The Wallabies’ Achilles heel – the scrum – was monstered again in a Bledisloe demolition job as they struggle to “a completely different beast” under the new laws.
Coach Ewen McKenzie staunchly defended his dazed and confused set-piece despite a second-half onslaught by the All Blacks in their 27-16 second Test win on Saturday night.
Struggling to come to terms with the new crouch-bind-engage packing process, Australia’s pack gave away two tight-heads and were also penalised twice as many times as the home side.
Scrum anchor Ben Alexander endured a forgettable night at Westpac Stadium up against 100-Test veteran Tony Woodcock and was replaced after giving away three points in the 52nd minute.
It’s the second time in three Tests Australia have been outgunned at the set piece and Alexander’s place, in particular, is in danger heading to Brisbane for the September 7 Test against South Africa.
But McKenzie, who played 51 Tests as a tight-head prop, blamed the new engagement process for much of their troubles.
“It was a bit of a lottery there,” he said. “They obviously had a couple of good ones.
“To be honest, I don’t understand what’s going on.
“I used to be able to work out it out but now I don’t know what’s a penalty and what isn’t.
“I’ve honestly got no idea and I used to play in the front-row, I’m lost.
“It’s a completely different beast now.”
Skipper James Horwill admitted there was confusion from both sides about what referee Jaco Peyper wanted from the front-rows and what was penalisable.
McKenzie was baffled why some scrum laws were important to the IRB and referees at present while others were irrelevant.”
“I don’t see why we favour some and not the other,” he said. “You can grab anything you like there.”
But the scrum did not decide the match in Australia’s 15th straight loss to the All Blacks on New Zealand soil.
It was the Wallabies inability to take their chances while McKenzie admitted the world champions “made it look easy” when they had try-scoring opportunities.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen agreed it was the biggest factor, with Ben Smith scoring a double in the last 13 minutes of the first half after Australia dominated to that point without crossing.
The Wallabies only five-pointer came when Israel Folau intercepted a Ma’a Nonu cut-out pass with eight minutes left.
“When we had opportunities we scored tries,” Hansen said. “Whereas they created opportunities but, other than the intercept, didn’t get one.”
Australia’s only injury worry is loose-head prop James Slipper who was knocked out late in th first half.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
After 2 Tests it's justifiable to call them a failure? That's absurd. And than ever before? Do some research.
mace22
Guest
He said he wouldn't go into the wallaby infringements then, started to run them all off. Hansen love that guy, he can put the boot in and hardly anybody notices.
atlas
Guest
while Toby Smith plays his last season for Waikato in ITM Cup before joining rebels and aiming for a gold jersey, there are three more Australian props also playing ITM Cup rugby this season to improve their future prospects Paul Alo-Emile - Rebels - for Waikato (with Force's Mick Snowden sub at halfback) Max Lahiff - Rebels 2014 - for Hawke's Bay Albert Anae - Reds/Wallabies squad - for Bay of Plenty (with fellow Reds player Beau Robinson at 7)
Terry Kidd
Guest
Franks struggled and should have been penalised just as much as Alexander. Woodcock was good, he bored in and did it repeatedly when he saw that Peyper would not penalise him. Sio owned Franks. Alexander got owned .... again.
Garth
Guest
The AB's all dread the training sessions run by Gordon Tietjens. They are legendary for leaving ALL players gasping for breath.
Garth
Guest
Fastest way to cross the Waitamata & Wellington Harbours.
Garth
Guest
McKensie's opposite number doesn't seem to have any problems understanding the new (old?) scrum laws. Hansen was also very diplomatic when questioned on McKensie's post-match hissy-fit. He said that he could go into Aussie infractions during the game but wouldn't.
Ads
Guest
Who Link? Don't think so.
mace22
Guest
You saw them do that to. I thought i was the only one there.
mace22
Guest
Moving pocock to hooker won't help you, still need props and second rowers that can push. He can't hook if he has to push to stop the pack moving backwards at a great speed of knots.
mace22
Guest
The reason the wallabies get parity in the scrums is because the all blacks let them. Read an article from a english forward who played with some all black forwards in a world fifteen match against the boks in the seventies. He said that at sale they tried to push and dominate the opposition pack at every scrum. But when he played with the all blacks he learned they choose when to apply the pressure. most scrums they just held their own then waited for the right moment and gave it their all. If it didn't work they went back to holding their own then tried to strike again later on in the match.
