Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika are kindred spirits, both have thick myrtle green blood flowing through their veins, the best attacking blood in world rugby.
There’s a decade between them in age difference – Jones (59), Cheika (49) – they both won Shute Shield premiership as players a decade apart, and coached Randwick to premiership honours a decade apart.
But come June, they will be head-to-head – Jones coaching England, Cheika the Wallabies – clashing at Suncorp on June 11, AAMI Stadium in Melbourne June 18, and Allianz Stadium July 25.
Jones is a cheeky bugger, having already fired across Cheika’s bows with a Super Rugby is an ordinary tournament jibe.
Just how far was Jones’ tongue in cheek?
Jones is on a major high, having turned England’s fortunes from being the first host to miss qualifying for the Rugby World Cup quarters to capturing the Six Nations Grand Slam for the first time since England’s Rugby World Cup year of 2003.
By any standards, that was brilliant of Jones with virtually the same humiliated side of just months before.
Cheika’s in a very different boat, missing five key players from the Rugby World Cup final loss to the All Blacks.
He has Sekope Kepu, Will Genia, Matt Giteau, and Adam Ashley-Cooper playing overseas, with lock Kane Douglas still rehabbing after anterior cruciate surgery and not likely to be back in action until the last three Reds Super Rugby games.
That’s a mighty big hole.
If Cheika had to select his team to meet England from the Super Rugby starting lists this weekend, there would be six Brumbies, and six Waratahs, picking themselves – 12 of the 15.
The Brumbies – Scott Sio (1), Stephen Moore capt (2), Scott Fardy (6), David Pocock (8), Joe Tomane (11), and Tevita Kuridrani (13).
The Waratahs – Michael Hooper (7), Nick Phipps (9), Bernard Foley (10), Kurtley Beale (12), Rob Horne (14), and Israel Folau (15).
There’s no chance Cheika will give Folau a run at outside centre as the Waratahs have, because Cheika needs Kuridrani at 13 as much as Folau at 15.
Horne is a left-winger, but he’s capable of playing in the centres as well, so he can switch to the right wing.
That leaves a tight head prop and two locks to complete the Wallaby starting line-up.
James Slipper can be the 3, Rob Simmons the 5, with Will Skelton, Dean Mumm, Dave Dennis, Luke Jones, and Cadeyrn Neville battling for the 4 jersey and the bench.
Neville would be the bolter, but he’s long overdue for some recognition.
Cheika’s hardest job this year will be to keep Matt Hodgson, Liam Gill,and Sean McMahon happy without being able to select them unless there’s a spate of injuries to the backrow.
All three are openside flankers,and all three deserve Wallaby selection, but there’s simply no room, even on the bench.
That makes the Wallaby starting line-up look like this.
1 – Scott Sio
2 – Stephen Moore (c)
3 – James Slipper
4 – Will Skelton
5 – Rob Simmons
6 – Scott Fardy
7 – Michael Hooper
8 – David Pocock
9 – Nick Phipps
10 – Bernard Foley
11 – Joe Tomane
12 – Kurtley Beale
13 -Tevita Kuridrani
14 – Rob Horne
15 – Israel Folau
Prediction – when the Wallabies down England, there’s a good chance Michael Cheika will be the cheekiest bugger of them all.
He would have done it the hard way.
CUW
Guest
not only does Skelton has no form in super or tests - he is also a very poor player. watch the yesterday match again - like in the 2nd minute he gives a away a penalty even a schoolboy would feel ashamed of. such actions are coach-killers. players give penalties away playing borderline - but that was plain stupid. not the kind of thing a coach would expect from a test player .....
CUW
Guest
Hodge had a couple of good games - agaisnt cheetahs and force was it? u dont go dropping the incumbent , just becoz someone had a couple of games against so-so opponents :) LOL
CUW
Guest
part of Eddie's strategy is manipulating the media to focus on different things. for eg - during the world cup , his 6.5 comment about Robshaw was the main topic even after the demise of England. he knows a series win is not a possibility in Auzzy - he has said it earlier , that the english are not fit enuf to play on the hard pitches of auzzy. but if he can win one game , that would make him look better than all before him. another thing he will want to do is to put his stamp on the squad. becoz of agreement with clubs he could only make 10 changes to the original world cup squad. so when he won 6N , people said he is reaping what Lancaster sawed. he will want to change that perception .
