All Blacks scrum to benefit from ‘real power’ after star prop wasn’t at ‘full fitness’ during Springboks series
All Blacks prop Tyrel Lomax and an inset of scrum coach Jason Ryan.
Jason Ryan believes that the All Blacks’ scrum will fare better during the November leg of the Nations Championship after the set-piece struggled against the Springboks.
The scrum was a major talking point throughout the series, with Rassie Erasmus and Dave Rennie trading barbs in the media around the perception of the set-piece.
New Zealand were on the back foot in that facet of the game for the majority of the four Tests against South Africa, but Ryan believes that they started to turn the tide during the latter games and took those improvements into the Bledisloe Cup matches against Australia.
Next challenge for the All Blacks
In recent years, the Boks are renowned for having a powerful scrum, but New Zealand will be tested by European teams too, with Scotland possessing a strong set-piece, coached by South African-born French prop Pieter de Villiers, whilst England had the best scrum in this year’s Six Nations.
“It’s going to be another challenge. I think we made some good shifts on the back end of that (Greatest Rivalry) series, in particular the last game against South Africa, and then transferred that into the Wallaby Tests,” Ryan told New Zealand media ahead of the clash against Scotland.
The scrum coach added that the struggles against the Boks were partly due to Tyrel Lomax playing while injured, with the tighthead prop subsequently missing the two Tests versus the Wallabies.
Lomax has since been omitted from the touring squad of the United Kingdom, with Rennie citing the injury and Ryan doubling down, adding that the coaches are eager to see how uncapped prop Saula Ma’u will fare.
Scott Barrett’s influence and Ethan De Groot’s fitness
Furthermore, he has hailed the impact of Scott Barrett at scrum time with the returning lock packing down on the tighthead side of the set-piece.
“We knew that Lowey wasn’t at full fitness in that South Africa series, so we’re bringing in Saula, a young fella who will get an opportunity, and we believe he’s deserved that,” he added.
“I think Scott Barrett has added a bit of a good solid platform and some real power to our tight end side of the scrum, which we’ve seen some benefits from as well, but Scotland’s a good scrummaging team.
“They’ve got a good pack, and they’ve been together a while, so they’ve got some good experience there with Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson.”
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The All Blacks scrum has also been bolstered by the return to fitness of loosehead prop Ethan De Groot who will compete with George Bower for the starting role against the Scots. New Zealand have also been without the services of the excellent Tamaiti Williams who hasn’t played at all this season as he still faces an uncertain timeline with his back infection.
“It’s going to be pretty tasty. I think the boys are competing really, really well,” Ryan said.
“We’re hoping that De Groot will get through the bit of knee agility work he’s been getting through in the break since the Bledisloe.
“So I think they’re all complementing each other pretty well in different areas. George Bower’s immensely experienced; he’s really accurate at scrum time. And Xavier Numia is exciting, and he adds a whole different dimension to our ball carry game around the park, but they’re definitely all competing.”
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