It’s that time of year again – not the one that means some Super Rugby teams will go a couple of months without a home game. It’s the time we get to turn to our fabulous Wallabies for a boost as a rugby public.
Last year we raced through June without a break, this year the endless hammering of Australian teams by New Zealand ones pauses for us to let the Wallabies restore our sense of pride.
Australia could do with a strong showing from the Wallabies in this three-Test grudge series.
I wrote last week about how the women’s game is coming on in leaps and bounds and has been a real focus of the ARU recently.
But while the women winning their first seven’s world series is a big deal, the Wallabies still lead the code in this country.
Without much to cheer for in Super Rugby we’re all waiting with bated breath for the Wallabies to open a can of whoop-ass on England.
There’s a great chance they will.
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Forgive me for this chest-beating, but only months ago the Wallabies played the World Cup final on England’s home pitch, in a tournament where England couldn’t progress from the group stage.
During an election, the news media have an interest in making sure the coverage depicts a close race, whether it is or not. The same is true for sports media, especially when it comes to England and Australia. The interest is high, so keep the stakes high by making it seem a 50-50 affair.
The truth is, I’d be disappointed if Australia didn’t beat England handily across this series. I don’t expect a flogging, but a solid win.
Yes, England have improved since their appalling result as World Cup hosts.
They grabbed the coach of that tournament for their own team (that is if you don’t think Michael Cheika gets the ‘coach of the tournament’ tag for getting the Wallabies into the final, with nine Tests to prepare). Eddie Jones is a strong upgrade over Stuart Lancaster, whose name I could barely remember, which wasn’t a good sign.
England then went on a rampaging run to a Six Nations victory. Winning all five games and scoring 13 tries was a huge boost to their confidence and a sign Jones has the team pulling in the same direction.
But look through the list of teams England vanquished: Scotland, Italy, Ireland, Wales and France.
How many of those five teams left in England’s wake were in last year’s World Cup semi-finals? Not one. The World Cup semi-final was an all-southern hemisphere event. So this series should be a step up for England compared to their Six Nations romp.
England have a poor record in Australia, with something like three Test wins here and no victories in Brisbane.
Jones has played up England’s underdog status, which is his right. But he also admits the team is only just finding its identity under his tutelage.
Last year the Wallabies were only just finding their identity and had to do so in a tumultuous World Cup year.
Now Cheika has had a full off-season to think about his team, and the majority of a Super Rugby season without the burden of coaching the Waratahs, to sum up what is on offer across the country.
Last year, Wallabies players spoke openly about Cheika changing things in the team culture and teaching them a new way of playing, level of focus and set of standards.
Year two of Cheika under those circumstances should see more benefits as the team becomes more secure in its identity, patterns and culture.
This isn’t to say England have no chance of winning – it could happen. I’m not excited about the Wallabies front row form, and that’s the door England need to kick down to break into this series. But this is the Wallabies’ series to lose.
Notching up a couple of strong victories would also put a bounce in the step of diehard fans struggling to grin during a tough year at provincial level.
Wallabies team for the first Test
Cheika keeping 33 is another good sign to me, I like that he doesn’t stick to formulas just for the sake of it.
However, one place he should stick with the tried and true is Israel Folau. There have been whispers about whether Folau might get a run at No.13 against England, but it’s best he is left at 15.
At the back, he can be the second-best fullback in the world. We know that. At outside centre, where he has about a dozen games under his belt, it’s not clear what his level will be in a Test match arena.
The coaching staff can be creative about using him in the front line on attack, but his base position should be fullback. It would be better to give him a run at No.13 if games become a blowout one way or another.
Here is the Wallabies team for the first Test that I hope Cheika picks. I am assuming the lack of experienced options at inside centre means Christian Lealiifano will be picked. In other places I’ve gone with safer options, rather than trying everyone out with new combinations.
The ideal will be to either get ahead in the series, or in matches, to give room for experimentation. But I’m a believer in treating every Wallabies Test as a must-win, rather than a place to tinker too much.
James Horwill will pick up his combination with his old Reds partner quickly. Dane Haylett-Petty has had a great year and will provide a stronger kicking option in the back three. Taqele Naiyaravoro provides some more bulk in the back line.
Two new faces down the end of the bench in the backs could do with Test experience and are versatile enough to keep tactical options open. And Sean McMahon absolutely deserves a shot at this level again after being a workhorse for the Rebels this year.
1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore
3. Sekope Kepu
4. James Horwill
5. Rob Simmons
6. Scott Fardy
7. Michael Hooper
8. David Pocock
9. Nick Phipps
10. Bernard Foley
11. Dane Haylett-Petty
12. Christian Leali’ifano
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Taqele Naiyaravoro
15. Israel Folau
16.Tatafu Polota Nau
17. Greg Holmes
18. James Slipper
19. Sam Carter
20. Sean McMahon
21. Nick Frisby
22. Samu Kerevi
23. Karmichael Hunt
Nobody
Guest
Oops, I was trying to make a joke, not flame, but it fell flat. To explain, "wait" was meant to be pointing fun at myself for making the (deliberate) mistake of calling you cynical when your name is Cynical! Anyway, sorry, didn't mean to offend and I'll stick to my day job XD
dru
Roar Rookie
Why is a so called second playmaker needed? This is the question, isn't it? And we dont actually know Cheika's answer yet. Against England, with not a lot of options for second playmaker he may well Not go that way. Personally the second playmaker spoke to the Wallaby identity that has been so much spoken of. I believe it leads to a more interesting less predictable game. But we dont at all know this is where we are ging against England. Wait for 1:00.
