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Big questions: Can Kuridrani equal Ella, should we farewell Moore for Folau?

Israel Folau is the best played in the Wallabies side after Dave Pocock - time to make him captain? (AAP Image/Tony McDonough)
Expert
2nd December, 2016
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When the Wallabies won their only Grand Slam in 1984, Mark Ella crossed for tries in all four internationals.

The current Wallabies blew their Grand Slam campaign last week by losing to Ireland, but Tevita Kuridrani dotted down to go with his tries against Wales and Scotland to be on track to match mercurial Mark’s record.

Kuridrani’s biggest problem at Twickenham early tomorrow morning will be not to bomb a Wallaby try while seeking his own.

He very nearly did just that against Ireland, taking four defenders with him with Israel Folau unmarked inside.

But Kuridrani is just one of two missions against England, with beating the men in white the other.

The Wallabies’ calendar year started with England whitewashing the Wallabies in a three-Test June series, scoring 106 points to 75.

But the Wallabies scored ten tries to nine, and it was ill-discipline that cost them the series when England landed 15 penalties to five.

That was the difference, so it’s imperative the Wallabies end the calendar year with a win – even an ugly win.

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There’s no Will Genia with Stade Francais refusing to release him outside the November window, and that’s a critical loss.

Nick Phipps regains the halfback role where he must concentrate on servicing Bernard Foley with fast accurate delivery in front of his pivot, not having to prop to haul in a high pass, or stop to gather a backward pass, both jolting momentum

If Phipps can play up to speed, the Wallaby backline will function, and click, two must factors if the Wallabies are to win.

Sadly, it will be the last time for at least a year the Wallabies will have the services of David Pocock who is about to start a year-long sabbatical.

He’s the best No 7 in the world, but because of his versatility, coach Michael Cheika has been able to use him as a world class blindside flanker, and No 8.

Michael Hooper can only play openside flanker, even though he’s not anywhere up to the Pocock standard.

avid Pocock and Michael Hooper

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There’s no Rory Arnold locking tomorrow, leaving the four-five jerseys in the capable hands of Kane Douglas and Rob Simmons, with Dean Mumm off the bench.

This should be Mumm’s last appearance in gold, as it should be Stephen Moore’s last as well.

Moore’s Wallaby position should be up for grabs by Andrew Ready, but there’s a catch,

Next year Moore will switch from a long-term Brumby to a Red, where Ready was ready to assume the hooking role.

Hopefully Cheika will take that with a grain of salt, and even if Ready is a Reds benchman, he’s selected as the Wallaby starting hooker.

Cheika’s next problem will be the new skipper. With Pocock off the scene for 12 months, and Genia not always available, the captaincy isn’t cut and dried.

It certainly mustn’t be Hooper, and that leaves Sekope Kepu, James Slipper, Simmons, Scott Fardy, and Israel Folau as contenders for the code’s top job.

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Even though it’s rare for a fullback a Wallaby skipper, Folau can be an exception as a clear rugby thinker, and with no Pocock, without peer as the Wallabies’ most talented footballer.

A forward vice-captain like Fardy could lead the men up front, while Folau guides his backline away from being so structured, but play what’s in front of them.

In short, be visionaries like the skipper.

There are exciting times ahead for the Wallabies, but first things first – beat England at the home of rugby.

There could be no better way to end the year, and no better way to spend the next six months without an international.

Then sit back and watch the brutal British media hang Eddie Jones out to dry, despite his first loss in 13 internationals.

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