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Wallaby coach Michael Cheika never ceases to surprise.
His intention to send totally different starting lineups into the first two Rugby World Cup pool games against Fiji and Uruguay is not only a masterstroke, but has two other important ramifications.
The five most vital cogs in the Wallaby machinery – skipper Stephen Moore, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Will Genia, and Israel Folau – will minimise injury risks by playing against Fiji in the opener, but miss the Uruguay game to be ready for the telling games with England, Wales, and the play-offs.
And every one of the 31-man Wallaby squad will get at least one game. There would be nothing more devastating than representing the Wallabies at a World Cup from the stand, dressed in the number one street gear.
So how will these two Wallaby squads look?
Against Fiji:
(1) Scott Sio
(2) Stephen Moore (c)
(3) Sekope Kepu
(4) Kane Douglas
(5) Rob Simmons
(6) Scott Fardy
(7) Michael Hooper
(8) David Pocock
(9) Will Genia (vc)
(10) Bernard Foley
(11) Rob Horne
(12) Matt Giteau
(13) Tevita Kuridrani
(14) Adam Ashley-Cooper
(15) Israel Folau
(16) Tatafu Polota-Nau
(17) James Slipper
(18) Greg Holmes
(19) Will Skelton
(20) Dean Mumm
(21) Nick Phipps
(22) Quade Cooper
(23) Kurtley Beale
Against Uruguay:
(1) James Slipper (c)
(2) Tatafu Polota-Nau
(3) Greg Holmes
(4) Will Skelton
(5) Dean Mumm
(6) Ben McCalman
(7) Sean McMahon
(8) Wycliff Palu
(9) Nick Phipps
(10) Quade Cooper
(11) Joe Tomane
(12) Matt Toomua
(13) Henry Speight
(14) Drew Mitchell
(15) Kurtley Beale
(16) Scott Sio
(17) Sekope Kepu
(18) Toby Smith
(19) Dean Mumm
(20) Scott Fardy
(21) Matt Giteau
(22) Bernard Foley
(23) Adam Ashley-Cooper
There are a couple of those selections worth a comment.
I still believe Beale is at his best at inside centre, even though he’s more than capable of playing anywhere in the backline, bar half.
And Beale’s still the best bet to set up the Wallabies’ most dangerous back in Folau who has looked very frustrated lately when he’s been in position to cut loose, but doesn’t get the ball.
I make this prediction.
If the Wallabies do cut Folau loose, which should be a given, he will be man of the tournament, and the Wallabies will win a record third World Cup.
But slotting Beale into inside centre is difficult with Giteau and Toomua on duty. That gives Cheika a right royal headache.
The second comment is Cheika will regret not having hooker James Hanson, lock James Horwill, nor half Nic White in the 31-man squad.
Horwill’s lineout calling will be missed, so too his work-rate.
No Hanson means prop Scott Sio becomes the third hooker if injury strikes, and with no White, Giteau becomes the third half.
Not ideal, but both Sio and Giteau will do a top job out of their own comfort zones if required.
More importantly, Michael Cheika has covered just about every corner of his campaign to bring back Bill.
And he will.