we have done different things. There is always a way,” Cheika said.

“But what I need to do is check out who is actually going to be available for the game first and then make some decisions from there.”

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Wallabies v England, Aussies prepare for scrum ‘war’