@mikethesnow said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
@rapido said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
@samurai-jack said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
That tighthead for Ireland (Furlong) is a beast, isn't he? Miles ahead of any tighthead in the game at the moment in my opinion.
I haven't watched the second test in full. But have read that Furlong was immense.
But in general, I think Furlong is maybe the most over-rated player in world rugby.
That's not to say he isn't good. And more importantly that he isn't extremely promising as he is still very young. He is fantactic in the loose (was great in Chicago) and I have every expectation that his scrummaging will eventually get to the world class state.
I watched the Lions scrum last year with much interest and was extremely unimpressed with all 3 tightheads in the scrummaging, and my opinion is still influenced by that. They weren't just unimpressive in the tests they were unimpressive against all the SR teams starting front rows (except Hurricanes IIRC). Furlong and Irish scrum was also poor last week v Aussie scrum when he came on as a sub.
To digress. Australian scrummaging is right up there now.
Taniela Tupou is I think going to be worryingly fucking good. I really thought that guy had chosen the wrong sport when he left school (would be a phenomenon in League). But his scrummaging seems to be getting up to speed scarily rapidly. He is still a beast in the loose even v grown men.
I think NH scrummaging is a bit of a current myth, including the French, it may have been true 5 to 10 years ago. But - Owen Franks who I would have rated the best tighthead in the world after last year, got completely owned on the weekend. So ..... take from this post what you will ... a brain dump rather than a hard theory.
The Wales B pack smashed the Argie scrum on several occasions on Saturday night.
Will be interesting to see how the Argies go against the SH teams in The Championship.
I fear any chance of an upset win against Australia has vanished
The Argie scrum has generally been mediocre.
They have the reputation from the 1980s, the bajada, but the modern scrum is in fact the bajada.
But, big but, I assume Argentinian scrummaging prowess between world cup years is majorly impacted by who isn't playing (Top 14 and Premiership contracted players, Figallo etc)
P.S On further reflection on my posts above re: Furlong. I reckon I'm being too harsh saying over-rated. I'd be very happy having a young prop as promising as Furlong playing for my country. Absolutely awesome in the loose and in the breakdown, competent in the scrum with the expectation that his scrummaging will continue to improve.
Maybe not the complete package yet is the better phrase than over-rated.