How the Wallabies should line up in the Rugby Championship

Well, it isn’t really next week, but a couple of months turnaround after a demoralising loss to the Lions might just antagonise the Wallabies a little bit.

Australia was out-muscled, out-enthused and overall- out played. 41-16 and counting at one stage.

They were beaten by a better side, no excuses.

As a spectator, it was most disappointing to see a good team go down the way they did, given that they knew for a long time this night could well happen, and they folded in the worst way possible.

They put themselves in a position to win the first Test, won the second.

Our worst was good enough in the second Test, were we really that naïve to think it would be good enough again?

I know the Wallabies didn’t plan to play like that, but they did, and regardless of how you look at it, Robbie Deans didn’t have a great track record as Wallabies coach.

When he has had the reigns of the Wallabies, Australia has lost to Scotland and Samoa, two sides we should beat when we are 80 percent.

We lost to Ireland at the 2011 Rugby World Cup which ultimately, if you look at it, cost us a birth in the final.

If we had won, I would like to believe we would have beaten the likes of Wales and France.

If we want to catch the All Blacks, we can’t drops games like the Samoan and Scottish matches. The All Blacks just don’t.

I thought throughout the series the Wallabies had played some good rugby, and as much as people criticised James O’Connor, I thought he played well, but fly-half just isn’t his position.

O’Connor should play on the wing, he has played some good rugby on the wing for Australia and I was surprised he was chosen at 10.

The rest of the back-line was good. I thought Tomane had a solid couple of matches despite his awful missed tackles late in the decider.

Phil Kearns stated after the match that Tomane and O’Connor are great players, but they have to play in a team, or words to that effect.

Given the fact that the Wallabies lost the series, changes must be made for the Rugby Championship.

The changes I have identified don’t mean we’ll win, but it means that I will feel satisfied that the Wallabies have pitched their best team.

My team for our opening match would be:

1. Benn Robinson
Best prop Australia has, was excellent throughout the whole Lions series, made a few errors, but I feel he is the key to a successful scrum and brutal breakdown.

2. Stephen Moore
His running game is fantastic, he was much better than Hibbard and Youngs in the series. He is not a liability at scrum-time and is active at the breakdown.

3. Sekope Kepu
I understand Ben Alexander hasn’t played 50 tests for Australia for no reason, but Kepu for mine has been a quiet achiever for Australia. His physical dominance at scrum-time will be key factor, I believe Kepu is a better starting option for Australia.

4. Rob Simmons
He plays with Horwill at the Reds, and, rightly or wrongly serves as a plus for Australia, he was active when he was on the field in the Lions series.

5. James Horwill (Captain)
Instrumental, overcame all off-field distractions to give 110 percent in all three Tests. He resorted to tears after the win in Melbourne, that just shows how much he cares about this team.

6. Ben Mowen
Waited a long time to get a crack, he shut down Philips at every given opportunity in the series, and played extensive game time. He lead the line out and ran strongly, stick with him at blindside.

7. David Pocock
If he recovers and proves his fitness in time, David Pocock is the key to a successful rugby championship, There shall be no Smith, and despite Hooper being a shining light for the Wallabies, Pocock’s ability to win the ball is quite simple amazing.

8. Wycliff Palu
I wasn’t sure whether Mowen, Higginbotham or Palu would get the number 8 job for Australia this series. However, an injury to Higginbotham and Mowen being selected at blindside resulted in big Cliffy being the only liable option.

He was excellent in the series. I wasn’t convinced about Palu as a Wallaby, but after his performance in such a high-stakes event, he is now a main-stay.

9. Will Genia
This guy’s ability under the high ball is amazing, his vision is second to none, he is simple the best scrum-half in the world, enough said.

10. Quade Cooper
Can’t help but feel he is a double-or-nothing kind of player. The thing with Quade is, a double is a triple and a triple is enough to win a rugby match.

A nothing, and he has 22 other blokes to help him out. His talent alone should be enough to constantly keep him in consideration, and two or three good performances for the Reds should prove him to be the best option for the Wallabies at fly-half.

11. James O’Connor
O’Connor is not a 10. His ability in traffic is incredible, and his kicking game can at times be lethal, but he is not the guy I feel should be kicking the ball constantly, waste of his running game and waste of a player to be honest.

That’s with no disrespect to O’Connor, but it just isn’t his position.

12. Christian Lealiifano
I don’t think taking the All Blacks approach of picking a second ten is a great idea, and ultimately- I don’t think it will work.

But Lealiifano’s ability to defend, run, kick and goal-kick makes him a complete inside centre. As well as cover for number 10.

13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
He just doesn’t let anyone down, he can play anywhere in the back-line and do a good job at it. Ashley-Cooper’s ability to run and defend is something the All Blacks, Springboks and Pumas will be aware of.

14. Israel Folau
X-factor. He provides a bit of spark out wide. Regardless of whether or not he is a ‘code-hopper,’ whatever sport he plays, he should play the highest level. Absolute freak.

15. Kurtley Beale
Beale’s ability to turn a match is uncanny, he can goal-kick, is safe under the high ball and offers some stability in attack. Defensively sound and provides another option for general play kicking.

Replacements

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
If fit, his defense will prove ever so handy. His line-out throws need work, but I believe he is the most robust, capable and ultimately best option to partner Stephen Moore in the hooking role.

17. James Slipper
Big Slipper can play tight or loosehead. He is dominant at the breakdown. He is handy off the bench and consistency is his main strength.

18. Ben Alexander
Come on, you didn’t expect me to leave a 50-test veteran out of the side all-together?

Whilst Corbisiero found Alexander out at scrum-time in the decider, the way in which Alexander took care of Vunipola in Melbourne was terrific, if he get’s his scrummaging right, he will become a dominant prop.

19. Sitaleki Timani
Kane Douglas is stiff to miss out, but I like the robust antics of Timani. His involvement is his main strength and is defensively strong. As mentioned, he robustness is a massive key to his selection.

20. Michael Hooper
The opportunities this man was given this series were once in a lifetime, and he handled them all too well. He was excellent at the break down, and was one of Australia’s best in defence and attack.

I am a huge fan of Liam Gill, but I think Hooper is the ideal man to partner Pocock at open side. He also provided a bit of versatility as he played at inside centre for some of the first Test.

21. Nic White
If fit, Nic White must partner Will Genia at scrum half. Phipps was average in the game time he was given in the series. White’s vision and dynamic ability would provide a headache for the opposition off the bench.

22. Rob Horne
Australia do need a centre that can act as a battering ram. Horne’s defence is terrific, and although he wasn’t given a great chance in the Lion’s series, I think Horne is a good option for Australia on the bench. He provides some dynamic dimensions in attack.

23. Jesse Mogg
Mogg’s kicking game when he came on was terrific, he can play anywhere in the back line and provides a good general play kicking option.

Berrick Barnes and Scott Higginbotham that spring to mind that are unlucky to miss out.

As mentioned before, Deans’ coaching record isn’t wonderful. I think he is a good coach, but isn’t suited to Australian rugby.

The Wallabies need an Aussie, a successful Aussie, with a competitive attitude. Ewen Mackenzie is the best fit for mine.

Australia need to focus on the set-pieces if they are a chance of winning the Rugby Championship. As well as getting it out to their back and playing out wide a bit more.

Bring on the Rugby Championship!