Sekope Kepu hoping to help Waratahs scrum against Jaguares with coaching tips from his couch

HE’LL be on the other side of the planet but veteran Waratah Sekope Kepu is hoping his brainpower can still help the embattled NSW scrum fend off the Jaguares.

Sekope Kepu and Jack Dempsey pose at Allianz Stadium on Wednesday.

HE’LL be couch-bound on the other side of the planet but veteran Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu is hoping his brainpower can still help the embattled NSW scrum fend off the Jaguares on Sunday.

Kepu’s four-game suspension — earned during the Wallabies’ final game last year — ended last weekend but a calf injury saw the 91-Test prop left at home by Tahs coach Daryl Gibson.

The on-field presence of Kepu has been sorely missed by the Tahs in the early rounds, where their scrum has been under siege from South African rivals.

Kepu, who expects to be fit to meet the Rebels on Sunday week, said he’d attempted to be useful by putting on a coach’s hat and analysing the NSW scrum in their opening two games.

Jack Dempsey and Sekope Kepu pose at Allianz Stadium on Wednesday for the June Test series launch.

“I spoke with Cronny (forwards coach Simon Cron) after the game and gave him things I thought I saw in the game. He said to shoot those through while they’re over there,” Kepu said.

“I am sure he covered everything but it was just more getting a feel from what I thought I saw, and marrying that up and seeing if it was all the same stuff. I am pretty sure it was.

“When you are not playing I just want to do my best to help the boys with scrum views, or with young guys one-on-ones, outside of training or after training. It is something I like to do.”

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Ironically much of Kepu’s knowledge about modern scrummaging would have been learned from Mario Ledesma, the former Wallabies and NSW scrum coach who is now in charge of the Jaguares.

Kepu said the Waratahs’ scrum issues were all “little individual things”, some based on new law interpretations.

“There is no leaning pre-engagement, and things like that. It is just adjusting and getting your body positions set up right, in terms of heights and engagement,” Kepu said.

“It is just about building that combination. Paddy Ryan has played loose head for the last couple of seasons, so it’s a tough challenge for him. Last week against the Sharks I thought they did better. We are still not where we want to be but ... I am sure this week will be another massive challenge, over there in Argentina with Mario and their boys.”

The Waratahs’ scrum has been bashed in the opening two rounds.

Kepu said the Tahs scrum would, ultimately, be stronger after riding a steep learning curve against three big packs in their first three games.

“You get thrown in those deep ends and you just have to learn in the experiences you go through,” Kepu said.

Kepu was speaking at an event to promote the Wallabies’ series against Ireland in June — tickets go on sale on Thursday -0 and the prop said the three-Test showdown would be huge in the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup.

“They have a lot of guys in their prime, and a great front row as well. They play some great footy. It’s a massive challenge,” Kepu said.

Meanwhile, Jack Dempsey says he’s hoping to be back on the field for NSW as early as next month after suffering a major hamstring tear late last year.

Sekope Kepu will communicate his knowledge from the other side of the world.

Dempsey required surgery after picking up the injury in the Wallabies’ game against the Barbarians; a cruel end to a breakout year that saw the flanker named man-of-the-match in Australia’s win over the All Blacks only a week earlier.

“Obviously I want to get back as fast as I can but there is no point rushing back if I can’t be the player I want to be and that I am,” Dempsey said.

“Now that I am getting closer and see the light at the end of the tunnel I can see a lot more positives, and it’s a lot less frustrating. But those early days, the first three months, were very taxing mentality.

“I am not oblivious to the fact I have to prove I am back to where I was before I got injured. I am not just going to walk into the Wallabies squad, and I probably won’t walk back into a Waratahs 23. That’s all part of being a professional rugby player, the ups and downs. You have to be prepared to go from as high as I was after the Bledisloe in Brisbane to where I was after the BaaBaas game.”

Originally published as Sekope Kepu hoping to help Waratahs scrum against Jaguares with coaching tips from his couch