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Wallaby coach Michael Cheika has delayed naming his squad for the big clash with the All Blacks until the day before the game.
With so much interest in whether the All Blacks can extend their winning streak to a record 18, or the Wallabies can break a 30-year drought at Eden Park, the All Blacks named their squad two days ago.
Cheika’s reasoning for the delay is his indecision as to which three locks of Adam Coleman, Rory Arnold, Kane Douglas, and Rob Simmons should fill the starting combination and the bench position. But this doesn’t hold any water.(Click to Tweet)
After nine Tests this campaign for only three wins, the coach should be well versed as to his intentions.
There’s also some indecision as to whether David Pocock and Sean McMahon have overcome their injuries to figure in selections.
But both are experienced and professional enough to have their opinions trusted.
With no Genia, back on Stade Francais duty, there could also be indecision as whether to start Nick Phipps or Nick Frisby as halfback, judging by Phipps’ very ordinary form and unacceptable behaviour in recent Tests.
But none of those alternatives are valid excuses for Cheika delaying the naming of his 23-man squad.
The last time he delayed was acceptable for the vital Rugby World Cup clash with Wales at Twickenham last year.
Champion fullback Israel Folau was in serious doubt with an ankle injury, with Kurtley Beale on standby to start.
Flanker Michael Hooper was suspended for a game foul play, leaving Cheika with Ben McCalman or Sean McMahon as alternatives.
And winger Rob Horne was in doubt, even though he wouldn’t be a starter.
In the end, Cheika settled on Folau and McMahon to play, with McCalman and Beale on the bench for what turned out to be one of the Wallabies most sustained defensive feats of all time.
Genia was sin-binned in the 56th minute, and lock Dean Mumm in the 59th, leaving the Wallabies with just 13 men for seven minutes at a critical stage.
In that time of desperation, the Wallabies try line was hammered by 15 Welshmen time after time with the scoreline 12-6 in the Wallabies’ favour.
The Wallaby defence was as impregnable as it was awesome with the Wallabies running out 15-6 winners in a tense try-less game with Bernard Foley landing five penalties to Dan Bigger’s two to top their Pool. This allowed them to qualify for the Rugby World Cup quarters on the opposite side of the draw to the All Blacks and the Springboks.
Maybe this delay will be an omen for the Wallabies to break the Eden Park hoodoo?
It’s high time.
I expect Cheika to end up with this squad, that could so easily have been named at least a day ago.
1 – Scott Sio.
2 – Stephen Moore (c).
3 – Sekope Kepu.
4 – Rory Arnold.
5 – Adam Coleman.
6 – Scott Fardy.
7 – Michael Hooper.
8 – David Pocock.
9 – Nick Phipps.
10 – Quade Cooper.
11 – Reece Hodge.
12 – Bernard Foley.
13 – Samu Kerevi.
14 – Dean Haylett-Petty.
15 – Israel Folau.
16 – Tolu Latu.
17 – James Slipper.
18 – Tom Robertson.
19 – Rob Simmons.
20 – Sean McMahon.
21 – Ben McCalman.
22 – Nick Frisby.
23 – Tevita Kuridrani.