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Wallaby coach Michael Cheika was quite right when he said he didn’t have to be a “rocket scientist” to select David Pocock and Michael Hooper in the Wallaby starting line-up for their World Cup opener against Fijii early tomorrow morning.
It’s even more accurate to say Cheika has no option, with Pocock and Hooper two of the world’s best backrowers in international rugby and who must start against England, Wales, and all the play-off games.
The second stringers will be on duty against Uruguay.
More Rugby World Cup:
» Early World Cup winners and losers
» Fiji’s form forces Cheika to show his hand
» Rugby World Cup fixtures
» Rugby World Cup results
» Rugby World Cup highlights
» Rugby World Cup news and opinion
The more telling question would be who would Cheika pick if there was a world-class No 8 in the Wallaby squad?
Pocock is the senior and better openside flanker of the two, which would mean Hooper would come off the bench.
Cheika didn’t see it that way in the Bledisloe decider last month, and paid the ultimate penalty with a 41-13 hammering.
There’s no way Hooper, at 182cm and 87kgs, could be No 8, but Cheika has the perfect option of Pocock’s 187cm, 115kg frame to slot in at the back of the pack.
Pocock, Hooper, Israel Folau, Stephen Moore, Will Genia, Scott Fardy, and Bernard Foley are the seven Wallabies who must start every World Cup game, with the exception of Uruguay.
If Folau isn’t the best fullback in international rugby, he’s certainly in the mix.
He’s been relatively quiet of late, but that’s the fault of the Wallaby backline not looking for him, to cut him loose. Folau is always there in support, with Kurtley Beale the best at setting him up.
With Beale on the bench tomorrow, that can and will happen. But it would be in the Wallabies’best interests to set Folau free long before that.
Take note Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Moore is one of the world’s best hookers, and an ideal captain for the Wallaby campaign. He’s an 80-minute performer in both attack and defence.
After a spate of injuries, Genia is back to his best to regain his place as a leading international halfback.
Ken Catchpole is the greatest half I’ve ever seen from any country 50 years ago, 25 years ago Nick Farr-Jones was the best in the world in his hey-day, so too George Gregan for the first half of his 139 caps.
For the latter half he was a Wallaby liability and should have been dropped for Chris Whitaker.
Gregan spent more time telling the referee how to do his job, and less time giving his backline decent service.
Pedestrian best described his service,
Fardy has blossomed in the last year as blindside flanker. His combination with Pocock and Hooper gives the Wallabies a world class backrow which will be critical over the next five weeks.
Foley is the best of the Wallaby goal-kickers, but he’s the first choice 10 on one proviso – he lands at least 80% of his shots at goal, preferably 90-100%.
With the greater bulk of World Cup referees from the northern hemisphere, penalties will abound to hand out precious points.
That’s terrible rugby, but a fact of life.
So too that Michael Cheika is the best Wallaby coach since Rod Macqueen, and he has his troops ready to fire.
Wallaby fans are ready for the ride to lift “Bill”.