Hooker Stephen Moore admits the Wallabies are sweating on South African referee Jonathan Kaplan to give Australia’s oft-maligned scrum a fair go in Saturday’s Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks.
Kaplan’s countryman caned the Wallabies, and in particular veteran tighthead Al Baxter, in last month’s 22-16 loss to the All Blacks in Auckland, with three second-half scrum penalties totalling nine points ultimately costing Australia victory.
Under Irish referee Alain Rolland, the Wallabies had no such problems in Cape Town two weeks ago and actually dominated the Springboks scrum despite suffering a 29-17 defeat.
A diplomatic Moore on Thursday said the Wallabies were hoping for similar treatment from Kaplan, who has a history of causing heartache for Australia.
“I think he’s an excellent referee of the scrum so I’m sure he’ll make the right calls out there on the field,” Moore said.
“That’s all you can hope for and we need to take the referees out of the equation as much as we can by scrummaging well and scrummaging positively, which is what we intend to do.”
Moore, though, did concede the Wallabies had addressed the issue of Baxter’s binding, which he was repeatedly pinged for at Eden Park.
“You always look at things after the game that you’ve been penalised for,” he said.
“It was the bind that we got done for a few times, but in any other game it could be another thing.
“But we don’t ever intentionally collapse scrums and we’re pretty adamant about that.
“We didn’t have a problem with it against the Springboks, so we’re hoping it’s not an issue on the weekend.”
It came as no surprise to Moore that the Wallabies were able to shove the powerful Springboks scrum around at Newlands.
“It’s been building that way for a while so we were pleased with the performance there,” he said.
“But we’re well aware that the All Blacks pose a different threat in that department and we’ve prepared in that fashion.”
Australia outscored South Africa two tries to one in Cape Town but still lost by 12 points due to the deadly boot of Boks five-eighth Morne Steyn, who nailed seven penalties and a drop goal.
Wallabies centre Berrick Barnes said as much as fans would rather witness more expansive rugby, kicking would likely once again dominate Saturday’s Test.
“Kicking’s going to be a part of it no matter how much we try and say we want it to be running rugby,” Barnes said.
“There’s going to be a kicking element to it because field position – as you’ve seen with the way the laws are now – plays a big part in winning games.
“If you’re down the right ends, you go a long way to winning it.
“But I certainly hope when we get the opportunity to play football, we will.”
Barnes would personally prefer to play under the Experimental Law Variations, which produces more attacking rugby, but said his and the Wallabies’ hands were tied.
“It obviously affects us and we’d like to see that changed, but we don’t have much say in that,” he said.
“Last year we saw a lot more tries because it was quick and faster, but now with the ELVs leaving it’s obviously changed things again and you’ve got to play accordingly.”
johno
Guest
Kaplan does his homework when it comes to scrum time, he's one of the hardest guys to fool, I know he spent at least two weeks with Balie Swart before the start of the Super 14, so he should at least get it right most of the time
GaryGnu
Guest
Is this what it has come to? The referees decsions, or at least his interpretations, have become so critical to the result of Test match rugby that teams now put in as much effort into the pre match media comments to sway a refs thinking as they do for a plan to actually win the game on the field. This is not isolated to this test match. Prior to all tri-nations games this has been a feature of game week. All we can hope is that each game's referee is nicely sequestered where he cannot be touched by all the ritual pre game spinning.
Brett McKay
Guest
I've always found these kinds of statements somewhat perplexing. To me, the Wallabies have essentially asked for more scrutiny of the scrums here, which might actually have the opposite effect to what they sought to achieve by drawing Kaplan's attention to their alleged scrum improvements. He could well find new problems to penalise..
ohtani's jacket
Guest
This is just stupid. If Kaplan penalises you at the scrum, fix it at the need scrum so you don't get penalised for the same thing. Even if it means you don't get the hit you're after. It's the same thing with the lineout. If you lose the ball on your own throw, change the call. Don't wait until training next week or plead with the ref through the media.
CraigB
Roar Guru
"The aussie pack holds zero fears for NZ " I would say the Wallabies would feel the same towards NZ. "everyone points to the SA test as some shining light to the Wallabies having a vastly improved front row " What about the England game last year when the wallabies at last got a fair shake by the Ref at scrum time. I hope that NZ don't try to play on the perceptions, but have little doubt that they will.
BAS
Guest
I am utterly astonished that Baxter has been selected ahead on Alexander. Spose we should all prepare for a dozen collapsed scrums on Sat night...
Hammer
Guest
The aussie pack holds zero fears for NZ ... the kiwis are confident that they'll secure their own ball and be able to exert pressure on the aussies esp at scrum time .. everyone points to the SA test as some shining light to the Wallabies having a vastly improved front row - yet doesn't question if the boks front row is actually that great ... I'd certainly query Smit's ability be a dominating force at prop in such a short time from converting from hooker - when was the switch? - end of year tour last year ? that less than 12 months ... and throw into the mix he swapped sides in the 2nd half - so you've got a converted hooker playing both loosehead and tighthead after very short time at international level ... an amazing feat - sure - but is it a good guide to where the aussies are at the moment
Mitch O
Guest
AB's scrum will be much better for having Franks. Tialata was well below his best. Expect the AB's scrum to dominate the Wallablies. Baxter to be pinged at least 3 times this Sat and looked bemused on every ocassion. We're equally bemused across the Tasman that he keeps on being selected.
craigb
Guest
amen stephen