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I’ll start with this – I would rest David Pocock and Israel Folau for the Wallabies’ upcoming quarter-final against Scotland.
No, I am not disrespecting Scotland, quite the opposite; I think Australia need to pick their best team.
However, picking your best team for this game must take in to consideration the ultimate goal… winning the World Cup.
No one could deny the huge impact Pocock has had on the Wallabies’ success, and despite being slightly off the pace Folau is and will remain our best strike weapon in attack. Teams fear him and his presence alone changes the way an opposition defends and therefore opens opportunities, if not for Folau, then for others like Bernard Foley.
Likewise, no-one could dismiss the huge contribution made by both Kurtley Beale and Ben McCalman in recent weeks. In defence, Beale is putting his body in places it has never been before and bringing the same threat in attack but with twice the involvements.
The Big Dog (McCalman), a player known and selected for his workrate, has to be impressing even himself with the amount he is getting done. Try-saving tackles, double efforts in defence and turning up to carry after all that. Great stuff.
Selecting these two in place of Pocock and Folau has multiple benefits:
1. The obvious one: It rests their injuries, increasing the chance they are 100 per cent for future games.
2. It rewards two of the best performers off the bench in recent weeks.
3. This in turn creates space on the bench for the best blokes who haven’t had a chance recently, and keeps the squad alive and engaged.
4. It allows for some necessary game time for those that need it and rest for others as insurance for key players and performance.
The strategic benefits come both in injury protection and game integration.
There are some players likely to be selected who have carried a heavy load to date – Scott Fardy, Kane Douglas, Bernard Foley, Matt Giteau and Tevita Kuridrani. Resting Pocock and Folau allows some potential in-game rotations not yet available that can aid these players and reduce the cumulative load that is snowballing each week on them.
Secondly, it gives players in key positions the opportunity to get game time and experience the atmosphere of the big games rather than the more free-flowing encounter against Uruguay. The three positions I am thinking about specifically are second row, five-eighth and inside centre.
As such, the team I would select and the tactical substitutions would look as follows:
1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Rob Simmons
5. Kane Douglas (Sam Carter)
6. Scott Fardy (Dean Mumm)
7. Michael Hooper
8. Ben McCalman
9. Will Genia
10. Bernard Foley (Quade Cooper)
11. Drew Mitchell
12. Matt Giteau (Matt Tomua)
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Kurtley Beale
16. James Slipper
17. Tatafu Polota-Nau
18. Greg Holmes
19. Sam Carter
20. Dean Mumm
21. Nick Phipps
22. Quade Cooper
23. Matt Toomua
Note: Front row selections and substitutions stay the same – because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and the load is already being managed well here. Likewise I think the Genia-Phipps balance is working well.
The two guys that get the raw end of the deal are Cooper and Kuridrani, who after matching up physically last week are asked to do it again, and right through until our exit. However, compared to the physical work done by both Foley and Giteau in the last two games, and the need to have capable and comfortable back-ups, I feel this is justified.
Sean McMahon could of course be there, but I think McCalman has shown that there is not a lot between him and McMahon, both playing similar styles. While some may say that McCalman at No.7 cost us against Ireland in 2007 and could potentially again, I don’t think Scotland pose the same threat and Hooper would play right through without incident.
McMahon could take Dean Mumm’s spot on the bench, although an early injury to Fardy could leave our lineout vulnerable, as I wouldn’t play any other locks on the side.
My guts tells me that Michael Cheika will go with his full strength team including Folau and Pocock, if for nothing else than the mentality of it, but I would be interested in your opinions, Roarers.
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.