Wallaby coach Michael Cheika has stunned the rugby world by ringing in the changes to his squad for the blockbuster Bledisloe Cup clash at Eden Park tomorrow night.
Having beaten the All Blacks 27-19 at ANZ Stadium last Saturday, and working on the age-old adage of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, Cheika has dropped the best-performed Wallaby David Pocock to the bench, and selected the most inconsistent Quade Cooper to wear the 10 jersey.
I had no doubts the Wallabies would break the Bledisloe drought since 2002, and win at Eden Park for the first time since 1986, had Cheika stuck by Pocock, and picked Matt Toomua at 10.
Now I’m not so sure with the Wallabies facing the prospect of playing catch-ups by the time Pocock comes on the scene, and Toomua moves in one.
Let’s compare the two squads, with the ANZ lineup on the left:
(1) Scott Sio – same.
(2) Stephen Moore (c) – same.
(3) Sekope Kepu – same.
(4) David Mumm – Will Skelton.
(5) James Horwill – same.
(6) Scott Fardy – same.
(7) Michael Hooper – same.
(8) David Pocock – Wycliff Palu.
(9) Nick Phipps – Nic White.
(10) Bernard Foley – Quade Cooper.
(11) Drew Mitchell – Adam Ashley-Cooper.
(12) Matt Giteau – Matt Toomua.
(13) Tevita Kuridrani – same.
(14) Adam Ashley-Cooper – Henry Speight.
(15) Israel Folau – same.
(16) Tatafu Polota-Nau – same.
(17) James Slipper – same.
(18) Greg Holmes – same.
(19) Will Skelton – Dean Mumm.
(20) Ben McCalman – Kane Douglas.
(21) Nic White – David Pocock
(22) Matt Toomua – Matt Giteau.
(23) Kurtley Beale – same.
One of the major reasons why the Wallabies won at ANZ was the vast improvement in the scrum.
Sio, Moore, and Kepu remind me of the Topo Rodriguez, Tommy Lawton, Andy McIntyre front row that captured the Wallabies’ only Grand Slam in 1984, and the 1991 Rugby World Cup winning front row of Tony Daly, Phil Kearns, and Ewen McKenzie.
There can be no higher recognition.
But dropping Pocock to the bench, selecting the injury-prone and over-rated Palu at No 8, and promoting Skelton for Mumm will severely damage the effectiveness of the scrum, and mobility, around the park.
Skelton proved to be a far better propositon off the bench at ANZ when the threw his behemoth frame at the tiring All Black forwards in the second half.
He is not an 80-minute player, nor is Palu.
But there’s one selection up front that deserves a salute – lock Kane Douglas on the bench.
Could it be Cheika has a Skelton-Douglas lock combination in mind for late in the game to create their own brand of havoc?
That’s a lot of humanity – Skelton 204cm and 148kgs – Douglas 202cm and 123kgs
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Out the back, dropping Phipps and Foley was obvious after ANZ where Phipps was more intent on barking at the referee or his supports and “forgot” to send his backline on its way.
When White came on late in the game at ANZ, he sealed the victory with a 48-metre penalty and converting his own brilliant try.
He deserves to start tomorrow night on the proviso he never box kicks and concentrates solely on delivering his supports with swift accurate service.
Foley was a tower of strength last season for the Waratahs and Wallabies when his goal-kicking was world class. This season his kicking, both at goal and in general play, has dramatically fallen away, and so too his overall performance.
But Cooper isn’t the answer at 10, that belongs to Toomua.
And Cooper’s selection creates another monster to go with his inconsistent play – his inconsistent goal-kicking,
With Foley gone, White would be the back-up goal-kicker with alternatives Giteau and Beale both on the bench..
The selection of Speight over Mitchell gives the Wallabies a bigger, faster winger, while Ashley-Cooper switches wings to make way for the flying Fijian.
I make this special plea to Ashley-Cooper.
Please, please, please look inside for Folau. He’s always there, but Ashley-Cooper is so intent on the glory plays he rarely looks for support, so rarely passes.
How about making Eden Park an exception AAC?
There’s one more Russian roulette selection with only two backs out of eight on the bench and Giteau as the reserve halfback.
Michael Cheika, your selections for Eden Park are hard to understand.
Having said that, the coach has my total support and we’ll see how his rationale delivers where it counts on the park.
Bruce Dribs
Roar Rookie
I don't care about the World Cup ... yet. And neither should Chieka. This is a Bledislow decider. We have not had the cup for 13 years. This is the main game right now, so treat it like it is the main game rather than denigrade the Bledisloe.
