England unfazed by RWC rivals' controversial hooker plans
Friday 4 September 2015 15:56, UK
England forwards coach Graham Rowntree is not concerned by the prospect of uncontested scrums in the Rugby World Cup.
Pool rivals Wales and Australia have included just two hookers in their squads for the tournament, allowing space on their replacement benches for extra cover in other positions.
It is a tactic which has been criticised because the loss of the hookers to injury during a game could lead to a prop taking over in that position, which in turn would mean uncontested scrums.
England's front row is one of their strongest areas and potent weapons but although it could be neutralised in such a situation, Rowntree - who is preparing England's pack for their final warm-up match against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday - is unfazed by such strategies.
"It's not something that worries me, I've got enough to worry me with my own forwards," he said. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
"I'm not furious; what other teams do about their composition is up to them. We were always going to pick three hookers ourselves because we think that's appropriate."
Every squad must have three specialist hookers and it should be mandatory
World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward, part of Sky's commentary team this weekend, has been especially vocal in his criticism and wrote in the Daily Mail: "What is going on here is open to interpretation, but it is just so wrong. Every squad must have three specialist hookers and it should be mandatory."
Fellow Sky Sports pundit Dewi Morris feels England should have replicated it instead of selecting the three hookers they have, especially as a replacement can be named as long as the player has spent at least 48 hours with the squad prior to the match in which they are selected.
"It is a bit of brilliance, as long as you keep within the rules," said Morris. "As long as you keep within the 48-hour window when you have an injury, you can bring someone in.
"As long as you keep within the rules, it allows Wales then to put an extra second row on the bench, Ireland an extra back in there and equally Australia to get a bit more experience in there with the likes of Matt Giteau.
"It's a masterclass, an absolute masterclass and something that I think England should have followed."
Woodward feels it is unfair on spectators attending games at the tournament if uncontested scrums come into play.
"The two hookers selected by Wales and Australia will be in action every match day, potentially seven games in some shape or form each, if a team reaches the final," he said.
"Even the pool stage consists of four matches one week after another. A third specialist hooker is clearly needed to provide essential cover.
"I look at Wales and Australia naming just two hookers and I wonder if they are being really fair to their own players, let alone the opposition, and the paying public."
You can watch England's final World Cup warm-up game against Ireland on Saturday live from Twickenham, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 2.00pm
