NSW Waratahs prop Angus Bell is not one for exaggeration so when he says the Waratahs scrum is going into the season ‘red hot’, it’s music to fans' ears.
Bell is motivated to play a consistent role in the Waratahs’ revival in 2025, with his time in the sky blue jersey limited by injuries.
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Since his Test debut in 2021, the 24-year-old has played more Tests (36) than Super Rugby games (30) as he dealt with toe injuries.
“I'm super excited to be back. I love playing for the Tahs, it’s where I’m born and it’s my home,” Bell told reporters.
“The Tahs is where my father played and where I’ve played all my footy. I'm just excited to put one foot in front of the other this year.
“I'm not looking too far ahead, I just want to make sure this weekend we get a performance as a team and as a collective that we're happy with.”
Bell is excited to reunite with Dan Palmer, who served as his first scrummaging coach when he was a teenager.
“He'd come and coach me because I couldn't get coached by my dad because we'd fight,” the son of former Wallaby Mark joked.
“‘Palms' would come over and do video sessions with my old man. I've known Palms (when he was) 40 kilos heavier and long hair, he looked like a bikie member, like a Viking. I've known Palms for years and I know how quality Palms is.”
Palmer joined the Waratahs from Leicester, following Dan McKellar back from England.
The ex-Brumby did a stint with the Wallabies under Eddie Jones as lineout coach, however, his scrum expertise has been instantly beneficial to the Waratahs in Bell’s eyes.
The club had major issues in the area last year, largely down to a freakish injury crisis that saw them lose every contracted front-rower due to injury, including Bell.
Now, they’ve added Wallabies Taniela Tupou and Isaac Kailea, turning it from a weakness into a strength.
“It's crazy how good boys have got. The boys are red hot and that's coming from me,” Bell said.
“I've come back in and really had to pull my head in because those boys are really firing on all cylinders and they're super strong.
“That competition and training, it's awesome because you know that you're getting better around yourself and getting better with other players, then you can go out together and do that on the weekend and get a result for your team.
“I genuinely think he's saved a lot of boys scrummaging careers because he's a bit of a guru around it."
