The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Wallabies bring in the changes for Springboks clash

Quade Cooper is back in Australia. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Expert
16th July, 2015
159
4862 Reads

Michael Cheika’s team announcement for the upcoming Test against South Africa reveals a well balanced starting XV.

The front row almost picks itself and the Wallabies are looking good with Scott Sio and Greg Holmes on the reserves bench.

Stephen Moore as captain is a good choice and there is no doubt he is the number one hooker in the country.

While I am a fan of the toughness of reserve hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, there remains serious doubts over his lineout throwing ability, which has always been the biggest weakness in his game. Understandably, Cheika will want bulk to match the South Africans, but it comes at a price once Polota-Nau runs onto the field.

Australia’s lock pairing of Rob Simmons and Will Skelton has a massive challenge as they face the great Victor Matfield and his heir apparent Eben Etzebeth.

The Wallaby lock positions are certainly not set in stone. It will be up to Simmons to shake off the tag of not being tough enough for Test rugby if he is to retain his position.

Skelton’s selection is no surprise with a great Super Rugby season under his belt after overcoming his early season lack of match fitness.

Nonetheless, Test match rugby is another level and the pressure will be on for an 80-minute performance.

Advertisement

James Horwill as reserve lock can probably consider himself fortunate to be on the reserves bench, after a forgettable 2015 Super Rugby season.

While Horwill has ample experience at Test match level, and has sound scrum and lineout skills, his defence and workrate around the park need to significantly improve if he is to feature seriously or at all in the Wallabies 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign.

The Wallaby backrow selections are not surprising, and once again Cheika could have gone with a number of alternative selections and still sleep very soundly.

Scott Higginbotham is a good choice at No.8 as he brings speed, toughness and skill to this glamour position. Cheika has gone for the traditional open and blind side combination with the no nonsense Scott Fardy at No.6 and incumbent Wallaby No.7 Michael Hooper, at the expense of David Pocock.

While we could argue all year about which is the best backrow combination, the fact of the matter is that Australia is blessed with a plethora of world class backrowers, and no doubt Pocock will feature in the match at some point.

The halves combination of Genia and Cooper again is no surprise, and gives Australia the benefit of speed and accuracy of ball delivery to someone who can genuinely create doubt in the minds of the opposition. Experience in these two roles is of enormous benefit. While Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley can consider themselves unlucky, the decision to play Will Genia and Quade Cooper against the more predictable South Africa is a good one.

All eyes will be on Matt Giteau as he returns to the green and gold after four years playing in France.

Advertisement

While there has been speculation as to his ability to handle the pace of the game, you don’t get to play 92 Tests for your country if you are going to let that faze you.

The maturity that Giteau brings to the midfield will be of enormous benefit to the players both inside and out.

Wallaby No.13 Tevita Kuridrani should revel in the opportunities he will be given in this game with Giteau on his inside.

Provided the Wallaby forwards can deliver the platform and go forward, Giteau and co. are capable of creating a major headache for the Springbok backline, with the powerful Kuridrani ready to bust loose, the ever elusive Israel Folau looking to chime in anywhere, and the reliable finishers in Rob Horne and Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Matt Toomua may consider himself very unlucky not to be in the starting 15, but he too should figure at some point in the match, along with fellow reserve back Drew Mitchell. Once again, Cheika is adopting a suck-it-and-see approach, which has some merit, as he searches for the best combinations to take the Wallabies through to the Rugby World Cup.

The thing I like about Cheika is he is not overdoing this, as he realises that every Test is precisely that – a Test. It is not a simple warm-up selection trial for the Rugby World Cup.

Both teams are representing their countries and all the history and pride associated with that.

Advertisement

This South African team will be no pushover and every player in the Wallabies squad will have to be at their best for every minute of eighty minutes to defeat them.

This is not just a game – it is far more serious than that.

close