MARLOW, England, Oct 1 (Reuter) - England are to concentrate on beefing up their front-row before tackling Australia, New Zealand and South Africa next month.
A specialist scrummaging expert, Phil Keith-Roach, was summoned to England's second training session under new coach Clive Woodward at Bisham Abbey on Wednesday with the aim of tightening up an area which has traditionally been a strength.
Neither of the two leading English props, Jason Leonard and Graham Rowntree, made a big impact for the British Lions in South Africa, and some English clubs have found themselves under pressure up front against French opposition in recent European Cup matches.
Woodward confesses not to be an expert on the intricacies of the front-row art, but his assistant John Mitchell and team manager Roger Uttley have been stressing the importance of building a secure platform for the 15-man game they want to play.
``One of the reasons New Zealand are so successful is that they scrummage very well indeed, which allows the back five to make big inroads in midfield. The scrum has become very important in international rugby again,'' said Uttley.
``We've got the facility to scrummage well, we've just got to make sure we get the combinations right.''
Woodward added: ``There are a lot of good props around, but it is a question of looking at everyone and making sure we get the selection right.''
Of the 23-man squad named for the session, six players were unable to train because of injury. Jeremy Guscott, John Bentley and Kyran Bracken have longer-term injuries, but Woodward still hopes to consider all of them for his first match in charge against Australia at Twickenham on November 15. Tim Rodber, Matt Dawson and Simon Shaw were also absent
``I can't wait to play a game and stop discussing things in theory,'' said Woodward, stressing his teams for a busy programme would be picked strictly on merit. He will not announce his captain until the team is selected and added: ``You pick the best team.
``If that means putting in a 35-year-old or a 19-year-old, I'll do that.''
England face four internationals in consecutive weeks, including two tests against New Zealand and one against South Africa on November 29.
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