Wallabies facing a week on set pieces

THE Wallabies face plenty of set-piece schooling as they try to fix scrum and lineout woes hampering their efforts to become regular winners.

The Wallabies’ scrum has been exposed in Rugby Championship matches against New Zealand and South Africa, and will receive another big test in Saturday’s clash with Argentina in Canberra.

In the 23-23 draw with the Springboks in Perth on Saturday night, the Wallabies’ scrum was wheeled several times as Australia’s forwards struggled to match it with the power of the South Africans.

Coach Michael Cheika said the scrum and the lineout needed attention this week.

Cheika is confident he has a quick fix for the lineout, which had been reasonably strong until the Springboks game when crooked throws and opposition lock Eben Etzebeth combined to cause big issues.

But it could be harder to find a fix for the scrum issues.

“There were some really good ones, and some very poor ones,” said Cheika of the scrummaging performance.

“We didn’t stick to the trademarks of what we want to do, and we paid the penalty.

“It was a bit of inconsistency in the way we got set for the scrum. I thought there were one or two really bad ones.”

Cheika also wants his team to improve their work around the breakdown.

“We struggled to give ourselves clean ball and quick ball,” he said.

A major positive was the continued hot form of inside centre Kurtley Beale, who sliced through South Africa’s defence to score a first-half try.

“He’s been unbelievable since he’s come back,” Cheika said “For a guy who hasn’t played footy since May, he’s come in and played three full games of footy and killed them.”

Argentina is winless after three Rugby Championship games but gave the All Blacks a scare on Saturday night.

Argentina held a 22-15 lead in the second half, before the All Blacks clicked into gear to record a 39-22 win.