Australia’s scrum doctor made a visit to the Gold Coast this week and the Australian U20s hope they can reap the rewards.
Wallabies scrum coach Mario Ledesma was on hand to give the national U20s side some scrummaging lessons as they came into camp for the first time this year.
“It was good having Mario coming in. Obviously he works with the big boys and it’s good to get tips on scrummaging,” front rower Vuni Fifita said.
“We’ve been talking about it as a forward pack about how we can improve our scrum and hopefully we can use it to have another crack at them (New Zealand) come Saturday.”
In an otherwise frustrating loss on Tuesday night, the junior Aussies were solid in the scrums, even winning a critical scrum against the feed.
Lock Angus Scott-Young said he had gleaned some individual advice from Ledesma.
“He’s been really helpful with especially getting my back really nice and tight and especially with the front row been working a lot with them and it’s been really good,” he said.
Back rower Harley Fox said the side need only look at the Wallabies 2015 scrum transformation to understand the importance of the scrum and Ledesma’s philosophies.
“There were a lot of new things a lot of us haven’t learned,” he said.
“Scrum sessions went for 45 minutes to an hour and also just going off what the Wallabies achieved at the World Cup with the dominant set piece at scrum time, it opens up opportunities all over the park.
“Having a strong set piece and scrum show we’re going forward.”
The Australia U20s were left disappointed by their opening loss to the Kiwis and will be working hard to even the ledger in the second game on Saturday.
The Australia U20s team will play New Zealand U20s in the final match of the Oceania Rugby U20s Championship this Saturday at 4pm with the match to be LIVE streamed through www.rugby.com.au.
