Only a front rower deeply versed in the dark arts of the scrum could bring the eye of a true connoisseur to Sunday’s contest which Alexander says is “between the two best scrums at the tournament.”

“They’re two outstanding packs and a great contest and I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.

“New Zealand will be up for it because they know if they win the scrum battle they will go a long way to shutting down France,” Alexander said. France, “don’t really ever get pushed around and they don’t really know if they do start getting pushed around whether it will make them start to question the rest of their game.

“New Zealand will know that and they’ll put a lot into it. They’ll put a lot into it, shut that down and it will reverberate through the rest of the French side.”

Alexander was part of an Australian scrum which was well beaten by the All Blacks in Sunday’s semifinal at Eden Park. The steady improvement of the Wallabies scrum under coach Robbie Deans was briefly arrested as New Zealand targeted and dominated the Wallabies pack.

New Zealand pressured the Australian scrum to hamper the delivery of possession to its dangerous backline and produced a couple of concerted eight-man shoves which split the Wallaby pack and forced turnovers.

“Whether they can do it (against France) ... it will be tough,” Alexander said. “It will be a big battle but I just have so much respect for the New Zealand frontrowers as well as the French front rowers.

“(France’s) Nicholas Mas and William Servat but also (New Zealand’s) Keven Mealamu and Owen Franks are good blokes, obviously Tony Woodcock as well, so it will be an awesome battle.”

Alexander said New Zealand also had in its favor and ability to toggle easily between an expansive and a tight style of play. Their natural style was to run the ball but when circumstances demanded they had the ability, and the strength among the forward, to shut down the game and play a game of control and territory.

“New Zealand has shown that they can chop and change between the two,” he said. “They started off playing expansively and once they realize (it’s not working, they say) ‘right, no, let’s pull it back, let’s play the corners.’ And you’ve got to be able to chop and change between the two.

“You should never stop striving to play entertaining rugby. You just need to have different styles in your arsenal so you can chop and change depending on who you’re playing against and that’s something as a group we’re learning.

“I think they’re the only side in the world that can adapt to play expansive rugby or play tight rugby, they can do everything and that’s what it requires in a World Cup because ... you’re playing against so many different styles of teams.”

Alexander believes that Australia will develop that ability. He believes they will develop a world-class scrum. He believes they have the nucleus of talent, most of it youthful and finding its way in international rugby, that will make it a major force in world rugby for years to come.

But he believes securing the services of current head coach Robbie Deans is vital if Australia is to see that talent and development brought to fruition.

“It’s very easy to just go on results, his straight win-loss record you could say he’s done a good job, but he’s brought a lot of young blokes through,” Alexander said. “He’s formed a nucleus of this side and the best is yet to come.

“I think he should definitely stay on to guide the guys through that. He’s got 100 percent of the boys’ respect, he’s a great guy and he’s got a great rugby knowledge. You just look at his track record with the (Canterbury) Crusaders. I know it’s a different stage, different game but he’s the man for the job.”