Expert
Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie has had a bullet-biting week, sacking six of his squad for one game after a boozy night out in Dublin and warning nine others, but the bullet-biting doesn’t finish there.
Tevita Kuridrani has been given a five-week suspension for a dangerous tackle in the Ireland game, and with Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nick Cummins two of the sacked six, there’s no one to wear the 13 jersey against Scotland at the weekend,
Israel Folau’s the answer.
It would mean taking the big bloke out of his comfort zone at fullback, but McKenzie hasn’t an option.
It would be a master-stroke. Folau has the size, the pace, he can beat a man, has great hands, while his defence and off-loading have improved with each game.
What makes it even more exciting is Matt Toomua, going great guns at inside centre, would have two playmakers either side of him – Quade Cooper inside and Folau outside.
Regular Roarers may well recall I suggested Folau as an inside centre when he first switched from AFL.
Coach Michael Cheika decided fullback was better, while Robbie Deans thought wing was his spot in the Wallabies.
Moving Folau to 13 gives Bernard Foley his first chance in the starting lineup at 15, a chance he thoroughly deserves.
That leaves two wing spots for Scotland between Joe Tomane, Peter Betham and Chris Feauai-Sautia, with the first two the senior players, leaving Feauai-Sautia with a bench selection.
The squad decimation hasn’t affected the first choice pack, only the bench, with Benn Robinson and Tatafu Polota-Nau to be watching from the Murrayfield stand.
So the Wallaby lineup would look like this:
(1) James Slipper
(2) Stephen Moore
(3) Sekope Kepu
(4) Rob Simmons
(5) James Horwill
(6) Scott Fardy
(7) Michael Hooper
(8) Ben Mowen (c)
(9) Will Genia
(10) Quade Cooper
(11) Peter Betham
(12) Matt Toomua
(13) Israel Folau
(14) Joe Tomane
(15) Bernard Foley
(16) Saia Fainga’a
(17) Ben Alexander
(18) Paddy Ryan
(19) Sitaleki Timani
(20) Ben McCalman
(21) Nick Phipps
(22) Christian Lealiifano
(23) Chris Feauai-Sautia
For all the drama and disruption, that side has a very positive look about it
It has flair and speed in the revamped backline.
Foley, Phipps, Betham, and Feauai-Sutia have been straining on a leash to be given a crack to show what they can do, while Alexander has the chance to get back into the good books after a couple of very ordinary games.
But Israel Folau will be the story before, during and after the game.
And Ewen McKenzie can stop bullet-biting.