Milloud ready to front up

 

Might is right: New Zealand's scrum in training

CARDIFF, 4 October - France prop Olivier Milloud knows their is no room for error when he goes head to head with the All Blacks' Carl Hayman on Saturday.

Hayman, considered the best prop in the world, is 1.93m tall and weighs 120kg but the 1.85m, 109kg Milloud is not worried about the New Zealander's height or bulk. 

"That's no more difficult than playing other physiques at this level," he said. "It may have been the case before, when small props could have caused some trouble, but not any more."

"I have never beaten them (the All Blacks) before and it's always been difficult against them. Now we can't fail in our engagement."

Collective response

For Milloud, the effort needed to challenge the might of the New Zealand scrum and the all-powerful prop will be a collective one.

"We'll have to limit the force of their engagement and try to work as a block in order to engage as quickly as they do," he said.

For his part, Hayman remains wary of the French scrum.

"If you look at the French ethos about rugby, much of it is about the scrum. There are plenty of great scrummagers around France."

With the scrum shaping up to be a key point in the fight for territorial domination, and the need for it to help the scrum half and fly half to get into good kicking positions, Milloud says the presence of number 10 Lionel Beauxis will be an advantage.

"He relieves the pressure on our forwards when he kicks the ball."

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