AUSTRALIA COACH EWEN McKenzie believes a pack’s reputation has too much baring on international refereeing decisions.
The Wallabies take on Ireland in Dublin on Saturday knowing that the eight-man set-piece will once again come under pressure.
However, after mixed outcomes against England and Italy, McKenzie moved to put pressure on referee Chris Pollock before the first ‘set’ comes in the Aviva Stadium.
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“I think scrum performance is measured over time. Reputation is clearly important,” the former Reds coach said at his team’s Dublin hotel this morning.
“We haven’t come from a great background, but I just judge it on the quality of ball you get to play with. The last two test matches we’ve had great quality possession.
“The irony for me is: you can win your own ball cleanly and get to play, yet be way on the wrong side of the penalty count.”
McKenzie was chiefly referring to his side’s 20 – 13 defeat to England at Twickenham on November 2 where his four props were penalised eight times* in the game versus two awarded against the hosts.
Against Italy, the starting props were not penalised – Sekope Kepu and Benn Robinson shipped three between them after their introduction.
“If we were being pushed off our own ball, then maybe you’re a weaker scrum, but we had great quality possession – all the issues were on England’s possession.
“I guess if you’re looking at a philosophical point of view: we scrum to get the ball so that we can play. Other teams scrum to generate penalties.
“It’s a philosophical thing, but we’ll continue to scrum so that we can play. The one time in the game you can get backs seven on seven – back-line play as we remember it – is at that point. If teams scrum for penalties then you’re actually denying the fanbase the opportunity to see some fine players play.”
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AUSTRALIA COACH EWEN McKenzie believes a pack’s reputation has too much baring on international refereeing decisions.
The Wallabies take on Ireland in Dublin on Saturday knowing that the eight-man set-piece will once again come under pressure.
However, after mixed outcomes against England and Italy, McKenzie moved to put pressure on referee Chris Pollock before the first ‘set’ comes in the Aviva Stadium.
“I think scrum performance is measured over time. Reputation is clearly important,” the former Reds coach said at his team’s Dublin hotel this morning.
“We haven’t come from a great background, but I just judge it on the quality of ball you get to play with. The last two test matches we’ve had great quality possession.
“The irony for me is: you can win your own ball cleanly and get to play, yet be way on the wrong side of the penalty count.”
McKenzie was chiefly referring to his side’s 20 – 13 defeat to England at Twickenham on November 2 where his four props were penalised eight times* in the game versus two awarded against the hosts.
Against Italy, the starting props were not penalised – Sekope Kepu and Benn Robinson shipped three between them after their introduction.
“It’s a philosophical thing, but we’ll continue to scrum so that we can play. The one time in the game you can get backs seven on seven – back-line play as we remember it – is at that point. If teams scrum for penalties then you’re actually denying the fanbase the opportunity to see some fine players play.”
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*no statistic available for scrum specific penalties. Numbers are total against each player during the game.
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