Rugby: 'Scrum camp' pays big dividends for Wallabies

Wallabies Hooker Stephen Moore says the best team needs the best pack. Photo / Dean Purcell

Time was when a Wallaby scrum was viewed in other parts of the rugby globe with something between mirth and an opportunity to put some real hurt on Australia.

But times are changing, if the Australian scrum's efforts in the last couple of outings are a reliable guide.

In their leadup to the World Cup, the Australian forwards spent time at a scrum camp, and for the front row lumps spending hours on the set piece is rugby nirvana.

It has helped, and the efforts of tighthead prop Ben Alexander, hooker Stephen Moore and loosehead Sekope Kepu have given Australia reasons to be, if not cheerful, then certainly upbeat on their prospects, starting against Italy at North Harbour Stadium tomorrow.

Australia are missing their regular loosehead prop Benn Robinson through a knee injury, but Kepu has done a fair job in his absence. Depth might yet be an issue if they have injury problems.

"It's not about what other people think," said Robinson. "It's about what you think and what you want to achieve. We want to be the best team in the world, and the best team needs the best pack."

The camp had a couple of two-hour sessions a day, with plenty of time spent on technical aspects.

Moore has been among the best of the Australian players in recent times, vigorous, mobile and strong with the ball in hand.

"Throughout the Tri-Nations we were happy with progress we made. We weren't entirely happy with the last game [the win over the All Blacks in Brisbane]. We took a bit of a step backwards but New Zealand are quality opposition.

"But we've given the scrum a bit more focus this year and that's helped the whole forward pack to buy into its importance."

Moore admitted he is a hard marker of himself and is striving to maintain a consistent standard of work.

"I know I've got a key role at the set piece and I mark myself pretty hard there. But I've tried to make sure my work in the team is consistent and I can be relied on."

The Italians will ask some searching questions of the Australian pack tomorrow.

Tighthead prop Martin Castrogiovanni has a formidable reputation, and made a mess of All Black Wyatt Crockett a couple of years ago, albeit with occasionally unconventional methods. He has 78 caps; loosehead Andrea Lo Cicero, at his fourth cup, has 88 and mobile hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini 38.

The Italians relish a decent set piece contest, so Australia will want to show the lessons have been absorbed.

"They're definitely in the top few," Alexander said of the Italian scrum.

Moore also spoke of Wallaby respect for Italy and the need to hit the ground running tomorrow. That is where Australia, and Italy for that matter, will want to set their stall out for the campaign.

"We want to make sure we send a message and get some momentum going."

Australia v Italy
North Harbour Stadium, 3.30pm Saturday 10 September
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

Australia
Kurtley Beale
A Ashley-Cooper
Anthony Fainga'a
Pat McCabe
Digby Ioane
Quade Cooper
Will Genia
Radike Samo
David Pocock
Rocky Elsom
James Horwill
Dan Vickerman
Ben Alexander
Stephen Moore
Sekope Kepu
Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Scott Higginbotham, Ben McCalman, Luke Burgess, James O'Connor.

Italy
Andrea Masi
T Benvenuti
Gonzalo Canale
Gonzalo Garcia
Mirco Bergamasco
Luciano Orquera
Fabio Semenzato
Sergio Parisse
Robert Barbieri
Alessandro Zanni
Cornelius van Zyl
Carlo del Fava
M Castrogiovanni
Leonard Ghiraldini
Andrea Lo Cicero
Reserves: Tommaso D'Apice, Lorenzo Cittadini, Marco Bortalami, Paul Derbyshire, Edoardo Gori, Riccardo Bocchino, Luke McLean.