Australian scrum anchor Sekope Kepu rated Saturday night’s tryless grind against France more satisfying than their 50-point blitz in the series opener.
Kepu and fellow front-rowers Tatafu Polota-Nau and James Slipper stood tallest for the Wallabies as their scrum overpowered Les Bleus pack at Etihad Stadium.
The set-piece was lauded by coach Ewen McKenzie who, at the same time, lamented his side’s lack of attacking patience and precision in a 6-0 victory.
Kepu was delighted the Wallabies showed they could muscle up and win through strength and character, not just when clean ball is laid on a platter for their dangerous backline as in the 50-23 first Test win in Brisbane last weekend.
“It’s one of those ones that’s probably better for you,” the tighthead prop said. “It was just a tougher battle.
“I feel it’s more satisfying.
“It was a grind and a test of character tonight and to come away with a win at Test match level I will take a win like that any day.”
Kepu admitted there were “a lot of things to fix” for the third Test in Sydney next Saturday but a sixth straight victory showed they were heading in the right direction leading into the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship.
A scrum demolition of the French midway through the second half highlighted the leaps the Australian forwards have made since being taught a lesson by New Zealand and South Africa last year.
“The scrum tonight was a hard-fought battle and I felt like we did a good job tonight,” Kepu said.
“(But) this week means nothing, we have to do it next week and again after that.”
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.
Wallabies fly-half Carter Gordon is reportedly flirting over the fence with two NRL clubs - the Gold Coast Titans and Melbourne Storm. The 23-year-old…
Australia has always produced tremendously talented rugby players but as a country we’ve had a detrimental tendency to over-hype youngsters, creating unrealistic, unfair, and…
Joe Schmidt says he wants Carter Gordon to stay in Australian rugby, but the new Wallabies coach won’t shed tears if he decides to…
Darren Coleman is set to continue his back three changes, with Max Jorgensen to miss the Waratahs’ tricky assignment at the Cake Tin in…
Australian rugby has many problems - financial crisis, ever-shrinking audiences, shortage of coaching expertise, Greg Martin, etc etc. But one problem which I have…
Eight months after sensationally being taken to France by Eddie Jones as the Wallabies’ specialist fly-half for their World Cup campaign, Carter Gordon could…
