Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie admits the NSW Waratahs’ Super Rugby title win has given him “selection headaches” over his backs, but has stopped short of indicating whether he’ll tweak things.
Besides No.10 Bernard Foley, the Wallabies’ inner and midfield backline is dominated by Brumbies players.
Nic White is the incumbent scrumhalf, Matt Toomua wears the No.12 jersey, and Tevita Kuridrani plays at outside centre.
Yet the strong performances of the Waratahs backs in Super Rugby’s latter stages have presented McKenzie with a conundrum ahead of the Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney on August 16.
Halfback Nick Phipps put on a sterling defensive effort in both the semi-final and final, Kurtley Beale lit up the park at inside centre, while No.13 Adam Ashley-Cooper’s two tries in the final earned him the man-of-the-match award.
“There’s always selection headaches,” McKenzie said.
“The Waratahs have done a fantastic job, we recognise that, we recognise form.
“They go about their business a certain way, we do things a little bit differently.
“We’ll go through the business of selections and announce a team next week.”
With Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins off to Japan, it’s likely Ashley-Cooper will stay on the wing for the Wallabies due to a lack of depth in the position, while Toomua’s strong performances for the Brumbies should see him hold off a surge in form from Beale – who is listed in the squad as a No.10.
That leaves Phipps as the most likely Waratahs back to earn a starting spot – especially when one looks at his blossoming partnership with Foley.
Incumbent White performed extremely well for the Wallabies in the clean sweep of France in June, and was instrumental for the Brumbies in their knockout matches against the Western Force and Chiefs, but was outplayed by Phipps in the semi-final.
McKenzie, however, was giving nothing away.
“(Phipps) has done nothing wrong. All you can do is go out and play well every week,” McKenzie said.
“It’s up to the selectors to work out what we need in the circumstances.
“The difficulty for us is that some players will miss out.”
The 11 Waratahs in the 32-man Test squad joined their Wallabies teammates in Bathurst on Wednesday for the Bush2Bledisloe campaign drive.
Both Toomua and White welcomed the competition created by their rivals.
“Maintaining combinations can only help a team,” Toomua said.
“Whether that’s the Waratahs’ combinations or what we went with in the (France) Test series – I don’t know.
“But to have those guys playing well and pushing for spots is only a positive.”
The Bledisloe is almost here!
Tickets are on sale to what is shaping as a absolute blockbuster at ANZ Stadium (get yours here). After a cracking Super Rugby final, this promises to be epic.There’s also plenty happening in the lead-up to the game, with the Bledisloe Cup Festival a chance for true rugby supporters to get together.
And if you’re looking to introduce yourself to a few of the players, the Bledisloe Bay is your best bet on Thursday 14th August. Check it out!
Ben.S
Roar Guru
I don't think starting the 3rd Test against a French side already 2-0 down suggests that Skelton is nailed down to start a Bledisloe Test. He's the 3rd choice 4 lock at the Tahs and his fitness levels aren't even good enough at Super level.
bennalong
Guest
Horne IS a better defender
Cadfael
Roar Guru
As a Tahs supporter nothing would please me more than see a stack of them in the Wallabies. However, we are talking Wallabies not Waratahs. It is not Michael Cheika but Ewen McKenzie who coaches the team and he has his views on what he wants from the side. Good as the Tahs are, there are four other Australian sides with some very good footballers there. On form, White deserves his spot. He is the incumbent. Yes he had a poorish game in game 2 against France but he wasn't on his Pat Malone. The only changes in the backline should be for injury or unavailability so Tomane or Horne in. However, neither of these two are what could be called real speedsters. A move mooted by other Roarers is to play Beale on the wing. Could be a goer that one. To those who want to move Folau to the wing, I take it you are AB supporters. As an old league coach, Jack Gibson, once said "You don't weaken one position to strengthen another".
Justin3
Guest
He offers more drooped ball and missed tackles Combesy and more poor kicks :)
Justin3
Guest
No Beale at 15 thank you, we have the best in the world just about, why move him to put a guy who drops plenty of bombs and wont make the tackle in the last line. His kicking is also no better than Folau's, Id arghue worse in fact.
Combesy
Roar Guru
you're a drunk if you think beale offers more than folau..
true fact
Guest
I like the look of that team PeterK, my only difference of opinion is that Horwill will be resurgent this year. Unsure about Genia unfortunately.
Markus
Guest
I'd say Horne may have the better acceleration over a short distance (though McCabe has really stepped up his acceleration this season) but McCabe definitely has it over Horne for top end speed.
Bunratty
Guest
Yes, a completely different and better player. Having said that, it looks as though EM will throw the wing spot to P. McCabe. Probably not much between them...but Horne may have more speed?
hoqni
Guest
Phipps/foley/toomua will mean quiet AB backline set play
Bunratty
Guest
:)
Louie
Guest
Beale is playing well but until he learns to get his shoulder behind a tackle he is a bench player only. It is totally unacceptable for a professional not to be able to defend, it's like a tennis player that can't return serve. Imagine what they would do to him in league? He either learns to tackle or he has no place at the top level in either code. Can't see NSW or the Kangaroos hiding him in defence, he's not a million $ club player.
Max Power
Guest
Tomane pushed him off with not much trouble in the semi.
Xenomorph
Guest
9) Phipps/Genia 10) Foley 11) Folau/Speight 12) Toomua 13) AAC 14) Speight/Folau 15) Beale 21) Genia/Phipps 22) Cooper 23) McCabe/Kurindrani/Godwin
Xenomorph
Guest
Thats why you push Folau onto the wing and put beale at 15. Beale cant tackle so put him where teams often put players that are weak on defence. Beale is excellent as a guy who can create from the back or first receiver so put him where teams mainly put such players (see SA and le Roux, Sco and Hogg, Arg and Hernandez). Aus is short of quality wings now that Cummins, JOC, Ioane and a few others are out. Folau would be an excellent wing and it allows Beale a position in the starting line up. It allows Aus to have 2 reserve players on the bench that dont have to cover any particular position at all. Everyone keeps saying Beale shouldnt play 12 and he doesnt, sure thats the number he wears but he isnt playing anything like Fofana, Roberts, Nonu, de Villiers, SBW, Burrell, D'arcy etc. Quite simply, he is not playing "inside centre" but he is playing "flyhalf". So yeah Beale shouldnt play inside centre and he doesnt.
Lostintokyo
Guest
Horne on the wing this year is a different player. Great defense and good attack. No comparison to the Deans era Horne. Glad to say.
Johnno
Guest
As shown with Alan Langer/Kevin Walters example at club footy, Rep-footy is a different ball-game and you don't base club combinations on being certain things in rep-footy, different styles of footy, different players in the team, different opposition, etc.
Johnno
Guest
9)Nick White, who has by the way played a bit with Foley there similar players and get on well, there good mates, better than what Foley/Phipps are. Nick white and Foley have more chemistry In my view, they just don't play as much these days, but were sevens teammates and played well last wallaby test. It's like in RL, Alan Langer/Kevin Walters were good combo, but in SOO, Wally Lewis or Peter Jackson got the nod to play with Alf. 10)Foley 11)Tomane 12)Toomua 13)Kuridrani 14)AAC 15)Folau Backs Bench: Phipps,KB,Horne(who can play I/C,O/C,or wing) or play Mccabe on bench CLL needs to get his kicking form back to be considered.
PeterK
Roar Guru
agree with that
PeterK
Roar Guru
whoops sorry 20 McCalman 21 White 22 Beale / Tomane 23 McCabe