Scotland expect searching scrum exam

Pool B of Rugby World Cup 2011 is front-row heaven.

Some of the world's keenest scrummaging nations have been thrown together there to practise their dark arts.

Scotland are in the thick of it and their specialist scrum coach, Massimo Cuttitta, could not be happier.

“It’s been very good to play against teams that are physical in the scrums," he said of Scotland's two matches so far, the 34-24 win against Romania and the 15-6 victory over Georgia.

"We knew that we were coming up against really physical and strong scrum sides. Some people don’t give them their proper credit."

Scotland's next opponent is Argentina on 25 September in Wellington, with England to follow.

Concentration

Cuttitta, who played prop for Italy, said Scotland's scrum had its ups and downs in the first two matches and he was looking for more consistency and concentration.

“It’s all about concentration. What we are looking for now is consistency. Whether you are playing against the All Blacks or whether you are playing against the lowest team in the world, it’s a physical contest and you have to win the physical battles."

He said Scotland were expecting Argentina to give them a searching examination in the set piece.

“They’ve always had good tradition in the scrum. They are a team you cannot underestimate because they can come out any time with a really good scrum.

“Argentina will probably be physical and will try to turn the scrum and they’ll try all sorts of things. I think they’ll bring out other problems apart from just being physical. They are clever. What they can’t do physically they’ll try to do technically.”