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Let’s make one fact crystal clear from the get-go, Daryl Gibson is no Michael Cheika.
Nothing wrong with that, each to their own.
But when it comes to the Waratahs winning Super Rugby games, the difference becomes important.
Gibson was Cheika’s second in command at the Waratahs for the last three years while Cheika coached the Waratahs to the Super title for the first time in 19 years. He did this in just his second year, and he made the semis in his third before he became full-time Wallabies coach.
Gibson took over as Waratahs coach this season with a current two wins and three losses.
Tonight at Allianz, the Waratahs must beat their arch rival Brumbies to stay alive. A loss and the Waratahs are history just six games into the tournament.
That’s huge pressure, so what has Gibson done with his squad?.
He’s selected Australia’s best fullback Israel Folau at outside centre where he has never played before, picking rookie Alan Kellaway as fullback for just his second game.
Guess who will be Brumby bombarded all night?
The Waratahs scrum has been butchered lately, so did Gibson go for experience to counter the Brumbies’ pack?
Not on your life.
With prop Paddy Ryan (67 Super caps), flanker Dave Dennis (97), and No 8 Wycliff Palu (125) on the bench, Gibson has gone for Tom Robertson (3), Jack Dempsey (8) and Jed Holloway (9) in the starting line-up.
That’s 289 caps on the bench, and 20 in the run-on side.
Four extraordinary Gibson selections, begging the question has the coach snapped, or is he a genius-in-waiting?
We won’t know that answer until about 9.30 tonight, but it’s one hell of a punt.
Brumbies coach Steve Larkham has taken the more normal selection route.
As a result, the Brumbies have a massage advantage in the experience stakes.
In the forwards, the Brumbies have 599 Super caps, the Waratahs 408.
In the backs, again the Brumbies have the advantage with 440 to 372.
But because Gibson turned his back on available selections, the Waratahs have by far the more experienced bench – 376 to 105.
In the overall there’s not much in it with the Waratahs slightly in front with 1156 to 1144.
It will boil down to how the Waratahs play before Gibson calls on his bench.
That’s a really big punt.