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While Micheal Cheika’s appointment as Wallaby coach was the best option for Australian rugby under the circumstances, his dual role as head of the Waratahs will no doubt create some conflicts of interest – perceived or otherwise.
Ewen McKenzie showed no favouritism toward his former Reds players, selecting his XV largely on a combination of form and who he thought was best placed to deliver his game plan.
He unceremoniously dropped James Horwill and Will Genia from the XV, and occasionally from the 23 altogether.
Even Quade Cooper was left on the bench in favour of Bernard Foley, who failed to impress, opening the door for Cooper who grabbed the opportunity with both hands and excelled against the All Blacks in Bledisloe 3 and the 2013 end of year tour.
Will Cheika show the same independence in selections? We’ll find out soon enough. One thing is for sure – he has some very tough and potentially polarising selection decisions to make, particularly at 7 and 10.
One way to help overcome the selection bias is to pick his 23 from non-Waratah players and then look at which spots would be materially improved by injecting some blue blood.
I’ve had a crack at this exercise with the assumption that this is a World Cup team and players like David Pocock and James O’Connor are available.
1. James Slipper
2. Stephen Moore
3. Paul Alo-Emile
4. Rob Simmons
5. James Horwill
6. Scott Fardy
7. David Pocock
8. Scott Higginbotham (c)
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Joe Tomane
12. Matt Toomua
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Henry Speight
15. James O’Connor (vc)
16. Scott Sio
17. Saia Fainga’a
18. Laurie Weeks
19. Luke Jones/Sam Carter/Sam Wykes/Caydern Neville
20. Matt Hodgson
21. Nic Frisby/Nic Stirzaker
22. Christian Lealiifano/Kyle Godwin
23. Samu Kerevi/Karmichael Hunt
That’s a strong side, capable of doing Australia proud.
I struggled to pick a reserve lock, so named a bunch of guys I think could step up if given the opportunity.
Similarly with the halfback, either Nic could do the job for the last 15 minutes to close out a game when Genia is knackered.
I’ve also thrown in Godwin and Hunt as options as they’re clearly talented players but haven’t seen enough of them to make either solid choices against the others named.
I’ve gone with Higginbotham and O’Connor as captain and vice-captain respectively as they’re both undoubtedly 80-minute players. Moore is an excellent leadership option, but given the quality of our backup hookers, it would be best if he plays 60 minutes. I want my captain to be on the field for 80 minutes.
Same logic for Slipper missing out, as Sio is a great back-up when he’s back in action. Slipper would be optimised playing 50 or 60 minutes, with Sio coming on to rumble for the finish.
Of the rest, Higginbotham seems to be the best leadership option. He’s the kind of guy who would lift his game considerably if given the opportunity – he had a blinder of a season when captain of the Rebels.
James O’Connor as the vice-captain is a controversial choice, but like Quade Cooper, he’ll show that he’s grown up during his upcoming season with the Reds, and vice-captaincy of the national team will cement higher standards of off-field behaviour.
So, with the above team in mind, how many Waratah players would add clear, undisputed value?
Starting with the front row, I’d have Tatafu Polota-Nau ahead of Fainga’a on the bench, and Sekope Kepu either starting or on the bench in place of either Alo-Emile or Weeks.
In the second row I’d have big Will Skelton on the bench. He clearly doesn’t have the fitness for 80 minutes but he’d be damaging in the last 20 against tiring opposition. If Cheika can awaken the giant within and get the big guy angry, he’ll be a great impact player for the Wallabies.
In the back row, Hooper is the only candidate that could claim a spot, but if Cheika is serious about winning the breakdown battle and leaving the backs to do the flashy stuff, Pocock is the undisputed king of the breakdown, with Hodgson taking over duties late in the game when things loosen up.
In the backs, Phipps gets the bench spot over the Nics, purely based on experience. Aside from that, the only other Tah backs that demand selection are Israel Folau – replacing Tomane on the wing – and Adam Ashley-Cooper on the bench as a utility.
I count 6 Waratahs in the Wallabies’ best possible 23. Two of those in the starting line-up (Kepu and Folau) and four on the bench (Polota-Nau, Skelton, Phipps and Ashley-Cooper).
Let’s see who Cheika picks.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.