Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has welcomed Eddie Jones’ promise of an “enormous scrap” in next month’s blockbuster series with England with a selection smokescreen and wry grin.
While the England coach is vowing to whitewash Australia in the three-Test battle and taunting his former Randwick teammate with “Bodyline” threats, Cheika kept Jones guessing on Thursday with the naming of a vastly new-look 39-man training squad.
The inclusion of 10 uncapped rookies, including 21-year-old bolter Joe Powell, code-hopping utility back Karmichael Hunt and World Cup discard James Horwill, raised more questions than answers.
If Jones and his Six Nations champions were hoping for insight into Australia’s possible starting XV for the first Test on June 11 in Brisbane – or even the match-day 23 – the non-selection of European-based World Cup finalists Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau and Will Genia wouldn’t have helped either.
Cheika was intent on giving nothing away, other than a promise that the Wallabies would be ready to meet England head on.
“I’m not a big statement maker. I like to keep it quiet most of the time,” Cheika said.
“I’ve heard a lot of (Jones’s) comments and I think that’s awesome because the contact, that’s a part of the game.
“I loved it and I want my team to love it, the physicality of the game, the aggression etc.”
Nor was Cheika biting at Jones’ favouritism claims despite Australia humiliating the hosts at the World Cup.
“He’s obviously very happy with the team he’s got,” Cheika said.
“He believes he’ll come down here and win 3-0, so that’s his way of motivating his troops.”
The big question mark remains who will fill the Wallabies’ No.12 jumper in Giteau’s absence following Kurtley Beale’s season-ending knee injury.
Cheika said Hunt, Christian Lealiifano and Samu Kerevi were all options.
Many view Nick Stirzaker as Australia’s long-term halfback, but he certainly isn’t the short-term choice with the Melbourne Rebels’ captain overlooked in favour of the little-known Powell.
The biggest halfback bolter since coal miner Steve Merrick was plucked from Singleton 21 years ago, Powell is yet to even start a Super Rugby match for the Brumbies.
“Sometimes, you go with a bit of a gut feel,” Cheika said.
“I know that he hasn’t had a lot of minutes, but the minutes he’s played, he’s looked really good.”
Former captain Horwill earned a recall after being overlooked for the World Cup, while prop Sekope Kepu has also returned from Europe to join the squad.
Fiji-born winger Taqele Naiyaravoro and back-rower Leroy Houston have also cut short stints in Europe to be available.
Other uncapped players include Queensland backs Eto Nabuli and Nick Frisby, Western Force fullback Dane Haylett-Petty and lock Adam Coleman and Brumbies forwards Rory Arnold and Allan Alaalatoa.
But Cheika said their selections came with no guarantees.
“No one’s getting a cap for free,” he said.
“This is a special thing to get to play for Australia.”
Wallabies squad:
Backs – Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Nick Frisby, Mike Harris, Dane Haylett-Petty, Rob Horne, Karmichael Hunt, Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Luke Morahan, Eto Nabuli, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Nick Phipps, Joe Powell.
Forwards – Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Adam Coleman, Scott Fardy, Liam Gill, James Hanson, Greg Holmes, Michael Hooper, James Horwill, Leroy Houston, Sekope Kepu, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, Stephen Moore (capt), Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Toby Smith.
Goatee
Guest
Sorry to disappoint you but you're wrong. The grand final was today (which Saracens won) and EJ will have a full compliment to select from. England to win the first test and the third, IMO.
taylorman
Roar Guru
This is tricky ground. Exactly the same thing happened in NZ. What eventuated is the seconds played really well and they could have won the test, causing a dilemma when the firsts joined the tour. Then after a lot of deliberation, Lancaster dropped players who played well and picked the firsts. They probably should have won as well but those that came late were either carrying injury or tired. Last test Bomber mixed it up a bit but by then the ABs had clicked and it didn't matter who England selected. So should the English seconds go really well, Jones has a dilemma. Firstly he needs to make sure anyone joining late is test match ready.
Bart
Guest
England aren't a big chance in the 1st one. They'll be missing their best players from the Saracens grandfinal the week before: Billy Vunipola, Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Mako Vunipola will all be out. Tuilagi has hurt his hamstring. They'll be fielding a 2nd XV. Honourable defeat is more than likely.
Bob Forbes
Guest
Cheika has yet to put together a working combination, and very little time before its put to the test V a well established opponent with the "runs on the board." Sure, the Wallabies can win the series, but Game 1 will provide the greatest challenge.....and England are a big chance in that one.
taylorman
Roar Guru
We like you Eddie...
Derm
Roar Guru
Reported quotes from Jones: “It would be a failure if we don’t win the series. We want to be the top team in the world and I don’t think we should have any embarrassment about saying that. Therefore, if we go to Australia, we should expect to win the series.” “We’ve got to make sure they feel like playing against England is a different experience. It’s got to be an enormous scrap. That’s how we’re going to go into the games. “We’re going to be in their face, physical, unrelenting, don’t give them a moment. Saracens are a great example of what you can do when you’ve got that sort of attitude. They’re clearly the best side in Europe and that’s what we’ve got to be like. We won’t play exactly like Saracens but we’ve got to have the same attitude.” “When you go to Australia everything there is coordinated. The media work with the team to provide a hostile environment for the team arriving ... it’s one of those unique situations only Australia can get away with. It’s a good test for us. Historically we’ve only ever won three Tests in Australia, so there’s a great opportunity to use all those hostile ingredients to provide a platform for us to perform well.” “They’re just much better with the ball. If you look at the stats from the World Cup, that’s the difference between the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere teams. So they’re going to put more questions to our defence than teams did in the Six Nations and try and play with an intensity and pace that isn’t common in the northern hemisphere.” “I don’t look at the form of Super Rugby. When you’re looking for players to play Test rugby, it’s not how they’re playing for their club or province. It’s their capability to transfer it to a higher level of the game. If you just look through their squads, they’re not playing well but within that there’s a very talented and proud group of players that will be a different group once they assemble.” “Going to Australia you’re going to get various comments but you get them everywhere you go in the world. I coached in Japan and I wasn’t Japanese and the Japanese didn’t like me. I coach in England and probably the English don’t like me. You’re going to be unliked wherever you go if you’re not that country’s person. You just get on with it. The joy is in coaching the team.”
Old Bugger
Guest
haha!!......."gruff" aye.....I've seen happier faces, on me mate's bulldog!!
taylorman
Guest
Did he actually say 3-0 or is that Cheika's cheeky for the day? If theres anything true in rugby its that England are not going to win 3-0. Not with every ounce of luck on the planet. :-) Good to see the two finally sparring a bit as we get nearer though. Like the judges in the X Faxtor/ Idol series the coaches could just be the biggest entertainment for this series. :-) Hansen and Gatland are hardly going to light the stage up with 'gruff'