Feek professes faith in Strauss progress

Leinster and Ireland’s scrum coach, Greg Feek, is confident Declan Kidney’s new South African-born hooker has the size as well as the ability to cope with the mammoth front rows so prevalent in international rugby.

Richardt Strauss was a back row before being converted to hooker but his lack of beef meant he never made the Test grade in South Africa.

He will finally get his chance at the highest level in November after being called up by Ireland on Wednesday.

“He has learned a lot, particularly in the last few years, where we have had some big packs,” said Feek yesterday.

“He has experienced that with Toulouse, Northampton and Leicester. Every time he goes out, he is learning. That is a constant thing.”

Strauss’s impact has been unquestionable since arriving at Leinster from the Cheetahs as a designated ‘project’ player, in other words one which the IRFU realised could become eligible for Ireland through residency.

While Rory Best remains first-choice hooker, Strauss’s arrival into the mix has already served to shake things up with clubmate Sean Cronin dropping off the panel named by Kidney this week, and he promises much. “You guys have seen him play the last couple of years and he will be a welcome addition to the team. It is a shame for Sean Cronin as well. He offers a lot in terms of ball carrying but Declan liked something in [Strauss]. Obviously the set piece he does well and he is a dynamic ball carrier around the ruck, so it is his chance.

“Hopefully he makes the most of it because when he gets back into the Leinster set-up, Sean Cronin will be breathing down trying to get it back. It is good for Irish rugby and good for Leinster that there is that competition in some depth. You have your two hookers in Munster, [Damien] Varley and [Mike] Sherry who will be trying to prove their point too.”

Strauss wasn’t the only non-Irishman whose participation with Ireland next month caused a stir as it was also announced that Feek would again be on board as scrum coach for the November series just weeks after he declared himself out of the reckoning.

Feek played down the about-turn yesterday by pointing out it involved little more than swapping a blue tracksuit for one of a green variety.

“There were a few things going on there and they wanted clarity. I have enjoyed working with the Irish team and with Leinster. I suppose it came down to my family. We are over here and we don’t have that support around my family and we have young kids.

“It was sorting out how to do that. It is an important phase for Ireland this November and I have got a good relationship there and it ended up working out pretty well in the end.”