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Michael Cheika cracks the second Test Wallaby whip against England

15th June, 2016
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Pick me Mike, pick me! Sean McMahon is loving life in Japan. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Expert
15th June, 2016
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Having to win the second Test against England in Melbourne on Saturday night to keep the series alive, Wallaby coach Michael Cheika has promoted James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Sean McMahon and Sam Carter to the pack.

David Pocock (eye socket), and Rob Simmons (back) were ruled out through injury, and replaced by McMahon and Carter, while Greg Holmes has been demoted to the bench, replaced by Kepu, and Scott Sio demoted to the grandstand for Slipper.

The first Test backline remains intact.

Importantly, the referees for the last two Tests will be South African Craig Joubert who controlled the 2011 Rugby World Cup final between the All Blacks and France and Welshman Nigel Owens who refereed last year’s decider between the All Blacks and Wallabies.

Thankfully, rugby fans have seen the last of French show-pony Romain Poite who blew the pea out of his whistle in the first Test, caning the Wallabies 9-2 in first half penalties,and 15-8 overall.

England’s champion goal-kicker Owen Farrell landed six penalties from six, Bernard Foley replied with two from two – more than the 39-28 difference which sealed the match for the visitors.

Another difference were the six Tests England had played to win the Six Nations Grand Slam since the Rugby World Cup and won them well, while the Wallabies hadn’t played a Test in six months.

Now the Wallaby rust has been shed, Saturday night will be on a more even playing field.

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For starters, the Wallaby front row will be far more experienced in Melbourne.

In Brisbane, the Wallaby front row of Sio, Moore, and Holmes boasted 142 caps, but Slipper, Moore, and Kepu will raise that bar to 242 caps.

And that’s where the Wallabies struck trouble with Poite – Melbourne will be different with Joubert.

Many rugby fans will think Cheika has gambled with the selection of McMahon to replace Pocock.

But there’s a method in Cheika’s madness, with McMahon a live-wire who plays well above his weight. Just as well, McMahon’s 26kgs lighter than opposite number Billy Vunipola.

I rate the Cheika decision as brilliant as playing Pocock at number 8, and while McMahon is no Pocock yet, he sure plays like him.

Carter’s selection brings the Brumbies lock pairing together with Arnold which must be another plus.

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The coach’s biggest problem will be dropping three tomorrow from the selected 11-man bench.

It’s Cheika’s intention to have a 5-3 forwards-backs bench, as against the 6-2 of the past.

That being the case, with only three bench backs selected, the three to be dropped will all be forwards.

Tatafa Polota-Nau is the only hooker selected, and there are only two props Toby Smith and Greg Holmes, so those three are safe, leaving three to go from Dean Mumm, James Horwill, Ben McCalman, Liam Gill,and Wycliff Palu.

Mumm, Gill, and Palu loom as the unlucky trio.

The squad
1 – James Slipper (75 caps)
2 – Stephen Moore capt (103)
3 – Sekope Kepu (64)
4 – Rory Arnold (1)
5 – Sam Carter (12)
6 – Scott Fardy (31)
7 – Michael Hooper (52)
8 – Sean McMahon (7)
9 – Nick Phipps (40)
10 – Bernard Foley (28)
11 – Rob Horne (30)
12 – Samu Kerevi (1)
13 – Tevita Kuridrani (32)
14 – Dane Haylett-Petty (1)
15 – Israel Folau (39)

Bench
Tatafu Polota-Nau (62)
Toby Smith (3)
Greg Holmes (25)
Dean Mumm (45)
James Horwill (62)
Ben McCalman (47)
Liam Gill (15)
Wycliff Palu (57)
Nick Frisby (1)
Christian Lealiifano (17)
Luke Morahan (1)

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