Wallaby coach Michael Cheika was quite right when he said he didn’t have to be a “rocket scientist” to select David Pocock and Michael Hooper in the Wallaby starting line-up for their World Cup opener against Fijii early tomorrow morning.
It’s even more accurate to say Cheika has no option, with Pocock and Hooper two of the world’s best backrowers in international rugby and who must start against England, Wales, and all the play-off games.
The second stringers will be on duty against Uruguay.
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The more telling question would be who would Cheika pick if there was a world-class No 8 in the Wallaby squad?
Pocock is the senior and better openside flanker of the two, which would mean Hooper would come off the bench.
Cheika didn’t see it that way in the Bledisloe decider last month, and paid the ultimate penalty with a 41-13 hammering.
There’s no way Hooper, at 182cm and 87kgs, could be No 8, but Cheika has the perfect option of Pocock’s 187cm, 115kg frame to slot in at the back of the pack.
Pocock, Hooper, Israel Folau, Stephen Moore, Will Genia, Scott Fardy, and Bernard Foley are the seven Wallabies who must start every World Cup game, with the exception of Uruguay.
If Folau isn’t the best fullback in international rugby, he’s certainly in the mix.
He’s been relatively quiet of late, but that’s the fault of the Wallaby backline not looking for him, to cut him loose. Folau is always there in support, with Kurtley Beale the best at setting him up.
With Beale on the bench tomorrow, that can and will happen. But it would be in the Wallabies’best interests to set Folau free long before that.
Take note Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Moore is one of the world’s best hookers, and an ideal captain for the Wallaby campaign. He’s an 80-minute performer in both attack and defence.
After a spate of injuries, Genia is back to his best to regain his place as a leading international halfback.
Ken Catchpole is the greatest half I’ve ever seen from any country 50 years ago, 25 years ago Nick Farr-Jones was the best in the world in his hey-day, so too George Gregan for the first half of his 139 caps.
For the latter half he was a Wallaby liability and should have been dropped for Chris Whitaker.
Gregan spent more time telling the referee how to do his job, and less time giving his backline decent service.
Pedestrian best described his service,
Fardy has blossomed in the last year as blindside flanker. His combination with Pocock and Hooper gives the Wallabies a world class backrow which will be critical over the next five weeks.
Foley is the best of the Wallaby goal-kickers, but he’s the first choice 10 on one proviso – he lands at least 80% of his shots at goal, preferably 90-100%.
With the greater bulk of World Cup referees from the northern hemisphere, penalties will abound to hand out precious points.
That’s terrible rugby, but a fact of life.
So too that Michael Cheika is the best Wallaby coach since Rod Macqueen, and he has his troops ready to fire.
Wallaby fans are ready for the ride to lift “Bill”.
Well
Guest
To be fair Cheika did inherit a team with zero days preparation, no selection input, divided by scandal and a coach resiigning, and a host of players unavailable due to injury. His results since that disaster last year have been pretty good. So no, results alone don't tell the full story.
riddler
Guest
cheers lorry.. great article.. never knew the ins and outs of his story.. living in europe at the time and internet a bit different back then.. seems like a quality lad and fair dues to him for sticking to what he likes.. a part of me though wonders how he would have ended if had have gone to the tahs and sydney.. maybe he would have kept whitaker out of the tahs and george out of the wallabies or maybe he would have been unhappy with sydney life and gone back to singleton..
Lorry
Guest
One of the greatest articles on rugby here about Steve Merrick: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/aug/13/the-forgotten-story-of-steve-merrick
soapit
Guest
last guy to get picked direct from nsw country (ie not transferring to a capital city club first) i believe. retired when the game went professional, was pretty old on debut i also recall.
soapit
Guest
yeah i could even accept someone arguing subjectively based on things other than pure results but cant see a way for it to be a fact.
John
Guest
He doesn't warrant selection at all, has been very, very average. Unfortunately there's no one else who has demanded the spot.
John
Guest
Look them up. It's not an Aussie thing - he is the world's best.
John
Guest
Best debut in Wallabies history and touched the ball 10 or so times in that game. Next Test, given minimal touches and watched from the wing while inferior players made mistakes around him, as he continued to do until he was put into the Wallabies 15 jersey. He's way outside the box, needs the ball.
David Lord
Expert
Realist, live up to your name. Chris Whitaker came off the bench 25 of his 31 caps. And every time he replaced George Gregan, the Wallaby backline came alive - IMMEDIATELY. Whitaker was a far better halfback than Gregan for the seond half of the latters career. How Whitaker wasn't deservedly selected more often in the starting lineup remains a mystery.
Council
Guest
Creevy, Bismarck, Strauss, Coles. They would all be picked before Moore. Only one is an All Black. Thats without even getting into the NH teams.
Council
Guest
And alot of his stats were racked up in a weak aussie conference. I'd love to see Folaus stats vs aussie and saffa and kiwi sides. I like the guy and think he's a great player. But I think the Aussie Worlds Best squad have put me off him, which is a shame.
Dave_S
Guest
Agreed, the point was merely that we had both achieved all that we wanted to achieve then got the hell out ?
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
Sam Payne
Coaster49
Guest
Beauty must be in the eye of the beholder Machooka! Never regarded Genia as a leading international whereas Gregan in many ways redefined the role of half-back in his time. I do rate Genia as a class player but nothing close to Gregan. To me, he caused us as much grief as Eales!
Frontrow
Guest
Gee Jake and what part of blog did you read that pray-tell - must have just read what you wanted to read eh and into it as well huh...
Realist
Guest
Chris Whitaker was never in the class of Gregan at any stage ever and was rightly named anthems. Beale won't start at 12 at any point in the WC nor should he.
Wazbo
Guest
Except Merrick was in no way a rubbish rugby player and had he not chosen a reliable career over a career in the unknown world of professional rugby, George Gregan would probably have had a huge dent put in his 137 test caps.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Much like every other goal kicking option we have, Foley doesn't warrant selection on the basis of his goal kicking. Neither does anybody else though.
Dave_S
Guest
Gregan sure had the "yapping" part of the role down pat. But it certainly hasn't translated to commentary skills - I have to turn the sound down ...
Dave_S
Guest
Well he'd better kick 80% (or preferably 90-100%) against Fiji then. Otherwise doesn't he go from Lordy's "must start" team to never getting another start? Or does he get another go at kicking 80% in the next game after that, since he's in the "must start [with proviso]" team. Or what if someone else is handed the kicking tee and Foley has a blinder but doesn't kick any? I'm so confwuused ...