Vhavnal
Roar Rookie
You were saying Bro? Pooper Cooper indeed.
hasbeen flanker
Guest
Hi Marc, I think the testing and development phase for a RWC squad where he needs 2 viable teams to have a chance to get hands on the holy grail takes precedence to most recent form. In any other year I think your logic is sound on selections. I'm hoping Palu's rest and the confidence from last week will carry things for the first 40-50 mins. I wouldn't be surprised if Pocock doesn't get a run from just before halftime, if things are not travelling well.
hasbeen flanker
Guest
Agree Steve
hasbeen flanker
Guest
I agree Alex with your read on possible game plan. Can see the logic in Pocock later though....I'm guessing if this was indeed the plan...he's asked Hooper to play a little tighter in the first half at least. Definitely a game plan set to the conditions. IUt's also the reason QC gets the nod over Foley...kicking for territory will be a preium tonight in wet Auckland.
PeterK
Roar Guru
like your posts about QC?
marc
Guest
I think he's pulling a Ewan and picking a squad he knows will fail so he can then select Phipps/Foley halves pairing. Remember Ewan didn't pick Genia or Cooper his first 2 games? No other explanation he chooses a back row pairing that hasn't won in years. He finally had it right with Pocock last week...and puts him on the bench. To be honest would any fly half pairing do well when they will always be on the backfoot with Hooper/palu? Give them a chance and put Pocock out there. Let me guess - Pocock will come on second half and the wallabies will start winning the ball and rucks after Cooper and toomua have been replaced and everyone will think they played rubbish
Noodles
Guest
Big statement. Flogged. I think you will eat those words. This group gets flogged by no one. In my opinion.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
It's a tea, game. A player's job is not to look good. It's to to his job so the team wins. 71% of the time the team does that with Quade at 10. That's better than all alternatives. Statistics say the wallabies perform better with Quade in the team. Burgess has not played a test since 2011 so not really a fair comparison. About as useful as comparing to Gregan.
Not Bothered
Guest
And if they get flogged, what will the message have been? To me it shows that he doesnt care about winning the Bledisloe, that he is willing to sacrifice this chance to gamble on his squad depth/confidence. If they get flogged they will have wasted an opportunity to win something they havnt won since 2002, his fringe players confidence will be crushed, his winning culture will be kicked in the guts and he will be less closer to getting his team ready for the WC. Cheika has thrown his chances of winning the Bledisloe away imo. NZ by 15-20 points.
Not Bothered
Guest
This is so stup1d. QC DOES NOT have a 71% winning record. He does not play by himself. He has been out of form this year and played well below his best and yet they have won all their games. A player can be excellent andyet the team has a 5% win rate and a player can be out of form or a passenger and have 100%. If you cant work that out then good luck in life. One of the best players of the last 10 years has about 18%, Sergio Parrise. Genia has about 48%. Luke Burgess is 67%. Wow, it looks like Genia is a real negative and Burgess should be selected if you dont use your brain and spout meaningless statistics to back your bias. Just wow. Lets just see who you guys blame for Quades poor perfornance this weekend. Usually its the forwards, the person inside him and outside him that make him do stup1d things, make him kick badly and make him turn the ball over.
Not Bothered
Guest
Yes. All these fans go on about how players are no good because they dont perform their idea of "core roles". The player then gets selected over and over again by multiple different elite coaches and still the fans in question go on about the need for this particular player to do these "core roles". You would think after a while that it would occur to them that if the very best coaches in the world are picking these players to reconsider, rethink. Oh no, they just post more negative posts about that player. I have no patience for that kind of person.
Not Bothered
Guest
Um, wtf? What hasnt "the English coach" changed? Hes changed 95% of the playing personel. Much more than NZ, Aus and Ire have. Hes changed the way they play and the way they act. Lancaster also played experimental teams against NZ in NZ. The sky is purple with pink poka-dots. See, saying something that isnt true as if its a fact doesnt make it real, so stop trying.
Kirko
Guest
Why should he fail? If his forwards lay a platform he is the best 10 in Oz setting the backline alight. The fear is that with Skelton in the pack, suddenly our scrum which went well in Sydney is now a strong possibility of failing (in the wet where we can expect more drop ball, thus more scrums). There are 12's galore in Toomua, Gits, Lealiafano, Beale.....what is needed is an out & out 10 to provide the spark & over the last 10 test matches Foley has failed to be that guy despite starting with the stronger pack. This should not be seen as make or break for QC....rather, a nod that you are our potential match winner & I want you to start getting used to being hated in pressure games as its been a while, but this time with a solid foundation provided by our pigs. I would hope that White is doing the kicking & given the instruction to not box kick, deliver quick fast ball, though take on the line a bit...don't try to be the ball player - we have 2 guys outside you for that.
