The dominance of the Queensland Reds scrum in pre-season didn't come as a surprise to forwards coach Nick Stiles ahead of their Super Rugby opener against the ACT Brumbies.
While all the focus has been on who will be wearing the No.10 jersey on Friday night, the Reds' big men have been the silent improvers across summer and have impressed in both trial matches - especially in the 35-12 win over the Crusaders.
Stiles said it was a product of sheer hard work - although much more will be needed in Canberra with the battle up front against the Brumbies likely to prove decisive.
"It wasn't a shock," Stiles said of the Crusaders victory.
"We've worked really hard and we've got a lot of success from it now.
"It started for me when I got here - I identified the scrum as being a weakness of the Reds.
"Statistically we were very good last season and you saw in the back half of Super Rugby last year what a weapon it was turning into.
"We've continued that in the NRC and now the first two trial games against very good opposition, we've scrummaged well."
With Karmichael Hunt set for his first proper test at flyhalf there is an added importance to the job in front of Queensland's forwards on Friday.
Emerging Reds prop Sam Talakai, one of several forwards jostling for a starting spot, knows he will have his hands full if picked.
"They've got a pretty good pack - an all-Wallaby front row," the 23-year-old said.
"The boys have done a lot of video and drawn from their own experiences of playing with them.
"We know we've got a lot of world class backs out there and if we do a job as a forward pack, we give every chance to our backs to put points on the board."
Ex-All Blacks flanker Adam Thomson is also in line to make his first appearance in Super Rugby since departing for a stint in Japan two years ago.
Stiles said Thomson has settled well after a week in Brisbane and will bring a wealth of experience to the pack.
"He's got all the line-out calls down pat and now he's feeling comfortable enough within the group to pass on a bit of his experience to some of the young back-rowers we've got," he said.
"We're pretty excited about what he can do this year."
Meanwhile, Stiles believes the Brumbies are playing ducks and drakes over Stephen Moore, who is returning from a knee reconstruction.
Stiles said he doesn't expect the Wallabies skipper to be rushed straight back into action in a World Cup year, but the Brumbies have signalled he will play off the bench.
"They're being pretty coy and cagey and playing games that he's going to play 20 minutes," Stiles said.
"I don't think he'll play but all the chat out of the Brumbies is they're all fit and ready to play. I expect to see him then if that's the case."
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