Graham Rowntree has put paid to the notion that England will dominate Australia in the scrum this weekend, insisting that the Wallabies represent as strong a challenge at the set piece as any other side they have faced this Autumn.
“I don’t trust the notion that they’ll potentially struggle in the set piece,” said England’s forwards coach. “Any time that has been said about them, they’ve proved us wrong.
“They’ve had good outings in the set piece – not consistently, but they’re not this pushover that a lot of us would have you believe. They’ve been together a long time, and that means they’re used to problem-solving as a unit.
“They’re clever tactically. They set you up for things and then do something completely different. You have to have all of your bases covered with Australia. Around set-piece and line-out time, I’m sure they’ll have a few sneaks ready.”
With that in mind, it might be tempting to try and play Australia at their own game – employ a few tricks of the trade, or those patented ‘dark arts’ front row forwards insist don’t exist but any layman insists do. Rowntree rubbishes that idea.
“We just want a pushing competition,” he said. “We don’t want collapsed scrums – I demand my guys are proactive scrummagers and keep that scrum up. Believe it or not, I want us to play ball from that scrum. I don’t want penalties.”
Rowntree went on to say that the current circumstances surrounding the Australia team – a new coach after a season of turmoil off the pitch and two consecutive losses – will make them a more difficult prospect this weekend.
“I don’t trust Australia, they’re a canny team. Always have been. They’re one of the most difficult teams to analyse in any week, but particularly in the last game of this series because they’ve lost their last two matches.
“I have so much respect for Michael Cheika. He’s a wise, smart, coach and I’m sure there will be a few tricks up their sleeves, as there always are against Australia.”
The breakdown is another area England will target this weekend. Matches against Australia are typically fast and furious, certainly more so than against a team like South Africa, and Rowntree is anticipating – and, indeed, hoping for – a quick turnaround at the breakdown this weekend.
“We want ball speed – under four and a half seconds is the target – and we are hitting it, believe it or not. Playing against the three best teams in the world in that department, it’s a good measuring stick for us.
“Our breakdown is a work in progress. We’ve got work to do.”
So if the forwards hit rucks and win the set piece battle, will the coaches be happy with them? Not so, according to Rowntree, who says they expect more from their pack these days, and holds up the recently-named IRB player of the year as an example of what they are looking for.
“We want forwards to be able to handle that ball. You take Brodie Retallick as an example – the amount of times that the ball goes through his hands, and he makes the appropriate decision with the timing of his pass – you want forwards to play like that. Obviously they have to get their heads down and carry as well – they need a blend to their game.”
They know what they are looking for, and Rowntree is the first to admit that so far this autumn, they have fallen short of that. The Australia game represents one last shot at redemption.
“We’re not hiding away from it – we’ve not had the consistency. We need to keep pushing our standards because we’re not over the moon with our performances, just like everyone else.
“It’s the last chance for us this series. It’s absolutely pivotal.”
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
Nah. The rumour is true. They can’t scrummage. If we’d had a ref with some balls at the MS then we’d have got our penalty try under the posts in half the time it finally took for him to see they couldn’t scrummage.
However, them not scrummaging is no longer enough to win a game. It’s a great way to get a foothold but they play to avoid scrums and do it well enough to still win games. So I don’t see England winning this weekend – Ireland have a far superior backline and only just managed it. The edge in the scrum won’t be enough – Aus will still edge the breakdown and will run England ragged in the backs.
I’m less concerned by Aus at the breakdown
Hooper is no Pocock, McCaw or Burger. He’s light and more easily rucked off the ball. They also seem to have trouble finding a blindside outside of Fardy who I think is still injured and their locks are not even close to the Whitelock, Retallick, Etzebeth, Matfield level
So long as we don’t going flinging the ball around with no plan, leaving runners with no back up and allowing Hooper to use his speed to more effect, then we should be ok
Far more concerned at any centre combo from Farrell / 12T / Barritt being badly exposed for pace
When you say “exposed for pace” – do you mean defensively or in attack? Defensively I wouldn’t worry. They’ll likely play opposite Toomua/AAC – neither of which are particularly pacey. They are however rather skilled with a ball in their hands.
Toomua I’d agree with but AAC has a decent turn of pace – much like Barritt though he’s not known for passing the ball…
No, more concerned about Speight coming off his wing, Folau joining the line or Beale coming off the bench
Yeah, Hooper isn’t as good as the 3 of the best 7s in the world you mentioned there, but he’s still better than England’s. I don’t see him being pushed off the ball. Haven’t seen it this autumn.
Hooper was kept out of the game last year by the England back row and Robshaw in particular out-played him. I will happily predict the same thing happening again last year.
He’s a flanker for those who like their flankers hanging around on the wing or in the centre of the park a la Tom Croft.
My favourite type of flanker.
I’m looking forward to that game.
[Checks weather forecast]
Balls.
No Rain No Win
Quote ‘ I don’t want penalties ‘ yeh right !!
Wigg,the only England coach who has enhanced his reputation this autumn.
Brighty
I love the attention you give the England team, i don’t know what they do to deserve it.
Oh I don’t know Banastre….
Constantly have players, media and fans say they’re targeting winning the world cup and then fail to do anything to support that notion? Have a media that assumes a WC final is a given and then it’s just a case of a one-off match against the ABs which England could win? Bleat about referees? Dismiss 6Ns they don’t win as poor quality seasons? Be the only NH team with support and media that was predicting they’d beat at least both SA and Aus and then fail? Mangle European rugby to their own ends under the belief they have the best league, with the best rugby and the best players – the best “product” – and then fail to back that up with quality and players developed? Constantly tell others that until they beat SH sides they’re nothing? Try and claim they’ve got the biggest injury crisis when Ire, with a much smaller player base, are in a worse position? Have support that tell me Gats is a busted flush, Wales are stagnating, England moving ahead then turn on their coach/team after 2 AI losses? ….
However, the reality is that I do comment on pretty much every story on this site. It’s just that the English stories have far more follow up comments so the discussion leads to more comments. Rugby is fascinating. I’m interested in all of it.
Had to laugh at that. A damning (and rather truthful) endictment of English rugby. And quite fairly targetted more at the press and fans than at the team.
Oh wow Mr. Rowntree you make it sound like the English scrum is squeaky clean!!