Five changes isn’t enough for wounded Kangaroos

 
Gabriel Knowles Roar Pro

By , 5 May 2009 Gabriel Knowles is a Roar Pro

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Australia's Greg Inglis races away for a try during the New Zealand Kiwis v Australian Kangaroos Centenary test at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand. Sunday Oct. 14 2007. Australia won the game 58-0. AAP Image/Hagen Hopkins/PHOTOSPORT

Australia's Greg Inglis races away for a try during the New Zealand Kiwis v Australian Kangaroos Centenary test at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand. Sunday Oct. 14 2007. Australia won the game 58-0. AAP Image/Hagen Hopkins/PHOTOSPORT

If ever there was a time for the Australian selectors to break from their policy of choosing sides full of incumbents, regardless of form, this was it. The Kangaroos hardly covered themselves in glory when they lost the World Cup final to the Kiwi’s last time out.

But you wouldn’t know it after only five of them weren’t selected to play on Friday night in Brisbane.

A lot has been made already this week of the fact that the twelve incumbents have been given the chance to make amends for the their last-start loss. And on a purely emotional level, it’s hard to argue against giving them the chance.

But from a purely sporting perspective, things aren’t always quite that simple.

Of course, there’s the argument that the incumbents have already developed the vital combinations, understanding, and team spirit that are especially priceless given the short preparation time they’ve got for this game.

All well and good, but there are only so many chances at the highest level and the New Zealanders aren’t the easy beats of years gone by.

New South Wales selectors have shown just how far a complacent selection policy can take you in recent years.

The New South Wales comparison mightn’t be exactly on par with that of the Australian side, but they’ve definitely ignored some quality in-form players this time around.

New coach Tim Sheens even said so himself.

There aren’t many players in the history of the game who have had a mortgage on a representative jumper, and those that have are generally talked of as the game’s truly great players.

Scott Prince, for one, must be wondering what he has to do to get a look into any representative side despite his consistently dominant form over the last few seasons.

Another player who should feel a touch aggrieved is Trent Waterhouse.

The Panthers backrower has been in career best form this season and surely had a case for selection ahead Paul Gallen, whose discipline has started to become a real liability.

The Dragons’ Ben Creagh also put forward a good claim for a spot on form and might consider himself unlucky to have missed out to Anthony Laffranchi and Anthony Watmough.

The problem is that whatever way the selectors choose to go, there’ll always be some controversial decisions given the depth they have to pick from.

Theoretically, they could pick a number of different combinations and still be competitive. Let’s just hope they remember to take a peek at the form guide every now and then.

If anything, it’ll keep the current team looking over their shoulders.

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