The Wallabies greenhorn front-row survived deliberate knees, punches, baby taunts and a scrum demolition against England but don’t expect much respite against Ireland at Suncorp Stadium.
While the Irish scrum lacks the force and reputation of England’s intimidating pack, novice hooker Saia Faingaa said the Irish would certainly target Australia up front on Saturday night.
Faingaa, Queensland teammates Ben Daley and James Slipper, and tighthead prop Salesi Ma’afu endured one of the toughest of Test baptisms in the drawn two-Test battle for the Cook Cup.
And according to Faingaa, it wasn’t just in the scrum contest where the wily, grizzled English front-row went about teaching the young Wallabies a lesson.
After English rake Steve Thompson claimed the Australian rookies had improved in the second Test through cheating at scrum time, a bewildered Faingaa accused his opposite number of his own illegal acts in general play.
“Thompson definitely gave me a couple of knees in the head and a couple of punches that weren’t quite nice,” said the dreadlocked 23-year-old who also felt his hair pulled in the rucks.
Faingaa denied he responded in kind but wasn’t about to hold a grudge, particularly after the 2003 World Cup winner delivered some proper compliments after England’s 21-20 win in Sydney.
“He came up and said `you’re a credit to yourself and you’re doing well and I’ll see you at the World Cup’,” he said.
“That’s a good thing coming from one of the best.
“They were there to intimidate us and we did all right but we still have a lot to improve on.
“To have them first up is a good learning curve. You aren’t going to come up against any tougher.”
Slipper, who has gained his surprise international chance with Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander injured, said the English front-row also relished the chance to increase their sledging when he came on in the second half for Ma’afu.
But they weren’t so happy when he held his tongue and his ground.
“They were sending a bit of talk our way and we got under their skin by not responding and they did not like that,” said Slipper, 21.
“When I got on it was all the baby stuff and `now the baby’s on’. It’s all fun and games but when you get down into the crouch position all that goes out the window.”
Slipper felt the Australian scrum, smashed in the 27-17 win in Perth, took a “couple of large steps forward” at ANZ Stadium.
“We didn’t take any backward steps and I think they were a bit surprised,” he said. “I thought we got under their skin a little bit.
So will the heat come off against Ireland whose tighthead prop Tom Court struggled to get a game for Queensland five years ago?
“Definitely not, we’ve still got a lot to learn and I’m pretty sure they will target us there as well,” Faingaa said.
“We lost two on our own ball there as well so we’re not on the top of our (scrummaging) game.”
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
He probably felt sorry for the poor lad, and wanted to get him off the pitch asap.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
go to the TV coverage. 29.06 minutues in. as the players track across the field, Thompson gives Faiingaa a punch around the side of his face, from behind. Its drops him in his tracks. No one picked it up!!!!! Gutless
jeznez
Guest
Yeah you are right, try a couple of guys and if they don't work out just keep picking them that will solve it. Please don't tell me that after enduring a decade of picking the same underperformers we are about to do it again. Why you wouldn't give Tilse and Palmer a trial I do not know. PS and find them a decent second row - Hand, Van Humph, Douglas - give them a go!
ohtani's jacket
Guest
You're starting to sound a bit worried Warren.
Kidney
Guest
Yep, Deans keeps picking a bunch of untested and/or unproven front rowers! That's ridiculous! He's crazy! What he need to do is pick ANOTHER set of untested and/or unproven front rowers!! That'll be the way forward! :)
jeznez
Guest
No idea, I have heard zero except the announcement on rugbyheaven that he and Gerrard had signed for the Rebels. I just read one of the other bloggers say that he has been watching the Top 14 and that Blake was playing of the bench and getting touched up when I made it onto the pitch so maybe I should temper my enthusiasm - but I live in hope!
jiggles
Guest
amen!
