The Wallabies Test matches this year have been punctuated by quality replacement decisions among the many other fresh ideas Michael Cheika has brought to the fray.
We have noted throughout the year the change in culture and attitude around the team, and the dedication to the group and their training each Wallaby squad member has shown in the lead up to the World Cup.
However, Cheika might be slightly disappointed with his ‘Finishers’ from Australia’s first World Cup pool game against Fiji. He should probably be disappointed with himself even more so.
Not the one to dwell on misfortune or negativity, Cheika was quick to dismiss the importance of a bonus point win. He wants the Wallabies to believe they will win every pool game, so there’s no need to worry about a mechanism that rewards losers with a second chance.
He is correct.
Cheika cannot play for his bench, but he decides when they play. The most disappointing move in my opinion was replacing Scott Sio and Sekope Kepu at the same time.
I can only imagine this occurred to give each starting front row a run on together. If that game was against England or Wales he may not have been so quick on the double switch.
That double replacement altered the continuity of the lineout and to a lesser extent the scrum, which in itself was a positive. At no real fault of his own, a positive impact from Dean Mumm’s inclusion was also lacking with the combined effect of a new front row and a new lineout caller hampering the second half.
One gets the feeling that although the Fiji game had been touted as the warm up for the October 4 blockbuster with England, Cheika didn’t want to show his whole hand. The replacements impact and Cheika’s ability to wield its power has been the wonder of the new team dynamic.
Cheika gave us a taste of the starting 15 but not of how he really wants the team to finish.
Matt Toomua basically just marked his name off the attendance sheet only getting a minimal stint at the end of the game. I fully expect he will make his presence known earlier in the games against England and Wales, particularly as the Wallabies lacked any real backline penetration.
Bernard Foley and Toomua have gained Cheika’s favour for advancing at the line. Foley probably didn’t get too much help in that department against Fiji, although he may have been a touch keen to hit the line himself throughout the match.
Why are people still referring to the Michael Hooper/David Pocock double as something strange and unheard of? It’s clear that it works. Both players have swapped skills and complement each other with Hooper jumping in lineouts and Pocock running freely. They are by far the Wallabies’ greatest weapons.
Let’s thank our lucky stars we aren’t in South Africa’s shoes before we throw the toys out of the pram over a lost bonus point.
A solid platform was set to build on for the next round for a team that has done nothing but smash itself at training for a number of weeks.
Even Michael Cheika can get a bit rusty without match practice under his belt.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Wallabies fly-half Carter Gordon is reportedly flirting over the fence with two NRL clubs - the Gold Coast Titans and Melbourne Storm. The 23-year-old…
Australia has always produced tremendously talented rugby players but as a country we’ve had a detrimental tendency to over-hype youngsters, creating unrealistic, unfair, and…
Joe Schmidt says he wants Carter Gordon to stay in Australian rugby, but the new Wallabies coach won’t shed tears if he decides to…
Darren Coleman is set to continue his back three changes, with Max Jorgensen to miss the Waratahs’ tricky assignment at the Cake Tin in…
Australian rugby has many problems - financial crisis, ever-shrinking audiences, shortage of coaching expertise, Greg Martin, etc etc. But one problem which I have…
Eight months after sensationally being taken to France by Eddie Jones as the Wallabies’ specialist fly-half for their World Cup campaign, Carter Gordon could…
