Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has named French-based Matt Giteau in Australia’s starting line-up for the match against the Springboks in Brisbane this Saturday.
Giteau has been selected at inside centre, alongside halves Will Genia and Quade Cooper. It marks the first time Giteau will start a Test match since 2011.
Michael Hooper has been given the nod to start at openside flanker, with David Pocock on the bench. Incumbency must have played a role in Hooper’s selection, given Pocock’s strong form in the 2015 Super Rugby season.
Here’s the team Michael Cheika has selected to take on the might of South Africa in the opening Test match of the season.
Full Wallabies team to play Springboks at Suncorp Stadium
1. James Slipper
2. Stephen Moore (c)
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Rob Simmons
5. Will Skelton
6. Scott Fardy
7. Michael Hooper
8. Scott Higginbotham
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Rob Horne
12. Matt Giteau
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Israel Folau
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. Scott Sio
18. Greg Holmes
19. James Horwill
20. David Pocock
21. Nick Phipps
22. Matt Toomua
23. Drew Mitchell
Michael Cheika had the following to say at the announcement.
“I could not have been happier with the first two weeks of preparation here in Queensland. These players know they represent a squad of over 50 players who will have some involvement within the Wallabies program at different stages of the year.”
“With new combinations comes a new level of energy to our team environment and Will [Genia], Quade [Cooper] and Matt [Giteau] certainly bring that,” Cheika said.
“Matt is a true professional and his impact on the team dynamic has been immediate. His form in Toulon and work ethic since joining the squad has been first class.”
“It has been a huge effort by Stephen to put himself in this position to once again captain his country.”
“David [Pocock] has showed tremendous grit and termination to return to the Wallabies in challenging circumstances. To be out of the Wallabies environment for two years and return a better a player shows his character; it is something he, and this country should be proud of.”
“If you look through our bench we have some exceptional leaders, with James and David having captained their country at different stages of their careers.
“With leadership comes responsibility as well. The bench will play a pivotal role in ensuring we close out the game as well as we open it.”
“We want the Australian Rugby fans to be proud of how we play, and the stage is set for players to put it all on display in front of a very patriotic and proud Queensland crowd at Suncorp Stadium.”
Notable inclusions include the wingers Rob Horne and Adam Ashley-Cooper, who get the nod over Joe Tomane. Tomane was in strong form for the Brumbies towards the end of the Super Rugby season, but it wasn’t enough to earn him national selection.
Similarly, Toulon’s Drew Mitchell hasn’t earned selection in the starting XV, and will play from the bench.
Reds captain James Slipper will partner Sekope Kepu in the front row, with the captain Stephen Moore at hooker.
Big Will Skelton will start in the second row for the Wallabies, partnering lineout key man Rob Simmons. Other lineout options include number 6 Scott Fardy, and number 8 Scott Higginbotham, both of whom are key to their provincial side’s set piece.
The interesting choice is Matt Giteau at inside centre, after four years away from the Wallabies setup.
He has shown in the past that he can combine well with Quade Cooper and Will Genia in the halves, though, and should provide plenty of excitement for Wallabies fans.
Genia and Cooper seem to have been picked on combination and potential rather than form, though they started to show some form towards the end of the Super Rugby season.
Tevita Kuridrani and Israel Folau predictably retain their spots at outside centre and fullback.
Scott Sio and Greg Holmes are the reserve props, with James Horwill and David Pocock the only second row and back row reserves. This will place a lot of emphasis on Fardy and Higginbotham getting through the whole game.
Mitchell will feature off the bench with Bernard Foley overlooked in favour of Matt Toomua. Nick Phipps is the backup halfback.
What do you think Roarers? Will this team beat the Springboks?
Love/hate this Wallabies team? Tell us about it. Send us an article with your thoughts.
Mike
Guest
He's said he wants O'Connor in the side if he can get fit. He hasn't said where, but given he played all of last season in Europe at 15, MC may see him as the reserve fb.
Mike
Guest
Past history suggests the opposite, that the Wallabies have foregone a strong bench scrum, just as they did in 2013. They are hoping that Sio will find the test form that has previously eluded him, and led to him being dropped in the 2013 TRC. they are also hoping that they have found the key to turn around the Wallabies scrum fronted by Slipper and Kepu that got hammered by the NH sides last year. We'll get our first real look at how things have gone in a few hours.
Mike
Guest
Cheika made his point last year by selecting Kurtley, that nothing he did in 2014 will be held against him. So those who fantasize about him being considered a bad boy had better go off, find a dark room and amuse themselves. KB faces selection in exactly the same way as every other player - how competitive is he for the available positions.
Mike
Guest
Since Cheika has said why he chose Quade, perhaps we should listen to him.
Mike
Guest
What rational basis is there for thinking that?
Mike
Guest
Why would the targeting of his channel produce more errors from Foley? He commits errors because of the style he plays, up close to the advantage line. I haven't seen much sign that opposition pressure affects him.
Mike
Guest
this is getting circular. First you adopt an assumption about Hooper "losing the battle of the breakdown" when there is no evidence that Cheika sees that as his primary job anyway, then you assume a hypothetical that Cheika is never going to drop him for performance, then you draw from this that Cheika is inflexible. Now, perhaps he is - but this is not the way to show it. And all of this is based on the simple fact that Cheika has put Pocock on the bench for his first match after a two year absence! Do you think there just might be alternative explanations for why a coach would do that?
Mike
Guest
And no more excuses. Crunch time in a few hours.
Mike
Guest
Except that we don't know they are "superior" do we? Settle down, and let's see how they actually play later today.
Mike
Guest
For heavens sake. Plenty of players get injured and another takes the opportunity - it doesn't mean the injured player remains "the incumbent" for a period of two years.
Mike
Guest
Well put, Ben. It's hard to call this a selection of incumbents.
Mike
Guest
+1 Under Dean's we won 2/3 of our games vs Boks. That should be the expectation now.
Mike
Guest
Err right, the "repressive" game plan under which they scored more tries. Time to stop making excuses.
Mike
Guest
"Seeing Dean's banished both Cooper and Giteau" Are you sure you watched any rugby between 2009 and 2013, Handles? :) Deans showed incredible faith in Cooper. The only series he didn't select him at 10 was 2013 B&I Lions, and McKenzie obviously had similar concerns at that time because he preferred to play a complete rookie at 10 in place of Quade in the next two tests! But why let facts get in the way of a good story? Anyway, back to 2015 - there is no excuse for any of these players now, or the coach. They have had enough time to sort themselves out and get to know each other. Hoping for great things.
Loosey
Guest
The key is they give away penalties when they are meant to! Our boys just lose their cool...
Loosey
Guest
Where's the lie, Not Bothered? If an Australian coach had ever said 'I fear we just made a rod for our backs' if would have been booted after the next loss.
Anthony Hird
Roar Guru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOOmR6LU5Y0
Pitbox
Roar Rookie
+ 1
Mike Julz
Guest
I believe Pocock will come on around the 50th minute mark. The real surprise is that who will he replace. It might not be Hooper. Pos and Hoops might be playing next to each other.
Nick C
Guest
Probably not until after he's subbed on. Then again, it is Horwill, so might be possbile to get binned straight from the bench...