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With less than a year until the eighth Rugby World Cup to be held in England and Wales, is it too early for a diehard rugby fan to speculate on the secret recipe to bringing a third Webb Ellis Cup home to Australian shores?
In order to make the finals the Wallabies will have to conquer potentially the toughest pool of the tournament, which boasts rugby powerhouses England and Wales, the Fijians, who are always a threat around World Cup time, and Uruguay.
Funnily enough, the Wallabies have never lost a World Cup in the UK, however this will be no comfort for Michael Cheika and his men who have recently returned from their worst Spring Tour since 2005, in which they were defeated by France, England and Wales.
I’m a massive fan of Cheika’s coaching and I believe that more time spent with the group will see the attacking flamboyant style of rugby introduced in Europe developed. Loose ends in regards to defensive woes should be tightened up in time for the World Cup
Here is my side to rain on England’s parade next year, just as they did to us so painfully in 2003.
1. James Slipper
First of all, congrats on a well deserved Rugby Union Players’ Association Medal for Excellence. Slipper deserves a shot at next year’s Rugby World Cup and hopefully can be an integral figure in the amendment of the Wallabies’ horrid scrum form on the Spring Tour.
2. Stephen Moore
Selected by Ewen McKenzie to captain the Wallabies in 2014, Moore should return to the field at full fitness after an ACL injury in his first Test as captain. He edges out Saia Fainga’a due to experience.
3. Sekope Kepu
While the scrum woes on the recent Spring Tour reeked a little too much of similar issues faced by an Australian scrum at Twickenham in 2005, I still believe Sekope Kepu is the right man for the task. The entire forward pack should be blamed for recent scrummaging problems, not just the front three.
4. Will Skelton
After only his second season in Super Rugby and at the tender age of just 22, I feel as though Skelton’s up and down form in the green and gold will only improve after another season under Cheika at the Waratahs.
From an opposition stand point he’s a player you would prefer not to have to deal with and he can provide an impact for a forward pack that at times lacks that punch. His ability to offload will also enhance Australia’s second phase play, with our back line sure to benefit.
5. Rob Simmons
Not many 25-years-olds already have 50 international caps under their belt but this man does and there is no wonders why. Rob is a rock at set piece time – an area that Australia has continually struggled in.
6. Michael Hooper
Having led from the front and given nothing but blood and sweat for the jersey, Hooper is a must have for the Wallabies. His tough style of rugby is perfect for matching the brutality of bigger packs such as England.
7. David Pocock
Potentially I’m being a little too wishful here, but I have every bit of faith that Pocock will be doing everything in his power to return to the Wallabies fold and escape the frustrating injury troubles that have plagued him over the last two seasons.
At the top of his game he was best on the field ever week and one of the few players in the world to come close to having Richie McCaws’ number. I would play him at blindside flanker, playing Hooper at openside.
8. Scott Higginbotham
A hard man who will fight until the death, Higginbotham’s aggression in contact is great to watch and he is one of the best ball runners in Australian rugby.
9 and 10. Will Genia-Quade Cooper or Nick Phipps-Bernard Foley
The reason I have paired these two pivotal positions together is because there are two options, the first being Will Genia and Quade Cooper, the second Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley.
The wallabies slow ball reception and miscommunication demonstrates to me that having a pre-existing partnership is an absolute must. Even if this means sacrificing a stronger player in one position for the sake of a combination. Think to the Josh Reynolds-Trent Hodkinson combination for NSW in this year’s State of Origin.
11. Nick Cummins
He provides an immense amount of heart and bats well and truly above his weight, but above all he’s a very talented athlete and has a knack for ‘bagging meat’.
12. Kurtley Beale
I anticipate this selection may attract some shakes of the head, but in my opinion his combination with Israel Folau is the key to upsetting the defensive systems of opposing sides.
While there may be more sturdy options such as Matt Toomua, they do not boast the same ability to terrorise enemy lines like this man. If he fires, and I admit there is always the ‘if’, he will be a key figure in Australia’s Rugby World Cup campaign and I believe that Cheika is the right man to bring the best out of Kurtley.
13. Tevita Kuridrani
I nicknamed this 100-plus kilogram beast ‘Mr man of the match’ this year. At times it seemed as though he continually accepted the honour after breathtaking performances on a tour that most others would want to forget.
14. James O’Connor
As a massive fan of Brumbies duo Joe Tomane and Henry Speight, it wasn’t easy including James in my 15, but if reports out of the UK and France are true in regard to O’Connor improving both as a player on the field and as a person off the field are true, then his selection is inevitable.
This kid is talented beyond belief and I believe he has the potential to be a great, the Rugby World Cup may be his chance to redeem himself.
15. Israel Folau
The first name I typed, to me he provides the x-factor that the Wallabies really need. He boasts the potential to take half chances and creates opportunities that can win big games, he must receive more pill than he has in 2014 though.
Men of interest
Karmichael Hunt
As a fan of Karmichael and of what he has achieved as an athlete, I am very excited to see what 2015 offers for him. He appeared to pick up rugby unnaturally quickly in his time at Biarritz, but that shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone as he is simply a natural athlete, dominating rugby league from a young age while at the Broncos.
I refuse to be shocked if in six months we are watching in awe as he graces the World Cup pitches. He will be far more comfortable in rugby union then in AFL, and could very well make a rapid rise to the top of the sport. Sound familiar?
Sean McMahon
Couldn’t have been more impressed with this kid on the Spring Tour. He’s an absolute talent and a real rib rattler in defence, I like him a lot and I hope he plays a big part in Rugby World Cup 2015.
How good is it that we can begin to talk rugby already in December, isn’t the lead up to the World Cup the funnest part?
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the read and feel free to leave your opinion, although I’m sure we will all have many changes of heart between now and tournament kick off in September 2015.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.