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.”
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
Erm... actually he's probably one of the least interviewed and quoted players in English rugby. This guy likes Cole too. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/dec/21/heineken-cup-leicester-clermont-auvergne
MattyP
Guest
Geech would do wonders with the backs. He'd start by having a ball player in the centres and get those big quick back 3 moving with the ball! England always have weapons, they just never know how to use them effectively.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
Absolutely spot on. I thought England were abysmal and the second penalty try was fortunate. I think we all know by now that England's attacking play is lamentable but we should at least expect them to kick chase efficiently, make tackles and use sufficient line speed in defence. Their defensive stats were terrible today. Strangely, I actually give them a decent chance next week because they surely won't be so flaccid in defence and I don't see how the Aussies will fix their scrum in a week. But longer term, how on earth can England hope to compete with these teams if their only weapon is a decent scrum that a fully fit Aussie or NZ team will match without difficulty? They just look badly coached and clueless. Surely it's time to bring in someone like McGeechan to help refine Johnson's somewhat crude thinking.
Chris K
Guest
It's called having a lot of injuries in the front row
MattyP
Guest
It's all, blooding new front rowers and still getting away with the win. England were classic boring England, no game plan other than bang it up and see if the wobblies would wobble. They didn't. England has a tough back row and play that game as well as anyone, but they just didn't have a plan B and lost accordingly. The second penalty try made the score line flattering - it flattered them because (a) it came from an silly Australian forward pass and (b) was a crap decision. Why crap, you say? Yes, I acknowledge the Australian scrum looked like it was on skates most of the game. But if you look at the English loosehead, his bum is up in the air, his shoulders are pointing down, and thus clearly is the one that should have been penalised. Bad, bad refereeing decision. But I don't want to sound like I'm whining - I know you make your own luck and all that. My point is that England really were a poor second of the two rugby teams on the paddock, and only a good scrummaging performance rescued anything out of this game for them.
jeznez
Guest
I don't think Maafu will come good for some time, he got mauled by the Franks boys against the Crusaders, just held his own against a Sydney club prop in his brother and got demolished tonight. Palmer and Blake are the guys we need to get in there and Palmer has to stop being trialled as a loosehead and be allowed to play his position.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Yes, but all the indications are that there is NO-ONE behind the starting eight. Is there a single good reserve?
Seiran
Guest
I think it's safe to say if the Wallabies were playing the boks or AB's they would not have had the same pack on the field. The fact they stayed on the field for so long before the replacements came on indicates Deans was happy for the pack to get some game time against a weak English team.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Am I to assume that England are the toughest of the three NH sides that played tonight? The fact that the Wallabies had to defend their line for so long is not that compelling an argument, I'm afraid. Do you really think the Wallabies could beat either the All Blacks or Springboks with the pack they fielded tonight? What happens if injuries persist? The Wallabies did defend well. That's not so difficult against England's attack but good defense is good defense. I was impressed with the Wallabies tries. They were well constructed and much better than the tries Australia were scoring last year.
James D
Guest
Well i dont think you can say that in all fairness - i think our defence and scrambling back is the best of the 3N - they spent 10 whole mins on our goal line and could not cross the line unless the ref walked there himself. We also have the most injuries by far - once there injured boys up front start to come back we will be very very competitive this year. Also keep in mind the fact that SA is currently in the middle of a golden era and is helped by a world cup inspiring the whole country.... and NZ happened to playing against an Irish side who decided to throw the game in the first 15 mins.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I don't know how to say this without annoying people but if the Wallabies had played either the All Blacks or Springboks tonight they would've been thrashed. It doesn't seem like Australia has the players to deal with NZ and SA and I don't see how they can win a majority of games in either the Tri-Nations or Bledisloe Cup. I don't think expanded competitions help the Wallabies whatsoever.
James D
Guest
Though Ma'afu was garbage and Daley ok but unlucky - the ref just penalised him for no real reason - he kept his bind and his opponent rarely did and when he did bind he dragged him down. He will get better - Ma'afu though needs to be replaced.
James D
Guest
Have to agree that most roarers here are probably upset Burgess had a tremendous game... Genia didnt get off the Bench i dont think Deans fancies any more injuries to this squad. I think Deans is happy they had tries scored against them up front but still didnt lose the game - scrummaging is not something that you just get a new 8 together and become amazing at in a week - some of these wallabies had never played in the same team as eachother but these english blokes have been doing it for years.. No need to panic - our boys will come good soon
James D
Guest
I disagree - the other tri nations sides have had tries scored against them (other than penalty tries) the aussie line has not been crossed this year where as the french showed us it is not impossible to cross the SA line and the Irish the Kiwi line. We are a work in progress but i think on par with NZ in a lot of aspects. I also think Den Daley and Slipper gave a good account of themselves today Ma'afu on the other hand...
Colin N
Guest
Slipper did ok when Wilson (a tighthead) came on at loosehead for Payne.
Stash
Guest
2 penalty tries for bad scrums - wow that is terrible!! What was Deans thinking fielding a new frontrow against England? Burgess had his best showing in the 9 jumper that I've seen - he seems a Dean's favorite, though many roarers were probably horrified that Burgess pulled out a good game. Did Genia even get off the bench? Cooper....class.... much better than Giteau, though Barnes performance was average.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
The Wallabies look like the weakest of the Tri-Nations sides but they defended well and took their opportunities on attack. I can't believe how under appreciated Barnes is in Australia.
jeznez
Guest
Aussie tightfive need to hit the gym, they got completely outmuscled at scrum time. Now that Rodney has signed for the Rebels can we get him into the number 3 jumper? I haven't seen any of his play lately but I'm expecting his scrummaging will have improved considerably after two seasons in the Top 14. I'm not sure that Cole will be penalised next week, he showed when he wanted to drive straight that he could and Daley still had no answer. Overall Slipper seems promising, Daley and Maafu couldn't mix it. Maafu in particular needs to get in shape he must hate that tight fitting jumper. Can't believe that Palmer has been ignored and played out of position this year I'd be giving him the tighthead shot before any of the blokes in the squad. Can anyone tell me was Weekes injured or ignored this week?
Peter K
Guest
Maafu is the joke scrumager and should be left out. Even Baxter is a lot better than Maafu. Daley did ok, as noted Cole pulled him down by the arm constantly and only got penalised once for it despite multiple warnings.
Pete
Guest
I doubt it. He just got out smarted tonight he'll learn from it. The refs will review the tape and see Cole continually pulling the scrum down, knowing Australia would get penalised. They'll be on to him next week... I hope :) Very impressed with the Aussies, they hung in and kept getting back up. God knows what would happen to the English team when they come up against a seasoned team like the All Blacks.