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In selecting his Wallabies squad, Michael Cheika will have to deal with all the parochial interests, and he will have quite a few selection issues. One which stands out as being critical is who to pick at number 12.
Once he decides on a 12, or the type of 12 he wants, he can pretty much work backwards – other positions will fall into line with this decision.
If Cheika selects Kurtley Beale at 12, that means he has to put Bernard Foley at 10, as he needs a cool head beside Beale. If he puts Quade Cooper at 10 to Beale’s 12, then he ends up with two mercurial players side by side in the backline, and anything could happen.
Having Beale at 12 means he would also need to select Michael Hooper at 7 as he needs someone quick enough to get across to cover that channel in defence (missed tackles) and in attack (dropped or spilt balls). Hooper at 7 then means he needs to have someone like Scott Fardy at 6 to cover for Hooper being absent at ruck time.
With Matt Giteau at 12, Cheika could play either Foley or Cooper inside him, but he’s probably still going to need the Hooper/Fardy flanking combination – less so with a Cooper/Giteau combination.
Putting either Matt Toomua or Samu Kerevi at 12 completely changes the dynamic. He could play Cooper inside both of these (providing Cooper continues his recent good form), otherwise with Foley there he ends up with two conservatives side by side and thus no sparkle or balance.
Selecting Toomua or Kerevi also means he is free to play Scott Higginbotham at 6, David Pocock at 7 and Wycliff Palu at 8, which would be my preferred back row combination. Higginbotham would play like a true 6, Pocock would just be a damn nuisance and pilferer, and Palu can truck it hard up the middle.
Once Cheika is no longer on the payroll of the NSWRU, will he see things differently or stick with the tried and trusted players he knows so well? I’m betting (and hoping) he is his own man and is used to making his own decisions.
Of course the gods of form and injury will no doubt play a part in some of his decisions. Thankfully he has a few lead-up games to tinker and experiment in before we get to the big dance.
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.