The scrum coach knows the Italian unit will offer a fierce test on Sunday. GERRY THORNLEYreports

FOR YEARS Irish packs went into scrums in strictly survival mode, but increased evidence of it becoming a new-found weapon since the emergence of Greg Feek as scrum coach and Mike Ross as the resident tighthead was spectacularly underlined by the match-winning cards it dealt against Australia.

That was the Wallabies though. Next Sunday it’s the Italian scrum; an altogether different beast. Strictly on a line through Russia’s two games against Italy and Ireland one could be tempted to fear for the Irish scrum next Sunday. But it’s worth noting the Russians replenished the dangerously powder puff scrum which had been pitched into the fray against Italy, notably with the return of 72-times capped tighthead Alexander Khrokin.

Furthermore, Ireland changed half their pack and two of their frontrow, before the introduction of Ross meant Tony Buckley had to switch across to an ill-fitting loosehead side.

In Rome last February, Nick Mallett cheekily upped the ante by claiming Romain Poite had written to the Italian Federation apologising for the way he had handled the sides’ clash in Dublin the year before, only to retract that afterwards. Nonetheless, Poite penalised Ireland on five occasions at scrum time.

“Yeah, similar players and the opposition will be pretty similar but different referee,” said Feek pointedly yesterday after the squad’s arrival in Dunedin.

That was also Ross’s Six Nations debut, whereas this Saturday the Irish frontrow will be starting a Test for the tenth time together.

“And combinations are important, particularly when you are so close to each other, getting to know each other,” stressed Feek. “We have grown a lot since then.

“They are almost like brothers now,” he added. “In some games you can get carried away and go on your own and try and do the little things by yourself. We used to have a saying ‘trying to be the hero on your own’, but it’s about all three, all eight.”

Asked if this was the best scrum Ireland will face in the pool, Feek answered emphatically: “Yeah, definitely, you can see their game revolves a lot around that. We’ve known that in the Six Nations. Their forward pack in general, whether it’s mauling, scrummaging, breakdown, the boys know they will have to be on song in terms of the physical side of things, which in these pool stages and at this time of the year, the mental side is massive, getting that right.”

Accordingly therefore, it was the biggest challenge of his coaching career to date.

“Yeah, definitely, and now that you have said it, you’ve made me nervous. It is, and it is something we are used to in the Heineken Cup, a lot of the players have done it. I was lucky enough to experience it and the biggest thing in this is, if you are talking coaching, is being relaxed but focused and showing the trust and the confidence in what we are doing.”

The Italian scrum has many arrows in its quiver, according to Feek. “The thing with the Italians I have noticed is that one minute they might really be massive at the scrum, but Parisse is so good at the back of the scrum as well, he can go right, he can go left, he can do this, he can do that.

“It does pose a little bit of a threat there, they might decide just to keep the ball at the back and keep shunting it upfield or he might decide to pull a move off the back of the scrum as well. So, there’s definitely got to be eyes and ears and feet and bodies, everything aware as to what is going on.”

Feek maintained the scrum against Russia wasn’t too bad, albeit one of the two penalties against Buckley, after his switch, was harsh. “But, in saying that, referees have to make a call, they want to be strict, and he made the call, but if it’s a big game, as long as we keep our bind on, and keep straight and do everything right then hopefully it goes our way.”

Feek gave particular mention to Cronin, who grasped his first World Cup appearance with the kind of energy and enthusiasm which most of those promoted to the team produced, as the pack’s scrum leader.

Overall, Cronin was “happy enough” with his and the team’s performance.

“There were one or two scrappy lineouts, they got up well and contested, showed around the pitch, one or two pop-off balls didn’t come my way but overall I thought I did okay. I haven’t played in a few weeks but I thought I got around the park and the fitness wasn’t too bad.”

Regarding the scrums, Cronin conceded: “They got a small bit messy (in the second half), there was new combinations there, but I thought we adapted a bit better towards the end of the game and stuck with it, which was good. And we just addressed it as an eight, as a pack, trying to get things right and I thought they (scrums) came good towards the end.”

As with Feek, Cronin conceded that facing the Italian scrum will be the toughest test of the four pool games to date.

“Yeah, they have performed very well, they dominated the Russians and in the Six Nations they have always been up there among the top scrummagers so it is going to be tough, we just have to get our plan right, get our tactics right and we’ll work at it during the week and see how we go.”

THE Ireland management will have a clearer idea as to the progress of the hamstrung Paul O’Connell and Gordon D’Arcy, as well as Tommy Bowe (groin strain) after training today, according to team manager Paul McNaughton. But the minor knocks to Seán O’Brien (bruised arm), Rob Kearney (jarred knee) and Keith Earls (mild dead leg) are not of concern.