Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is close to securing a scrum guru in the hope of solving Australia’s set-piece woes before next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Cheika flagged an overhaul of Australia’s scrum after it was dismantled – once again – by England at Twickenham in the final Test of the Wallabies’ spring tour last month.
Tired of watching the Wallabies pack being pushed and shoved around, Cheika said technical and strategic changes were essential for Australia to compete with pool rivals England and Wales at next year’s global showpiece in Britain.
Sources close to Cheika say he is poised to add a big-name “been there, done that” scrum technician to his coaching unit.
Understood to have already held advanced discussions, Cheika was tightlipped when asked about the speculation, saying only that he hoped to finalise his entire coaching team in early January.
Andrew Blades is currently Australia’s forwards coach, while Cheika’s NSW Waratahs assistant Nathan Grey also accompanied him on the four-Test spring tour to assist with the backs.
It is not known if any new scrum coach would be an addition to his Wallabies staff, or replace Blades.
While World Cup-winning hooker and former Wallabies assistant coach Michael Foley was mooted to have been in the mix for a return to the national ranks, he is committed to the Western Force.
Cheika’s star recruit is more likely to be from another country.
When appointed as NSW Waratahs coach at the end of 2012, Cheika travelled to New Zealand to persuade former All Black centre and Crusaders assistant coach Daryl Gibson to join Super Rugby’s perennial under-achievers in Sydney.
The wily coach also sold his vision to Crusaders and All Blacks great Andrew Mehrtens and his astute recruiting culminated in Gibson and Mehrtens helping the Waratahs land an elusive Super Rugby championship this year.
Cheika won’t be afraid to cross enemy lines again for the Wallabies cause.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Super 15 scrums don't seem to harm either the 'Boks or the All Blacks.
peter hughes
Guest
Ho humm - this will be Wallaby Scrum Guru no 27 over past 10 yrs. Heard it all before during groundhog day. "It's a work in progress" "Australia needs a strong scrum" blah blah. And nothing changes when the cattle don't have the ability. Back in Europe in 9 months time they'll get smashed again :(
Squirrel
Guest
Rubbish. Topi would still eat these guys for breakfast
Mac
Guest
"The scrum wasn’t an issue when Moore and TPN and Douglas, Pocock and Mowen were there" Yes, it was.
pjm
Roar Rookie
Haha. That's Australian rugby for you, differing opinion and 'PULL YA HEAD IN'. You've been involved with the lower grade side of the game where the gap between the years aren't as large as the international level. I'm sure there are blokes running around with warm ups from the 70's that would make any professional coach cringe. We need are more than fundamentals if we want to succeed on the international level. I think there have been far too many 'scrum guru's/doctors' who have come into the Wallaby set up over the years and taught the same stuff you taught to juniors or 3rd graders 20/30 years ago, it just doesn't cut it anymore.
Michael J.
Guest
It will be falling for the 3 card trick to become obsessed with the scrum and neglect other areas. The scrum wasn't an issue when Moore and TPN and Douglas, Pocock and Mowen were there. An inability of the backs to cross the line is as much a problem as the scrum. Maybe James O'Connor could be a help there. He is a try scorer.
Zero Gain
Guest
What rubbish. Scrum fundamentals are exactly the same. I played in the 70's, 80's and 90's and have coached ever since and I have less experience that many on here. Pull your head in.
Nah mate, the one who played for France ;)
pjm
Roar Rookie
What's with all the calls about guys who played decades ago and in entirely different era's? The scrums is completely different to the scrum in the 80's/90's and unless the man has kept up to date with the modern game and has been coaching at the top level then he will be of no use.
Zero Gain
Guest
The job of a prop is to make their opposite prop and the hooker as uncomfortable as possible. When you are in pain it is much harder to perform. Pain and discomfort can easily be inflicted without causing any injury or breaking any rules. The happy clappers on here will be up in arms at the thought but that is what is missing from our current props, the mongrel required to dominate their opposite number. Simple techniques like turning the head of the hooker away from the ball with your own head, binding under the arm and a thumb in that region that always causes discomfort are a couple of ways of disrupting your opponents. There are many others, but last time I listed them I was howled down by the ignorant who have no idea what front row play is all about. Hundreds of military presses help too.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Not a new call but a bloody good one. It never ceases to amaze me how narrow minded out coaches are.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
BBT: Not THE De Villers I hope - still Utube would love it.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Best news I have had in this last year of watching the Wallabies. Let's hope the whole thing is done right and Blades finds another gig. Cheika is right, it is the forwards where the concentration should be and then - Let's see if he can teach the backs to pass the ball in front of the player running on to it?
Schuey
Guest
Crons under contract with the AB's already
Common Sense
Roar Rookie
It would have to be an English Premiership scrum coach.
Rugger
Guest
Need to improve scrums and kicking/catching as well.
So Cal Ray
Guest
Could well be Greg Somerville - worked with him at Leinster. Did a great job, very astute tactically in the scrum (sorted out the Northampton scrum a few years ago in the HC final).
tsuru
Guest
In our wet dreams
RF
Guest
Blades will go. His scrum has always been awful and his line-out has fallen apart since mowen left.
Redsfan1
Guest
No conspiracy theory. A conspiracy implies a cunning, secret plan. The Wallabies are just openly a rabble.