CUW
Guest
what if they bring a New Zealander as the 7 ??? Teimana HArrison has impressed JOnes. count ur lucky stars Nathan Hughes does not qualify for England until the end of the Auzzy tour. (he is a former Auckland and Fiji 7s rep huge man with the pacific island ball skills). England will have the better front and 2nd row easily. they will have the better 8 easily. on current form they will have the better goal kicker easily. how Auzzy select their backs will determine who has the advantage - if England have Tuilagi fit.
Paul
Guest
Gee Randwich people overrate themselves David! - "the best attacking blood in world rugby" - maybe 30 to 40 years ago but not in the modern era. Watch the Super rugby semi and final from last year! It shows the attacking intent of NZ teams with and without the ball. Certainly need a 3rd jumper and it would be better with a fourth. The WC final showed teams how to both pressure Australia at the line out and take Pocock out if the game. We cannot afford to play Fardy hooper and pocock and desperately need a power 8 who a 6 jumper!
Paul
Guest
Gee Randwich people over rate themselves the "best attacking blood in world rugby"... Maybe (debatable) thirty years ago. If anyone wants to look at attacking rugby both with the ball and without, watch any NZ super rugby team. There attacking intent is just superb, wish we had coaches and the programs in Australia to lay this style!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Because Fardy does not play lock
metalisticpain
Roar Rookie
Amazing what a new coach could do. If only the force could change it up...
Scrumma
Guest
Both have a point to prove. Are the poms the real deal and can the wallabies kick on from last years form. A wildcard is to bring Carmichael hunt into the mix.
SAVAGE
Guest
"have thick myrtle green blood flowing through their veins, the best attacking blood in world rugby." Seriously?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Does Hooper? What skills does he posses as a loose playing 7 that we want in a tight forward? If anything, Pocock would be suitable for that switch based on his style of play.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Slipper has never excelled at THP. He last played there when the Reds had a weak scrum.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
with Tomane and Toomua heading o/s I doubt Cheik will pick them. We are light on for wing options so Horne will definitely be picked. I think he is very solid and will do the job. Front and back rows just about pick themselves. fardypooper on the dry track will be tough to negate. One of the 2 row spots is up for grabs. Skelton shouldn't be anywhere near the squad on form nor Mumm. I'd like to see one of the young second rowers get a run. Holloway putting pressure on McCalman for a bench spot. Jones will have the Poms well prepared and primed. The Wallas will need to be good to get the money.
Benno
Guest
I find it interesting that the same people that were constantly complaining about Quade Cooper defending at full back say nothing about Foley defending on the wing. Surely there is a better option at fly-half than Foley who can't tackle and is one dimensional in attack only really looking good when the ball goes past him to a real play-making option. Will Skelton should not even be allowed to watch the wallabies play, being 140kgs does not make him a decent rugby player. He is fat, slow, lazy and basically worthless. A better option would be any other lock from any senior team in the country. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
michaelJ.
Guest
No warm up games for England? A very strange arrangement if you ask me. It seems to be all about TV programming.
soapit
Guest
if you openly disrespect enough of someones work it will probably seem like you are disrespecting them personally (or even attacking) and probably would be start to be at least partly true. i disagree that anything of mine you have deleted in this article was a personal attack and consisted at worst of strong criticism of the authors article as written. this kind of situation isnt too surprising if you continually ignore feedback people give you regarding the quality of a paid contributor.(particularly when this paid contributor is probably the worst offender on this site when it comes to making personal attacks on multiple posters - and its not improving).
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
9. Stirzaker 10. Lealiifano 11. Tomane 12. Kerevi 13. Hodge 14 Folau .15. Beale
Charlie Turner
Guest
Hooper struggles to push in on his open side prop in a scrum from 7 so I can't see him taking the weight and pushing forward at hooker. Even if he managed that he still has to lift his leg to hook on the feed. Let's just leave him where he is and use guys like Ready who have spent years developing their game. The traffic jam you mention at 7 is temporary as Gill and Pocock have both made other arrangements.
grapeseed
Guest
9. Stirzaker 10. Lealiifano 11. Tomane 12. Beale 13. Kerevi 14. Hodge 15. Folau.
Wombat
Guest
Slipper!!!, your kidding great around the field but can't scrum, Holmes should start. Skelton??, he was dropped 2 games ago and Hopper hasn't really played very well either.