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Adam Coleman is a long-overdue Wallaby selection

23rd June, 2016
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The Force are coming off a short turnaround when they take on the Reds in Brisbane. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Expert
23rd June, 2016
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Bobby Dwyer is a renowned judge of rugby flesh. The former Wallabies coach selected John Eales in the 1991 World Cup squad after just seven Super Rugby games for Queensland.

Eales was a sensation to win at Twickenham, and went on to captain the 1999 Rugby World Cup side to victory to become an Australian sporting icon, and Wallabies legend.

Dwyer had the same gut feeling about giant lock Adam Coleman two years ago, suggesting if the Wallabies were going to win the 2015 World Cup, Coleman had to be selected at the time.

“He’s another John Eales,” was Dwyer’s prediction.

Michael Cheika didn’t take any notice, even though Coleman was right under his nose when Cheika was Waratahs coach.

Coleman played the last ten minutes of the Waratahs’ game against the Force when Kane Douglas was on Wallabies duty against the British and Irish Lions.

And that was his only appearance for the Waratahs.

But the Force were impressed and Coleman has been there ever since using his 208-centimetre and 122-kilogram frame to advantage.

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Yesterday Cheika recognised Coleman on the Wallabies’ third Test bench to meet England at Allianz on Saturday night.

When Coleman takes the field he will become the first Tasmanian-born Wallaby in 895 caps.

Better late than never.

From the second Test squad, locks Rory Arnold and Sam Carter, inside centre Samu Kerevi, along with bench lock James Horwill and winger Luke Morahan have missed selection altogether – while backrower Ben McCalman is injured.

Will Skelton returns from oblivion, and will lock in with Rob Simmons who was dropped for the second Test. Coleman takes Horwill’s spot, Taqele Naiyaravoro replaces Morahan.

Veteran No.8 Wycliff Palu replaces McCalman, and hopefully Palu will rip and tear for every minute he’s on the field.

The hard to fathom selection is the dumping of Kerevi – what has the Fijian done wrong in his first two Test appearances?

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Absolutely nothing.

In comes Matt Toomua who isn’t as hard a runner as Kerevi.

Nor has Toomua played a game for the Brumbies since he was injured at the start of May.

Not only will Toomua be well short on match-play, but he’s not a link-man to send Tevita Kuridrani on his way, or combine with Israel Folau chiming in from fullback.

It’s a strange selection. But there are other selections that are hard to fathom.

Skipper Stephen Moore and halfback Nick Phipps were instrumental in losing so badly last week, and lock Dean Mumm did nothing off the bench,

And it’s not for the first time for the trio.

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If Cheika was selecting purely on form, the three of them wouldn’t be on duty at Allianz.

Last week it was the Wallabies trying to save the series, this week it’s to avoid a humiliating whitewash.

Another loss and the Wallabies who take the field defending the Rugby Championship will look very different.

The Wallabies’ third Test squad:

1. James Slipper (76 caps)
2. Stephen Moore capt (104)
3. Sekope Kepu (65)
4. Will Skelton (16)
5. Rob Simmons (61)
6. Scott Fardy (32)
7. Michael Hooper (53)
8. Sean McMahon (8)

9. Nick Phipps (41)
10. Bernard Foley (29)
11. Rob Horne (31)
12. Matt Toomua (31)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (31)
14. Dane Haylett-Petty (2)
15. Israel Folau (40)

16. Tatafa Polota-Nau (63)
17. Scott Sio (17)
18. Greg Holmes (28)
19. Adam Coleman (debut)
20. Dean Mumm (46)
21. Wycliff Palu (57)
22. Nick Frisby (2)
23. Christian Lealiifano (17)
24. Taqele Naiyaravoro (1)

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One is to be omitted from the bench – it would have to be Mumm.

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