In a season of missed opportunities Melbourne Rebels coach Tony McGahan is hoping that Sean McMahon is given one against England in next month’s Test series.
After briefly leading the Australian conference, the Rebels’ finals hopes hit a major hurdle with a 36-15 Super Rugby loss to the Chiefs that left them seven points off the NSW Waratahs’ lead and a tough road home.
Workhorse McMahon was again one of his sides biggest contributors at Waikato Stadium and McGahan hoped his 21-year-old back-rower would be given a chance to add to his six Test caps.
“We watch Sean closely at training every day and in the games and we think that he has to be in the Wallabies,” McGahan said.
McMahon is as good in attack as defence, ranked third in the competition for defenders beaten with 40.
He trails Chiefs fullback Damian McKenzie (52) and Reds centre Samu Kerevi (46) while star Wallabies back Israel Folau is the next-best Australian with 37.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is believed to be contemplating playing three No.7s at the same time against England with Waratahs gun and incumbent Michael Hooper at openside flanker, McMahon at blindside and Brumbies’ David Pocock at No.8.
Brumbies No.6 Scott Fardy has also been pressing his case with some impressive form as his side pushes for a finals berth.
A back-row of Hooper, McMahon and Pocock would mean the Wallabies would only have two recognised jumpers against a formidable England line-out.
But their pace and on-ball threat may make the risk worthwhile according to McGahan.
“It’s not an easy decision and there’s many factors that make up selecting a back five in Test rugby … you need a source of possession so how that works out is up to Michael but it would be hard to deny Sean on his form,” McGahan said.
“The other players in those positions are playing pretty well so you need to push them out with superior form and we feel that Sean has a very strong case.”
ken
Guest
Checka will try to keep to a minimum his selection of reds,.He selects on bias ,not form.. Only these 3 have a chance Simmons ( he tried MUMM but he failed miserably, so had to stick with Rob ) Slipper reserve loosehead Holmes reserve tighhead That`s all the REDS you will see in the POMS series...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
At test level Hooper makes more ground in traffic than McMahon does. He also makes more dominant tackles at test level too.
Radical Reds
Guest
If McMahon comes before Gill, Chieks needs to bury his head in the sand! We need another jumping option...
Dontcallmeshirley
Guest
6 McMahon 7 Pocock where he should be 8 Fardy pants Hooper on the bench where the Wallabies are desperate for impact.
Boz the Younger
Guest
Gator, Pocock just does what he always has since he started with the Wallabies 8 years ago. He can only tackle and turnover, apart from lineout drives which Moore does anyway he offers nothing in attack. That is not good enough for a modern 7, it makes him so special used that he can be played out of the game and it is happening more and more. Hooper is just to small for a modern 7, he makes no ground in traffic and gets pushed off the mark a lot. McMahon is more like the Kiwi 7s, an all rounder, and that is the way of the future. He is breakdown work is at least as good as Hooper's was when he first started and he us better than Hooper and Pocock in most other respects. I'd back him.
Dave_S
Guest
Yep even as a Reds supporter I find the Tah-conspiracy stuff silly and boring. We have the luxury of quality choices in Hooper, Pocock McMahon, Fardy and Gill, all are justifiable selections in the right context.
Cynical Play
Guest
Youre right. He's taller than I thought. Poey or Hooper it is then.
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
Jordy Reid would be a fantastic hooker or openside prop.
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
Boz, I'm as much of a dyed-in-the-wool Rebels supporter as anyone, but I strongly disagree with your view that Pocock is stagnating - he certainly wasn't the other night at AAMI Park - or that McMahon "just" needs work on his turnovers - that is presently a massive blank space in his skill set, which he acknowledges. This tour's dilemma is the same as last year's: he's too small to replace Fardy at 6, and he's not yet a proper 7, let alone one good enough to displace Pocock. He's still behind Gill and Hooper in that particular queue.
Markus
Guest
McMahon would be 2nd/3rd in line for 7. If Cheika persists with Pocock at 8, he would be close to starting. Besides Fardy, who are the other two 6s you would have ahead of him? He would surely be ahead of Stander and Mumm, and Tui plays for Japan.
Boz the Younger
Guest
IMO all things considered he is as good as Pocock now and better than Hooper, so it comes down to his growth potential.
Markus
Guest
McMahon is the tallest of the mentioned Aus openside flankers, and looks to have the longest limbs. He would the least likely to fit the ideal physical mould of a hooker. Pocock and Hooper far more suited.
John R
Roar Guru
Make him into an Aussie Dane Coles.
Sir Neville Nobody
Guest
yes they also conspire to have the Waratahs top the aussie conference these past 3 years.
Jason
Guest
Johnny Boy Jnr Agreed
PeterK
Roar Guru
I pick the the player who is best now not on potential.
Boz the Younger
Guest
Of course McMahon hits less rucks than the others, he is far more likely to be the one at the bottom of it after running the ball. That part of the analysis is flawed as the variables are not independent. He just needs work on his turnovers, but that isn't the only job for a 7, and other players should contribute there to. He is the best of the three at driving defenders back behind the gain line too, that effectively achieves a turnover in many instances by stopping their go forward and forcing a kick. Anyway, as far as I am concerned the metres he makes more than make up for any weakness, and being young he will only improve with time. In contrast Hooper and Pocock appear to be stagnating, I would rather invest in the player with the greater growth potential at this stage.
len
Guest
Not a chance.. 4th in line 7 4th in line 6
Boz the Younger
Guest
Interesting prospect, I could see it working if the three of them were in the field at the same time as Rory Arnold. He can out jump anybody and would make stealing attempts moot. I would find it difficult to give up n Fardy's epic work rate and abrasivness to start though, I reckon bringing McMahon and Arnold to finish would be the way to go.
Danger Mouse
Guest
The English will have 2 locks both of whom will be very good at the lineout no doubt. But their backrow of Robshaw, Haskell and Vunipola are hardly formidable. Cheika should pick 2 genuine lineout locks, and play Hooper, Pocock and McMahon and run them off their feet.