Roarers that regularly visit this site for their monthly, weekly, daily, hourly or even by-the-minute rugby fix, will know that I’m not the biggest fan of a number of Michael Cheika’s selections.
Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale have been a constant source of cringe when I think of the talent that has been left behind to make room for these guys to represent Australia.
While Douglas and Mumm continue to provide no reason for a change of heart, the others have dished up a large serving of humble pie, which I have no choice but to consume after their efforts against England.
Let’s start with Hooper, a lightweight by international forward standards, whom I’ve often accused of handicapping the forward pack by playing too loose and having little influence despite his high work rate.
This was certainly the case at the back-end of 2014, and maybe he was just a little tired at the end of a long Super Rugby title-winning season, but so far this year Hooper has been first class.
It can’t help that he’s a foot too short and a few kilograms too light to do any real damage, but for a guy his size he punches well above his weight. The way he’s getting stuck into opposition runners I’m sure they’re thankful he’s not any bigger.
I still think George Smith would be David Pocock’s ultimate partner in crime, particularly in the knockout stages where his superior range of skills, leadership and decision-making would be more important than Hooper’s speed. But if Hooper keeps playing the way he is, he won’t be letting anyone down.
I’ll also concede that the back row isn’t as imbalanced as I suspected with Hooper at No.7. Pocock has transitioned seamlessly from No.7 to No.8 and one day we may even look back and label this a Cheika masterstroke in the same way Rod Macqueen shifted Stephen Larkham from 15 to 10.
Next is Foley, whom I’d been particularly critical of in the lead-up to the England Test. Despite plenty of chances, he simply hadn’t shown anything to suggest he could trouble the opposition and I was firmly in the Quade Cooper camp for Australia’s first choice flyhalf.
Not that Cooper had been setting the world alight, but at least we knew he was capable of controlling the game as he did prior to injury in 2013. Foley had never produced that level of performance, and frankly never looked like he was capable of doing so.
That was until Saturday, when ‘the playmaker who doesn’t make plays’ dumped an emu-sized egg on my face with a first half performance that was as good as anything I’ve seen from Cooper at his best. Bravo.
That brings us finally to Mr Beale. I wasn’t sure why he was even in the squad. Behavioural issues aside, he simply hadn’t performed at international level since 2011 and his defence remained as bad as it gets in Test rugby. I cringed when Rob Horne went down early and Beale came on to replace him.
Within minutes I was given another serve of humble pie when Beale smashed an Englishman to the ground in his first contact – and it was a proper tackle too, not one of those flying hugs he normally dishes out, barely slowing his man down before being brushed off.
And just to prove it was no fluke, he put on a few more hits during the game that were equally impressive. Yeah, yeah he did miss one that led to a try, but on the whole that was the best defensive effort I think we’ve ever seen from Beale, and he wasn’t too shabby in attack either.
With potentially four games left and the possibility of winning a little trophy they call ‘Bill’, I’m really hoping for another four large servings of humble pie. Because it tastes so good!
Internal Fixation
Guest
Say 3 "Hail Cheika's" and all is forgiven
PiratesRugby
Guest
Saying tah selections aren't as good as other possible selections doesn't mean you hate those tah players. Nor does it mean that those tahs are completely hopeless. I'm glad Foley had a great game. He's a decent player and a decent bloke. He almost left the tahs to come to the Rebels. I would have been pleased to have him. Still don't think he's the best halfback going around. The gripe is about opportunity. Some players get heaps of them. Others get few or none. Some players have to play out of their skin to get a start while others just have to show up. The Wallabies now don't look much like the team we thought it was going to be. Pocock is a starter. So is Genia. So is Sio. Skelton is gone although it is tragic that it is through injury. Same with poor Palu. So there's less to gripe about. But Cheka persists with substandard locks like Mumm and Douglas when Horwill, Jones, Arnold and Coleman could have been mediocre too. How about rewarding players who stayed in Australia and worked hard all year in s15? We're all Aussies supporting the Aussie team. We just pumped the poms in their own RWC at twickers and knocked them out of the comp. in the afterglow of something like that, even I can say that Foley and Beale were great. Just great.
cs
Roar Guru
Everyone’s defence is assessed in a vacuum. I guess you could say that, in which case I meant 'selection is not to be assessed in a vacuum' You are able to do this, because it is half the game really isn’t it? Depends which way you measure it. There are a tremendous number of properties in rugby.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Everyone's defence is assessed in a vacuum. You are able to do this, because it is half the game really isn't it? For what it's worth, I think he defends well front on in close, but once out wide, he falls off a bit... So his weaker defence can be somewhat improved in traffic, at 12, simply because runners aren't moving too laterally...I always thought his defence in space has always left a bit to be desired... He did very well out wide against England.
cs
Roar Guru
KB defended strongly in the Super comp this year, showing a marked concentration on this aspect of his play. He's not (yet) a great tackler, but he's a good tackler these days. Most importantly, his defence is not to be assessed in a vacuum. KB is an attacking player. Properly framed, the question is whether his attacking potency outweighs the now only slight risk in his defence. As a rugby consumer, I sure know which way I vote on that.
cs
Roar Guru
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, niwdEyaJ will take the comment as a compliment.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Beale missed the tackle, but he made a heap more that I didn't think he would... I am pretty sure he bent Farrell backwards there once... He was very good, and read the play well, and I have bagged his defence since day one... I didn't think he had that international game in him anymore... he's certainly hidden it well over the last three years.
