At the 2015 World Cup, when the Wallabies made the final, scrum coach Mario Ledesma had Australia’s big men firing and proficient in rugby’s greatest dark art; winning scrum penalties.

Neal Hatley, who was England’s scrum coach at the 2019 World Cup when they made an impressive run to the final against South Africa, is now tasked with getting Australia’s scrum in order.

Bell, hooker Dave Porecki and Tupou are likely to be picked in Australia’s starting front row next weekend, with Will Skelton and either Nick Frost or Richie Arnold behind them in the second row.

With Bell and Tupou in the starting side, Australia overpowered France’s scrum last weekend, despite suffering a 41-17 defeat. It is worth remembering, of course, that scrums aren’t just won by props.

With James Slipper set to miss the Georgia Test with a foot injury, Bell and Tupou are eager for another big performance.

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“We’ve shown real improvement,” Hatley said. “We don’t want to be an Australian side that achieves parity and then tries to play off that. If you want to win a World Cup, you have to be dominant at set-piece. South Africa proved that in 2019.

“You won’t win any big games in this tournament unless your forward pack fronts up.”

Hatley is impressed with Bell and Tupou’s progression, ahead of what could be a career-defining few months for the latter.

“I think the biggest expectations are from him,” said Hatley of Tupou. “For him to play against one of the biggest packs in European rugby and go [for about] 65 or 68 minutes ... winning scrum penalties, carrying the ball, defending well ... I think it was a huge statement of intent from him of where he is [after his rib injury].

“We hope that he delivers what his potential is because if he does that, we’re going to have a hell of a prop that’s going to be hard to stop.

“I thought it was the best he [Bell] defended against France. I thought he scrummed exceptionally well against Uini Atonio, who’s a big man.”

Hatley was there on the infamous day in the UK in 2019 when Georgia and England players were involved in a brawl following an opposed scrummaging session.

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“That was what you might refer to now as probably old-school training sessions, with a little bit of biff,” Hatley said. “It was a good, tough session and we’re trying to replicate that with our boys, with the Australian pack.

“This is not about stopping Georgia. This is about imposing ourselves.”

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