Alexander: We were simply out-thought

IT is not often that a forward pack which has held its own against the All Blacks and Springboks in recent weeks receives a schooling, but that was the impression left on the Australians after feeling the benefits of an Irish scrummaging education at Eden Park.

Impressive displays against Tri Nations rivals had gone a long way to dismissing talk of the Wallabies having a weak scrum but Aussie fears returned after a harrowing 80 minutes at the hands of the Irish forwards during Saturday’s 15-6 Pool C upset for the number two ranked team in the world.

“Every scrum’s a contest...they were just better than us tonight,” admitted Australian tighthead prop Ben Alexander.