Brett McKay
Expert
Jez, is Blake even back in the country yet??
jeznez
Guest
I was working on the assumption that Dean's persisted with his three prop's to stop them getting demoralised by being dropped but I see he has kept them again for this week.Why Palmer, Blake and Tilse don't get a chance just leaves me confused. Tilse more than held his own against Tialata during the S14 Blake should be getting the Rocky treatment of being rushed into the squad as soon as he announced his return (why has there not been a single story on the bloke since his signing for the Rebels was announced?) Palmer is so worth a shot its ridiculous - what has gone wrong with this bloke, Link picked his last resort, his current coach picks him as last resort and the Wallabies ignore him. I can just see that he is going to be at the Brumbies next year and they are going to pick Maafu in front because he is the test tighthead!!!! Please explain! Slipper I'd keep in there as well, I like the look of him.
warrenexpatinnz
Guest
Samo in for Mumm and Douglas in for Brown. Mobility, bulk and ball skills. Put Brown on the bench and he only comes on if the game is a given. I have lost faith in Mumm as you cannot afford simple school boy mistakes at International level. Paid good money, given the best coaches, and the best training facilities so there is no excuses at this level. I am though not preaching the end of the world as Dwyer is. This Wallaby squad is a very good one and Deans is a very good coach and if everyone takes a breath and puts their glasses on you will see this isn't the first fifteen by a long shot. We didn't lose the RWC last weekend, sorry Bob, but we did learn more about fringe players, combinations and frailities. Wallabies by 20 plus this weekend and question whether the Irish can score a try. Why, June tests are trials only and unfortunately for TN lovers this year will also be used for forms of trials. Whether we like it or not every squad is being built up for the RWC, of course Deans and the Wallabies want wins but you only have to understand why Deans left the front three on the park in Perth even though they were being humbled, get them crushed now so they learn, they even improved so a loss to England is a p off but if Robinson breaks his arm next year in the quarters, which we will win Bob, Daley or slipper will fit right in.
reds fan
Guest
Shaw = Simmons i think you mean. he was injured but i think he is now fit.
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
From the team selections I think that Deans has a lot to answer for. I was in favour of giving Deans his due and allow him to develop and progress at the rate he saw fit to develop young and up and coming test players. However I am left wondering over the his selection policy or is it the "LACK" of a selection policy. Daley and Saia and Slipper have done well considering age and experience and with our current situation - he must persevere due to injuries. These three have it and will improve. However - Ma'afu should never of been selected in the first place - he is not Test Standard. In fact he is not S14 Standard and - HE MAY WELL DEVELOP - but at the moment - NOT RATED and NOT FIT. Now other selections: 1. Mumm - what does Robbie see in this gutless and useless piece of lock. No quality and no heart - he shoudl be drummed out with stamped - NEVER TO PLAY TESTS AGAIN. Why is he there? 2. Sharpe - yes he had an excellent S14 - and a good first test - BUT - Saturday night - back came old habits. 3. Now Kane Douglas & Rob Shaw??? (sorry early morning here forgetting names) - where are they if these tests are to develop talent. A given Sharpe there for experience if he plays to potential. But not Mumm and Robbie has not even bothered with Douglas or Rob ??? Why? 4. Brown - as this article goes - 2nd chance - I think this must be Brown's 4th or 5th chance - the man is not an 8 - not big enough and gives away too many penalties. No brains. where is Houston - injured I think. But Houston should be used for development. 5. Elsom - what an engima - at the moment captian or not - an absolute disgrace to the jersey. Doing nothing. Action - drop him - and do not care if we are short - try someone with some get up and go - AND - he is not a captian. He cannot lead. So does anyone know what Robbie is doing. I belive the selections are showing up Dean's lack of guts to commit to youth and take some chances. In my opinion the Northern Hemisphere Tour is too late to blood and experiment. We need to be experimenting with the young ones now - in the pack definitely. We need some mongrel and plain old fashioned guts.
Even Looser
Guest
And what will our boys, when they become men, be saying into the ears of young pups they encounter one day? The more some things change, the more they remain the same.
reds fan
Guest
It was great stuff. and i loved that young lads stood their ground and joined in the shoving. If Daley and Slipper can get closer to 120kg from their current 111kg and 113kg, they have shown promise at what is a very young age for props. With Link and Alec Evans guiding them at the Reds they could be come a good team along with Saia.
Jameswm
Guest
And the Aussies stood right up to them - well, not sure about Ma'afu
Brett McKay
Guest
Have to admit, it was rather amusing seeing the first couple of scrums blow up into a bit of push and shove, and you could see Thompson and co were hell-bent on continuing the lesson for the Australian pups. All's fair in love and scrummaging...
Matt
Guest
Ahh, the joys of older props. Will stand them in good stead methinks.
Derm
Roar Guru
Healy, Fogarty, Cronin and Buckley aren't exactly long in the tooth or full of caps, so I think that parks the baby taunts. If they bring 101 capped John Hayes on, maybe the Aussies can slag him off as Grandad.