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Roarers that regularly visit this site for their monthly, weekly, daily, hourly or even by-the-minute rugby fix, will know that I’m not the biggest fan of a number of Michael Cheika’s selections.
Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale have been a constant source of cringe when I think of the talent that has been left behind to make room for these guys to represent Australia.
While Douglas and Mumm continue to provide no reason for a change of heart, the others have dished up a large serving of humble pie, which I have no choice but to consume after their efforts against England.
Let’s start with Hooper, a lightweight by international forward standards, whom I’ve often accused of handicapping the forward pack by playing too loose and having little influence despite his high work rate.
This was certainly the case at the back-end of 2014, and maybe he was just a little tired at the end of a long Super Rugby title-winning season, but so far this year Hooper has been first class.
It can’t help that he’s a foot too short and a few kilograms too light to do any real damage, but for a guy his size he punches well above his weight. The way he’s getting stuck into opposition runners I’m sure they’re thankful he’s not any bigger.
I still think George Smith would be David Pocock’s ultimate partner in crime, particularly in the knockout stages where his superior range of skills, leadership and decision-making would be more important than Hooper’s speed. But if Hooper keeps playing the way he is, he won’t be letting anyone down.
I’ll also concede that the back row isn’t as imbalanced as I suspected with Hooper at No.7. Pocock has transitioned seamlessly from No.7 to No.8 and one day we may even look back and label this a Cheika masterstroke in the same way Rod Macqueen shifted Stephen Larkham from 15 to 10.
Next is Foley, whom I’d been particularly critical of in the lead-up to the England Test. Despite plenty of chances, he simply hadn’t shown anything to suggest he could trouble the opposition and I was firmly in the Quade Cooper camp for Australia’s first choice flyhalf.
Not that Cooper had been setting the world alight, but at least we knew he was capable of controlling the game as he did prior to injury in 2013. Foley had never produced that level of performance, and frankly never looked like he was capable of doing so.
That was until Saturday, when ‘the playmaker who doesn’t make plays’ dumped an emu-sized egg on my face with a first half performance that was as good as anything I’ve seen from Cooper at his best. Bravo.
That brings us finally to Mr Beale. I wasn’t sure why he was even in the squad. Behavioural issues aside, he simply hadn’t performed at international level since 2011 and his defence remained as bad as it gets in Test rugby. I cringed when Rob Horne went down early and Beale came on to replace him.
Within minutes I was given another serve of humble pie when Beale smashed an Englishman to the ground in his first contact – and it was a proper tackle too, not one of those flying hugs he normally dishes out, barely slowing his man down before being brushed off.
And just to prove it was no fluke, he put on a few more hits during the game that were equally impressive. Yeah, yeah he did miss one that led to a try, but on the whole that was the best defensive effort I think we’ve ever seen from Beale, and he wasn’t too shabby in attack either.
With potentially four games left and the possibility of winning a little trophy they call ‘Bill’, I’m really hoping for another four large servings of humble pie. Because it tastes so good!
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.