Only in his absence is his importance to the All Blacks genuinely appreciated.
All Blacks vs Wallabies Rugby LiveEven in the modern game, loose-head props are as influential as prominent openside flankers or quality first five-eighths.
Recent changes to the scrum laws place immense forces on the No.1′s shoulders. Anyone in this role with poor technique or lack of strength is now, more than ever, brutally exposed
All Blacks vs Wallabies RugbyOver the past 12 years, during 110 tests, Woodcock has been that cornerstone; the rock of the All Blacks’ scrum.
It’s far from glamorous, yet incredibly significant. Without a stable or dominant scrum any team virtually folds; any form of continuity is near impossible.
For the opening Rugby Championship test in Sydney on August 16, though, Woodcock is almost certain to be absent.
His shoulder injury is being given time to recover, but there is a chance it may need surgery, which would rule him out for the remainder of the season.
Make no mistake, the Wallabies will be grateful to see his name missing.
Much of the All Blacks’ 11-year stranglehold over the Wallabies, who last won the Bledisloe Cup in 2003, can be attributed to a supreme set piece and general forward pack dominance.
”That’s something we’re going to have to earn and work hard for,” All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster said yesterday as the squad, minus the Crusaders contingent, assembled for a two-day camp in Auckland.
”They’re a big pack now and they’ve made some real improvements through their set piece and ball carrying. It’s not going to be given to us.”
The Wall