Rocky gets into the scrum ring

Australia flanker Rocky Elsom has laughed off former All Blacks prop John Drake's assertions that the Wallaby scrum resorted to dirty tactics against South Africa in Perth last weekend.

In the build up to Saturday's fierce showdown with the All Blacks, Australia flanker Rocky Elsom has laughed off former New Zealand prop John Drake's assertions that the Wallaby scrum resorted to dirty tactics against South Africa in Perth last weekend.

Pre-match tension between Australia and New Zealand has reached fever pitch with the Wallabies forced to defend cheating claims on Tuesday.

Speaking on New Zealand radio on Tuesday morning, the World Cup-winning prop labelled the Wallabies weak at scrum time and claimed they manipulated the set-piece by constantly going to ground after impact.

“I think that's probably the last thing we want to do just because when the scrum gets collapsed we usually get penalised first,” Elsom told Sportal.

“So that probably wouldn't help us a whole lot.”

Elsom praised the oft-maligned Wallabies front row for their efforts against the world champion Springboks in Perth.

“It was a pretty complete performance from the front row,” he said.

“I think they had a good stable platform the whole game. They weren't really worried too much so I think that was a great sign for them.”

But the in-form back-rower, who was named man-of-the-match in the 16-9 win at Subiaco Oval, insists the pack is under no illusions heading into Saturday's Bledisloe blockbuster against an All Blacks scrum he believes is less predictable than the Springboks.

“I think that one thing about the New Zealand scrum is they usually opt to differ tactics than the South Africans just because they don't rely on their size and strength as much as the South Africans do,” said Elsom.

The All Blacks will be desperate to bounce back from a painful, last-gasp 30-28 loss to South Africa in their last outing in Dunedin two weeks ago.

But Elsom insists the Wallabies will have no trouble maintaining the intensity for the first of four Bledisloe Cup clashes in 2008 – and the first in Sydney since 2005.

“There definitely will be a let down if we lose,” the classy flanker said.

“I mean, we're coming here to win. So if we get let down, it will only be because we lost.

“As far as getting motivated, it's not difficult at all. You've got a Bledisloe Cup in Sydney and we've got a chance of beating the All Blacks in a Test match, so you've got everything you need right there.”

While other players have tried to play it down, Elsom admitted the personal coaching duel between the Wallabies' Robbie Deans and the embattled Graham Henry, who beat Deans to the All Blacks gig, had only spiced up the usual pre-match hype for the annual trans-Tasman battle.

“That added interest with the two New Zealand coaches going at it, that has added a fair bit to it all,” said Elsom.

“So the fact that we've come off a good win and it's the first time we've had a Bledisloe in Sydney for a year or so …”