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England hooker Steve Thompson has sent a chill down Australian spines as the new-born Wallabies scrum confronts a menacing test at Subiaco Oval.
The veteran 55-Test rake warned that Australia’s novice front-row of Ben Daley, Saia Faingaa and Salesi Ma’afu should be on guard for international rugby’s silent assassin – Dan Cole.
Cole may have played just five Tests but Thompson labelled the taciturn tighthead prop England’s discovery of 2010 and predicted he’d underline his scrummaging class in Australasia.
While England’s second-string front-row taunted the Australian Barbarians pack on Tuesday night by greeting them with “here come the babies”, Cole will let his actions do the talking on Saturday night.
“He’s like the old serial killer – quiet but effective,” said Thompson, 31.
“I think he has world class written all over him.
“He was one of the finds of the Six Nations, across all the competition.”
Cole, 23, will line up directly on 21-year-old Wallabies loose-head Ben Daley who faces a baptism of fire in his Test debut.
With established front-rowers Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau all injured, coach Robbie Deans has punted on Australia’s most inexperienced front-row in 27 years.
England’s scrum demolished the Wallabies at Twickenham in 2005 and Marseille in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final for memorable victories and it will again be their biggest danger in the opening Cook Cup Test.
Thompson was England’s 2003 World Cup rake but believes Australia’s scrummaging has come a long way in recent years and expected Daley, Faingaa and Ma’afu to stand up.
Renowned Australian scrum doctor Alec Evans – who has tutored Daley, Faingaa and bench bolter James Slipper at the Queensland Reds with Ewen McKenzie – has no fears they have been exposed too early.
Evans said all three possessed the right attitude, confidence and work-ethic to shoulder the searching assignment several years before they will hit their peaks.
“It will be a good test for them, England have always been good scrummagers, but I’d be surprised if they were lambs to the slaughter,” he said.
“I think it’s marvellous Robbie Deans has gone for youth and it’s a great investment in the future.
“But it’s not just about the young people getting in there and standing up – it’s all eight forwards working together.
“I think (scrum coach) Patricio Noriega has got a good handle on the job and brought the Australian scrum through well.”
Evans, an assistant coach in Australia’s 1984 Grand Slam and 1999 World Cup triumphs, said Daley and Slipper – teammates at Gold Coast’s Southport School – had been perfect scrummaging students.
Neither were starting Super 14 players until this year, nor hooker Faingaa, 23.
“They have all got a fantastic attitude with their willingness to learn,” he said. “Ewen gave them opportunities early after they worked hard in the pre-season.
“It was full-on, and we did a lot of technical work as well and they were greedy for instruction.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.