GWS
Guest
As if mccaw has to meet fitness standards. Utter bs.
GWS
Guest
And in their spare time they walk on water. Ffs
GWS
Guest
Has he lost his man cans?
Tui
Guest
I am happy enough with the new scrum laws. Anyone trying to use them as an excuse for another brittle Wallaby scrum is deluded.
SamSport
Guest
Has anyone else here read Richie McCaw's book? In it he discusses how important it is to look calm, composed and confident in front of his team-mates even when everything is going to hell. He makes a conscious effort to basically keep up a brave and confident face even when things are going poorly - he doesn't want his fellow players to look at their captain and think "well, he is upset and frustrated, so it's okay for me to be". Horwill needs to learn this approach. No point whinging to the ref (and for the record, I think that after his and McKenzie's comments during the week, Peyper was expecting the pressure to go to the yellow, and so was extra quick to dismiss Horwill's moaning). As for the scrums, when your scrums is going forwards you are going to get the benefit of the doubt more often than not, just like at ruck and maul time. The Wallabies need to fix it, it's not some vast conspiracy against them.
chuck
Guest
Blades the scrum forwards coach should have been replaced when E.M. took the reins he is from Robbie Deans stable clean broom should have gone right through for a fresh start . fitness levels are falling off at the 30 min mark for the wallabies anyone know who is Australian conditioning & strength coach is . The all blacks training program simple select 40 players come into camp then hand out fitness programs with times they have too compete with then the next time they come back the axes come down for some of them when valuating their performances down too 30 players and the other 10 that been axed know that they are in the frame of all black selection and go away and work on their fitness levels too bring their valuations up too speed .,when you have a bloke like Gordon Tietjens who has input too way the program should be valuated on each player leaves a small margin of error Piri Wepu undoing for not meeting the targets left out of the 26 so far they used 32 players in two games conditioning & strength coach & skills / performance analyst ( coach ) are a must in professional rugby if the wallabies can get that right.
riddler18
Guest
agreed paul.. ask any front rower, if they don't have the push then the scrum is lost.. yesterday in one scrum, the first head to pop-out was.... james horwill... something so wrong with that situation.. never saw eales, giffin or even harrison head out of a scrum ever.. fardy into second row with pyle.. why not.. we have nothing to lose by trying and we might discover a new eales, hell i would settle for a giffin.. while i am on a team selection role.. pocock to hooker when he comes back.. maybe you guys laugh at this.. but he has the perfect shape for it.. he has the skills and timing so he can actually hook for the ball.. and if by chance he finds himself in the middle of the backline like most of our forwards seem to be doing... he knows how to pass smoothly and not like un-oiled robot.. aka moore, horwill, alexander etc mowen to six, higgers to 8, hooper at 7... gill and kimlin on the bench.. no more palu.. we certainly don't have the depth of the abs but we should be able to at least get a first xv that competes..
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Aus have been rubbish under Ewen so far. Its only 2 games but the only 2 players that have played better under Ewen than Deans are Simmons and Hooper this year. I think all of the others have been just as bad or worse. Ewen is imeadiately under pressure, his team has dropped out of the top 3 for the first time in 5 years and what they thought they knew is blowing up in their face. Ewen was supposed to make things better not worse, everyone knew that it was Robbies fault, or so they thought. This wasnt supposed to happen, Ewen was the Kiwi beater. Welcome back to the real world Aus.
ShaghaiDoc
Guest
It's a Saffa conspiracy? Is it better to whine to the referee or to make civil enquiries later? Referees possibly favour the Kiwis subconsciously because they don't whinge. When a penalty is awarded against them they race back into position and make a polite enquiry later. This happens even when they believe the decision is patently wrong. Neither do they cry to the media after the game but deal with problems via official channels. It's not rocket science guys you just have to put your egos aside.