There’s only 29 days until Michael Cheika sends his Wallabies into their Rugby World Cup opener against the dangerous Fijians at the Millennium Stadium.
In that time Cheika has an urgent job to vastly improve the percentages of his goal-kickers Bernard Foley, Quade Cooper, Matt Giteau, and Kurtley Beale with no Nic White in the 31-man squad.
Nothing less than a 90 per cent success rate throughout the tournament will be acceptable.
I would feel a lot more confident if James Hanson was the third hooker, James Horwill was one of the four locks, and White was the third halfback instead of sacrificing Matt Giteau as a pinch-hitter.
Having acknowledged the obvious drawbacks, the Wallabies have the best possible draw in the hardest pool of the four, rightfully tagged the ‘pool of death’.
Fiji, Uruguay, England and Wales in that order is almost heaven sent.
How Cheika treats the draw will decide if he’s going to be fearless, as he was at ANZ Stadium against the All Blacks, or reckless as he was for the return bout at Eden Park.
With Fiji and Uruguay the first two rounds, Cheika has the ideal chance to give his 31-man squad a telling hit-out before the business end of the pool against England and Wales, both at Twickenham.
My team for Fiji would be:
1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore (c)
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Dean Mumm
5. Rob Simmons
6. Scott Fardy
7. Michael Hooper
8. David Pocock
9. Will Genia
10. Bernard Foley
11. Joe Tomane
12. Kurtley Beale
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Israel Folua
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. James Slipper
18. Greg Holmes
19. Will Skelton
20. Matt Giteau
21. Quade Cooper
22. Matt Toomua
I’ve selected Beale at 12 because he’s the only Wallaby who can cut Folau loose, and according to Cheika’s squad list, Beale has been selected purely as an inside back when he can just as easily play 10, either wing, or fullback, if required.
Besides I still reckon he’s the best attacking Wallaby 12, and his defence is far more reliable than most give him credit.
And he can take the long-range penalties, while Giteau is there as halfback and 12 cover, with Toomua covering 10 and 12.
Cheika can border on being reckless in the second game because if any Wallaby team can’t beat 19th ranked Uruguay by at least 60 points, they have no right to be called a Rugby World Cup contender.
1. James Slipper
2. Stephen Moore (c)
3. Greg Holmes
4. Kane Douglas
5. Will Skelton
6. Ben McCalman
7. Sean McMahon
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Nick Phipps
10. Quade Cooper
11. Drew Mitchell
12. Matt Giteau
13. Rob Horne
14. Henry Speight
15. Israel Folau
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. Scott Sio
18. Toby Smith
19. Dean Mumm
20. Rob Simmons
21. Will Genia
22. Tevita Kuridrani
23. Adam Ashley-Cooper
By the time Michael Cheika has those two wins under his belt with a healthy for and against, he will have the perfect run-in to settle on his top side for the five most important games the Wallabies will play in the Rugby World Cup.
So long as he’s fearless.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I agree with you Lordy, Cheika must pick his strongest team for this game leading into the RWC opener.
Birdy
Guest
"By the time Michael Cheika has those two wins under his belt with a healthy for and against, he will have the perfect run-in to settle on his top side for the five most important games the Wallabies will play in the Rugby World Cup." So a place in the final is in the bag then David!!
Glenn
Guest
Who would be your "Finishers" (reserves) for both.
Mike
Guest
That's a wonderful fantasy. What basis in fact does it have, in Robinson's play at test or Super level?
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks David. 100% re kickers 0% re KB
Connor33
Guest
Yep, hard to deny that 2003 is not a better squad. They did lose two games to the abs that year, but putting that to one side Larkham was still playing at his height, which more than made up for what we lost in the pack. This pack, in 2015, however is better. Without it remaining strong, there is no chance we come out of the group as no. 1 -- and then probably go onto the final, much like the 2003 team. That's IF we top the pool, which will be bloody tough.
Connor33
Guest
How many games did each of them play? And for how many minutes relative to Skelton. Give those numbers and we can have a proper conversation because while Skelton is not in the same league as your 1 and 4th choices, nor probably your second, how many games did tear three sit out? And while it's a team game how did each of these players go when they played the Waratahs with Skelton in the team? And I'm a Brumbies supporter. I can tell you now that we didn't fair too well on both occasions and Skelton had a say in that.
Rugby.ftw
Guest
I think a lot of the extended. If not all of them will get a run against USA. To Limit possible injuries. Might even see Beale at 15 or something like that
ozinsa
Guest
Oh my, and we wonder why people log into this site to take the piss out of Australian rugby supporters. We are (aren't we?) better than our weakest link.
The Saint
Roar Guru
The Wallabies may struggle against the Fijians...I wouldn't brush them off as easy-beats, David.
Joey
Guest
This is a first David... you writing an article involving Michael Cheika and you never used your usual rant..."running rugby...the Cheika way." I say it again again... running rugby has been around since William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran... it's not a Cheika invention... David, you probably have just realised it now.. thank you.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I wouldn't be taking the Fijians lightly... and Beale tackling those blokes? Tought night at the office for him... I would target that channel all night... Those blokes were bumping off Samoans in the Pacific Cup..
Bill
Guest
Robinson would have got us over the line against Ireland.
Mike
Guest
"No Moore. No Pocock. No Fardy. No Sio. It’s fundamentally a different scrum this year ..." Yes, the lack of Brumbies was devastating... ;)
gatesy
Roar Guru
If you are mathematically inclined, you should see order among the chaos. Chieka has picked two complete teams and one spare props as the safety number. Genia will play with Cooper. Phipps will play with Foley (at least in the pool games) Sio will start with Moore, and so on - getting it yet, fellas? It's called the Cheika plan. Otherwise why are Skelton and Douglas in the squad? why is Mumm back? Where is Higgers? Why isn't Nic White there (at least for his long range kicking)? A lot of ifs.
Mike
Guest
"in the last RWC, where the difference between Pocock and McCalman (as a 7) was immense" The difference between Pocock and every other specialist 7 in Australia was immense. Just because someone played super rugby with a 7 on their back didn't mean they could fill the gap left by him. "and we suffered through not having a specialist 7 reserve" The only game he was forced to miss was Ireland. Who do you propose would have made all the difference to that game if they had been included in the squad?
Mike
Guest
"fails? as in topping the first half tackle count against the all balcks in his first top class game after his rest?" Rupert, stop coming up with facts. Your opponents haven't come up with any, so you have no excuse to do it. ;)
Mike
Guest
"Kuridrani the only player who threatened the line." Sorry, but this sort of throw away line by someone who obviously didn't watch any of the matches just wastes everyone's time. "Our attack was lacking in the 2014 Spring tour – we lost 3 / 4 games." Right... so when the Wallabies have lost 3 out of 4 matches against the All Blacks with Quade Cooper at flyhalf, that shows that "our attack was lacking" in those games? [Jeez some people walk right into these...] "Compared to the 2013 year it was a step-backwards." Geez, do you think that might have had something to do with tougher opposition, just maybe? England the same, Ireland much improved, no Italy or Scotland, France firing at home...
soapit
Guest
that onlu makes sense if the starting 15 against fiji all play the bulk of the match without being subbed. most likely therell be some guys in the uruguay game who have clocked decent minutes.
True story
Guest
A few people here assume australia will beat Fiji. I am not so sure as Fiji will probably play a weaker team against England. My logic being that England will be pumped. Fiji will then put their best team against Australia hoping for a successful ambush. Any way we shall soon see.