Wales wary of Australia’s not-so hidden threat

AHEAD of the all-important pool of death decider, the Welsh will be shaking in their boots in the anticipation of the Wallabies not-so secret threat.

Rugby Union - England v Australia - IRB Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool A - Twickenham Stadium, London, England - 3/10/15 Australia's Sekope Kepu celebrates at the end of the game Reuters / Stefan Wermuth Livepic

IT was once the Achilles heel of Australian rugby, but it has now become one of the Wallabies most dominant assets.

The Wallaby scrum has often been the talking point of a number of conversations in world rugby, targeted as Australia’s major weakness. However recent form has proven the Aussies can cut it with the best of them in the forward contest.

The transformation from zero to hero can be attributed largely to new Wallaby scrum coach and former Argentine international Mario Ledesma.

Ledesma has been praised for introducing a new style of training for his forwards, and creating the beast that is the Wallaby pack. And it is a beast that has the Welsh running scared.

Wales Online reporter Simon Thomas warned Wales of the “different Wallaby beast”, highlighting the scrum as a vital element in determining the outcome of their final pool-stage clash.

“It’s been one of the most remarkable transformations rugby has seen in modern times,” Thomas said.

“In the space of a few short months, Australia have gone from being easy-beats at the scrum to one of the most potent tight units in the world game.”

Described as the “scrum doctor”, Ledesma told Wales Online that the Wallabies wanted to pose a serious threat at scrum-time.

“What we are trying to do is change the perception everyone has of the Australian team,” he said.

“It’s just showing everybody that we’re there to scrum and we want to contest.”

And contest they have.

England were no match for the Wallaby scrum.

Not only have they shown their dominance against the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship earlier this year, the Wallaby scrum stepped up on the grand stage and demoralised England in their most important match of the World Cup.

So what have the Welsh got to offer at the set-piece? Based on their last performance, not a whole lot.

Up against Fiji on Friday, Wales were exposed at scrum-time, struggling to get on the front foot.

Out of a total of nine front row meetings, the Welsh had the put-in for eight of them, with just one of those eight forming a solid platform for Wales to play to their backs from.

Aside from one free kick against Fiji, the remaining six either resulted in Wales being shoved backwards, forcing No.8 Taulupe Faletau to pull the ball from the depths and run himself, or saw Wales penalised — not exactly the kind of stats you want the week before you face one of the best up and coming forward packs in the world.

Wales struggled to get on the front foot against a strong Fiji forward pack.

Sports journalist Delme Parfitt described the Welsh set-piece as the potential “death” of their World Cup campaign.

“What is certain is that Wales have a major problem at the scrum, having been destroyed in that department all afternoon by a Fijian eight who sensed blood every time a set-piece was called,” he wrote.

“Unless they can find a remedy it could be the death of them in this tournament. Certainly, no side has ever gone all the way having been shoved backwards in this manner.”

And it seems Wales will be praying for a miracle if they hope to find that remedy prior to their clash with the Wallabies.

Australia take on Wales at Twickenham on Sunday, kicking off at 2:45 am (AEST) to determine who will top Pool A and gain the perceived easier route through the finals.