Handles
Roar Guru
I am in the same camp as niwdeyaj - but I am still not convinced about Beale. He did what we knew he could do on the weekend - run and create. He also did what I fear about him - miss a critical tackle. I don't think the backline has great balance with Beale, Foley and Giteau, too many chiefs and not enough Indians for my liking, particularly as Kuridrani is not at his best. I am more than prepared to acknowledge that Cheika has got the best out of Beale as a flexible 'super' sub, but hopefully that is where he stays. I guess...Mitchell has to come in for Horne.
Handles
Roar Guru
Holy crap - a bloke falls on his sword in the most public manner available, and you say "more blood!".
Worlds Biggest
Guest
He's still performing at a high level, he was one of the best forwards in the Top 14 last season. McCaw is still playing at a high level at 34. Neil Back was playing at an outstanding level at age 34/35. I wouldn't discount Smith playing a part in this RWC if Hooper gets ousted ( really hope he doesn't btw ). That said Pocock and Smith on the same field would be a sight to see.
cs
Roar Guru
Roarers that regularly visit this site for their monthly, weekly, daily, hourly or even by-the-minute rugby fix, will know that I’m not the biggest fan of a number of Michael Cheika’s selections. Fair enough, for starters, niwdEyaJ, but I'm not sure this quite captures the enthusiasm with which you took to the task of 'not being the biggest fan'. Feel free to add renting of garments, wearing of sackcloth, weeping for forgiveness and, of course, generally telling us what it was like to have your head so deep in the sand, plus you need to keep us up to date with how the unicorns are going on your planet.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Good stuff Jay, think your being a tad harsh on Douglas. I thought he had a busy game and did well off the kickoffs in the last 15-20 minutes.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Yeah... I had to have some humble pie on Sunday morning... I was publicly thinking that Foley and Douglas would be our weak links, and honestly, Beale hasn't done anything good in 3 years... I had literally finished tweeting the following: "Foley's kicking game V good, general game still not creating tries..." and he scored the first try. 17 minutes later he scored the better of the two, with Beale his partner in creating it. Douglas was very good around the park, and again, forced me to eat my words. Hooper has been a bit off for mine. I think he works well with Pocock, simply because of his absence at the ruck but presence around the field. There have been times when his ruck work is almost comical in comparison to Pococks, which might be harsh, so hear me out... Against Fiji, there was two or three times when a tackle was made, Hooper was there, and instead of going over the ball, Hooper went through the clear out process, when there was no one to clear out, and that left the ball sitting there for Fiji to come in late and protect once Hooper had gone through... I thought it was really strange behaviour... like he was actively avoiding getting over the ball... He was literally stepping over the tackled player and going through an imaginary ruck... Then his flying ruck work on Brown was really very silly. It was not intelligent rugby at all. There was a few penalties in it to be truthful... in from the side, no arms, high... He was lucky not to be yellowed on the spot. If I was Cheik, I would look at McMahon as a straight swap for Hooper, rather than shift Pocock. I think Pocock is our new 8 for all time. McMahon offers a similar game to Hooper; energiser bunny, loves contact, good support, about the same at ruck time really, but then I don't think either Wales or England are that good at the ruck. McCalman had a solid game against Uruguay but he is just too pedestrian for me... no speed, no great physicality...
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Well if Hooper gets suspended for 3-4 weeks and no appeal then G Smith could be an option. G Smith is one of my favourite all time players. However I love what Hooper brings to the team, hopefully he only gets a week or two.
Red Rag
Roar Rookie
Douglas was very good.
Machooka
Roar Guru
JayE... well done buddy. I suppose this is why you write/comment and Cheika coaches eh ?
Dave_S
Guest
Must admit I assumed all along that cleaning out without the use of arms was always allowed. It seems to happen all the time.
PeterK
Roar Guru
moaman - I answer questions in good faith. Since you want to twist and misrepresent my answers be assured i.e. not in good faith, be assured I will not respond to any further questions from you. Just another trying to have a go at me.
Highlander
Guest
If it is deemed to be a yellow card offence, maybe he can be stood down for the first 10 minutes of the Welsh game :)
Lee
Guest
Yep - Beale delivered for the first time in a while and I've also got egg all over my fizzogg. I think that Hooper's strength alongside Pocock is greater than the sum of their parts. They complement each other and neither would be as good alone or even alongside a clone of themselves. As for Foley - well it's really simple, the only kickers highly likely to be taking shots at goal in the final will be from Oz, NZ or Ireland. Compared to Carter and Madigan / Sexton, there's only one Aussie boot with a record this year that stacks up - Foley. Cheika's selections are right.