Utah
Guest
Yes Jibba, he picked Kepu, the form tighthead of the recent RWC. Problem???
Kiwi in us
Guest
I agree with all you say and only add that The six nations might of been nice for England but this is a redemption tour. After being hammered by their own press in 2015, they have a shot to right their ship. I expect a fair bit of English resolve with much fitter players.
Harry Jones
Expert
Fun read. You're becoming a very good writer. Damn good! I think everyone's overreading the RWC. ENG will bring the fizikaliti.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Hodge does take the long range kicks so not surprised his accuracy is down. That said he was taking the closer ones last match for the Rebels and was not in good goal kicking form. If he does find his radar his boot is massive and we could pressure from much further out on the pitch than we do with Foley. I don't expect that to miraculously happen over night though.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Agree, as the only alternate 10 he needs to be on the bench.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I think general field kicking helps push for his inclusion as well. Foley has a pop gun and Folau is wayward. If CLL is on the bench and Hodge is too green then at least one of Hunt or DHP should be included to give us a kicking option. If Izzy stays at FB then I think the clear best choice is DHP for a wing spot and to play the second fullback roll covering kick return. Roll on the bandwagon! And watch that violent language Chooky!
Karl Knuth
Roar Pro
I kind of agree NB, but I also want to see if Foley can take on the primary playmaking role. If it does work it has the potential to be devastating. But we shall see. In an ideal world without elegibility rules and injury my backline is very much different. But the backline I named above is the one I think Cheika will pick and is probably the best available atm. If no rules/injuries applied my backline would be this. 9. Frisby 10. Cooper 11. Tomane 12. Kerevi 13. Folau 14. Mitchell 15. Beale 21. Genia 22. O'Connor 23. Foley In my ideal team Cooper pounds the opposition with big ball runners for the first 50 minutes and after that Foley comes on for Cooper and O'Connor for Kerevi with Beale moving to inside centre to do what he does best with Foley and Folau beside him, running in, around and through defences. This kind of game plan compliments all players involved I believe.
Antoni
Guest
I was convinced. A win is a win and a series of unbroken wins is even better. Particularly when many were predicting their imminent downfall. I guess those who were predicting failure can make themselves feel better by saying the Wallabies unbeaten run in 2015 against most of the best teams in the world, bar the greatest rugby team of all time, was 'unconvincing'.
Not Bothered
Guest
I think their forward pack is slightly better as a whole.
PeterK
Roar Guru
they had very good wins against england and argentina in the rwc, they played well in those games. That said the wallabies played well above their natural talent last year, cheika did a great job lifting them. The wallabies have very few world class players. Man for man they would probably only be 4th best in the world if you merged teams maybe even 5th. In a merged team england would probably get more players (depending on actual selections this year of course).
Not Bothered
Guest
DHP on the wing isnt ridiculous.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
So you cant even address the question then ... just make immature snide comments , typical ...
Not Bothered
Guest
I agree Chaz.
Not Bothered
Guest
9 Phipps 10 Foley 11 Horne 12 Lealiifano/ Hunt 13 Kuridrani 14 Naiya 15 Folau Is a more balanced and sensible backline. I dont see Cheks using an unbalanced backline at odds with what he has done in the past or what he wants in the future. I dont see him stripping the team of ball players and stacking it with ball runners. Maybe he will pick your backline but I doubt it. I understand a lot (most) dont understand the value of playmakers like Giteau and wete struggling to understand why he was in the team. When people were constently complaining about Aus with McCabe at 12 it had Beale, JOC and Mitchell in the team and the backline youve named makes Wales look dynamic and expansive imo. I think Eng will win but if Aus names that backline I will be putting money on it. It will be a new structure with very little controlling or playmaking ability. It could come off but imo the odds are against it.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Why is it absurd to suggest a fullback could play on the wing? If the English are going to kick as expected then why not have a player who is good under the high ball & has a good kicking game back there? DHP has shown a good attacking game this season as well. Thinking of a couple of players who have gone well recently moving from fullback at Super level to wing at test level in Ben Smith & Nene Milner-Skudder. It's not like there are a huge amount of top class wing options beating down the door are there?
Rower who wishes he could play rugby.
Roar Pro
The way in which they went about those wins was unconvincing bar the win against the All Blacks. But the fact they were slaughtered the following match and in the final seems to suggest the All Blacks had an off day rather than the Wallabies playing fantastically well.They could have easily lost to Scotland or Wales. Hardly convincing.
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
Great point in your second para Paul. This England side is NOT a huge improvement on Stuart Lancaster's side generally - only the one that turned up at the WC - but the media have tended to head for the obvious and described it as a black-and-white situation since Eddie won the 6N. Remember Lancaster's team had two wins to one over the Wallabies going into the WC group match. England 2014 gave the All Blacks all the hurry-up they could handle on the summer tour for the first two Tests, despite the tour planning being wrecked by the absence of 17 front-line players for the 1st Test at Eden Park. This tour could be as good as that one or even better, but there differences between Eddie's 2016 version and England pre 2015 WC are marginal.
Squirrel
Guest
I agree Will the poms should dictate the tone as they have played well together with great results. I am predicting the poms to win the first test easily and that may set the tone. If it is a close English win in the first Australia will win the series 2-1.