Thursday 20th September 2007
Wallaby hooker Stephen Moore is relishing the possible quarter-final showdown against England in Marseille, not because he would like to avenge the 2003 final loss, but rather because he feels the match will put an end to any doubts about his team's front-row.
"They have a lot of strength in their scrum with Andrew Sheridan, Phil Vickery to come back, and Matt Stevens scrummaged very well the other night [the 36-0 defeat to the Springboks]," Moore told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Although Moore regarded England's front-row very highly, he said he did not by any means fear them. Moore is confident that the Wallabies will match the English in the battle up-front.
"They are a very good scrum unit. While we respect them, they are certainly nothing that we fear."
Moore, 24, said that a solid display against England's front-row will be a feather in the cap for the Wallabies and it would do the team a world of good.
In fact every team Australia is set to play in the knock-out stage of the tournament will pose a serious threat to the Wallabies' tight-five and Moore realises this.
"That is what we are trying to build in the pool games, that momentum and combination going into the big games," Moore said.
"If we do happen to play England in a quarter-final, that [domination of England in the scrum] is going to be a huge stepping stone.
"If we can get through that test - in the forwards particularly - we will be ready for anything," added Moore.
By 'anything' he meant even the All Blacks, who are the Wallabies' likely opponents in the semi-final, although nothing is carved in stone.
Wallabies management and even some media have acknowledged that the Aussie scrum has shown signs of improvement in recent months. But Moore at least admitted that it was still very much a work in progress for the forward pack.
The key will be for the Wallaby back three to gel well with the tight-five.
"As an eight we have improved individually and that has improved the scrum," Moore said.
"Everyone is becoming more aware of their role - from one to eight.
"In the past, only the front row worried about scrums. Now our eight are taking ownership, and that is reflected on the field."
No comments:
Post a Comment