'They will be all over it': Rodda backs Wallaby front row to match England's scrum
The Wallabies forward pack are preparing for a brutal encounter upfront when they face England at Twickenham on Saturday.
Izack Rodda is relishing the chance to go up against an abrasive England pack. The 2-metre tall lock has forced his way back into the Wallabies fold since returning to Australia to sign with the Western Force.
He has formed an imposing locking pair with Rory Arnold, who has been recalled for the Wallabies tour of Europe.
The pair have reconnected for the first time since lining up together for the Rugby World Cup in 2019, where England knocked Australia out of the quarter-finals.
“It was a blast from the past with Rory. It’s good to see him back here after a year off. I think we picked up where we left off from a combination point of view,” said Rodda after their first outing against Scotland.
“He’s a real easy bloke on and off the field to gel with.”
England will be targeting the Wallabies set-piece, and in particular the scrum. It’s an area Australia struggled with against Scotland when the front row was forced into a reshuffle after Taniela Tupou went off with an HIA and Allan Alaalatoa was off the field for extended parts of the match.
The job has become that much harder with Alaalatoa and Tupou all but set to miss the test match after both suffered head knocks. They will be required to observe head injury return to play protocols, but with a short turn-around between games, they are racing against the clock.
The Wallabies were forming a powerful stable of front-rowers with Alaalatoa, Tupou, James Slipper and Angus Bell. Dave Rennie will now be considering shifting Slipper to tight-head and starting Bell at loose-head. They have the experienced Tom Robertson and a wildcard in London Irish prop Ollie Hoskins standing by to fill the bench spots. The 28-year-old was called into the training squad this week as cover and could be in line to make a remarkable debut.
Rodda has put his faith in his men up front to get the scrum back on track despite the injury blows, after becoming a source of strength for the Wallabies throughout 2021.
“I’ll put my hand up, I don’t know much about scrummaging, I’m just a lock, I just push. I think that is something the front row will fix up.”
“They are a pretty tight-knit group and they will be aware of what they need to improve coming into the England game. I will leave it in their hands. They will be all over it.”
What has been firing is the lineout. Against Scotland, the Wallabies won all 13 of their lineouts and one against the throw thanks to Rodda.
This week they will be matching up against the likes of Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, and Courtney Lawes, some of the world’s most proficient lineout operators. It’s an area Rodda is well-versed in, and it will have to be a pillar of strength for the Wallabies if they are to gain any ascendency against England.
“I do know a bit more about the lineout. They are a great pack, especially those three guys (Hill, Itoje and Lawes.) They have a big defensive presence. It comes down to us, we have to do our own thing right. It’s definitely crucial we win the lineout ball so the backs can do their thing. We’ve got a great backline and we want to give them quality ball.
“We can expect anything from England. They have a good set-piece and we just have to wait and see what they bring.”
Comments on RugbyPass
1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to comments