WEST
Roar Guru
Interesting outcome... Cheika wins and makes tons of changes, All Blacks lose and they keep the same team.. Pretty much. Who's screwing with who. The Wallabies would like to maintain their momentum while fielding different combinations. The All Blacks lose momentum with the same combination. The question now is who wants the cup, do the All Blacks that went down in Sydney have enough anger and determination to right the wrongs of last week or will they and Hansen be taught a lesson on motivation. The Bledisloe Cup is motivation almost up their with the RWC, Hansen must expect that the trophy and home ground advantage will be enough to carry the team through.... I'm not so sure, the ABs team in Sydney... Let's be honest were terrible, lacked discipline in their defense they lacked commitment at the breakdown they messed up plenty of opportunities and were put under huge pressure from the Wallabies. the All Blacks themselves have now taken responsibility of their loss and have demanded another shot at their enemy and seek revenge. Hansen could have easily made multiple changes across the board to teach the under performers a lesson?? Cheka now has a very good idea (at least he thinks he does) of what the All Blacks will do... Target the breakdown clean up their defense target Pocock....What does he do changes everything making the ABs second guess their approach. Until near the end when he brings on the A Team to finish off the All Blacks like Sydney.... After the delusion of a Cooper and co of 2011 game plan. What will Hansen do now!!!! Your guess is as good as mine, TBH it's up to the All Blacks on the field now, no strategy or pre rehearsal can help, the ABs can't control what the Wallabies will do, what they can control is their own minds and their own determination. Who wants the big mug the most will win.
Kirko
Guest
I just hope this forward pack is able to muscle up & provide QC a platform. If they can compete like they did last week, there is no better 10 to get the powerful runners of Kuridrani, Folau & Speight causing chaos & combine with the calmness of Toomua to take the sensible options when required. Spring tour last year QC was always behind the replacement pack which got hammered & we were typically chasing the game - there's not a 10 in the world that will fire in those circumstances. With a big assumption that the scrum holds its own, here's hoping White can deliver some good ball...this to me is almost our ideal backline...I think Kuridrani will also benefit from not having to do all Foley's defending work - with Toomua in the middle there's a much harder edge in the channel defence wise so K should have more freshness in the body when on the attack.
Dink
Guest
And please correct me if I am wrong but his form against the ABs is not bad either. He has played them 7 times. Won 2 and Lost 5. Of the 5 lost he was in the run on side twice (maybe 3 times) and one of those loses was in Dunedin in 2013. And despite the booing had a fantastic game. I still remember the silence of the crowd when he kept slotting the goals.
Noodles
Guest
Seems that we need to take seriously the thoughts of Chairman Cheika. He has said that its the consistency and attractiveness of the rugby and quality of effort he values. He has made it plain that he wants a lot of competition for the jersey. All up, he appears to coach for a 15 and to want as many players as possible who can play the style. The message of these selections is: everyone in the squad is worthy and everyone plays for their spot. This week's tweaking suggests he is ready for a confrontation and there are some selections that rely on people showing up for that. Skelton, obviously. Palu. Cooper, who needs to show his stuff in the toughest environment possible. Douglas, who's been off the list for a year. And Speight. Cheika is asking people to show they are up to the task. It's a great message and let's hope it brings a result.
Golden
Guest
Following on from the Cooper field test, I think Chieka and Bernie will do away with the jersey numbers as a reference and will look to interchange Toomua and Giteau between 10 and 12 throughout the game. With one being a leftie and the other a righty, expect them to rotate freely depending upon the location of the breakdown. Modern rugby has moved beyond the traditional roles assigned by jersey numbers. I think that the average rugby spectator spends too much time worrying about the jersey number these days. The Pocock v Hooper battle is just another example of this.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Well that's the only thing I can think of. Get the big boys Palu and Skelton to punch up for twenty, go off and bring the Pococks on and back into terrier mode. But it also leaves the door open for McCaw who will be wanting a 11 out of 10 performance in maybe his last NZ performance. So for me tomorrow's all about McCaw, how he brings this side back into the winning picture, and how he personally stacks his long years of consistently top performances up for this one, and brings his side through with him.