Ross Stewart impressed by Cambridge scrum strength

Forwards catch coaches' eye

Ross Stewart has praised the development of Cambridge Rugby Club’s forwards as they prepare for a difficult trip to Blackheath in National League One on Saturday.

The director of rugby saw his side dig deep to earn a 26-20 win over Macclesfield last weekend, and it was at the scrum where they caught the eye, belying the difference in size to their opponents with their power.

And more of the same will be needed against third-placed Blackheath.

“I think the forwards have scrummaged really well,” said Stewart. “I have to say they probably don’t get enough credit at the moment. We’re asking quite a lot of the front row.

“We expect them to carry, we expect them to scrummage and I think most coaches would just take a scrummaging prop and anything additional as a bonus.

“We probably set the standards a bit high and expect a lot, and I think they did really well (against Macclesfield), and defensively to be honest.”

Stewart pointed to the development of the front row in the absence of two of their most experienced players.

“You think of the guys missing, Ricky (Reeves) and Sealer (Dan Seal), and these are guys that are huge scrummagers for us,” said Stewart.

“I can’t speak highly enough of David Langley, and the work he is doing at the moment.

“This lad is only two years into playing prop, and he is playing at National One level against guys that have been there and done it, and giving them a hard time. I think he has been brilliant for us.”

Stewart is also calling for Cambridge to continue to eradicate the errors that are gifting their opponents easy points.

“The positives for me is that everything we give to oppositions is us giving it to them,” he said. “If we can eliminate our error count every game by five, then I think we will probably stop them scoring a few.

“I know it sounds ridiculous, but everything comes from us. Our attack is quite natural and I think we always have that ability to turn it on.

“We’re going to work very hard on our defence and try to get that mindset.

“At the end of the day, if we can nil teams then you’re always in a game. The one thing that we’ve got over everyone else is the ability to score tries in that last 15 minutes, so if we can be in games then we can win it.

“Watching Glasgow demolish Leicester, defensively they just worked hard and the attack seemed to come easy so we will take examples like that.”