Michael Cheika could make as many as four changes to his Wallabies team as Tatafu Polota-Nau warns England have “woken up the beast” ahead of Saturday’s second Test in Melbourne.
While injury has ruled out David Pocock (eye socket) and put chief lineout caller Rob Simmons (lower back) in grave doubt for the AAMI Park clash, further alterations to the midfield and front row might be on the cards as the Wallabies attempt to level the Cook Cup series.
Yet the biggest difference will be in Australia’s attitude, now they’ve shaken off the cobwebs after seven months without a Test and had a taste of England’s hardcore physicality, according to reserve hooker Polota-Nau.
“You see the true test of a person’s character when they’re down and out,” Polota-Nau told reporters on Tuesday.
“People think we are but, at the end of the day, it’s more so how we bounce back and reply to the situation.
“We’re more than capable. If anything, they’ve woken up the beast.
“It’s great. We can make sure that come training, we have no illusion that they’re going to be physical.”
Simmons sat out Tuesday’s training session at Gosch’s Paddock and appears to be at long odds to feature in the second Test.
Brumbies lock Sam Carter has emerged as his likely replacement, a move that would allow second-gamer Rory Arnold to play next to a familiar face and as part of an established second-row combination.
That is critical after England’s control of the lineout in Brisbane, which coach Eddie Jones believes has “worried” the Wallabies and their skipper Stephen Moore.
Ben McCalman looms as the inclusion for Pocock, with the need for more size and power in the scrum and to counter England’s No.8 Billy Vunipola in the loose likely to lead Cheika to pick a traditional No.8 rather than another fetcher in his back row.
Workhorse McCalman was one of the unheralded stars of Australia’s World Cup campaign after helping stave off Wales and Scotland with desperate, heroic performances.
The need for a greater physical edge could result in Sekope Kepu starting in place of Greg Holmes in the front row.
But Cheika is also contemplating a different centre pairing, despite Samu Kerevi’s impressive but interrupted debut at No.12.
Matt Toomua is in camp, having fully recovered from knee surgery six weeks ago, and while he is a quality ball-playing option plus a strong, abrasive tackler, he would be a huge gamble given his lack of recent game time.
The other leading contender, Christian Lealiifano, believes the big-bodied Kerevi-Kuridrani combination is worth persisting with.
“I thought they went really, really well. With a bit more ball, hopefully they can do a bit more damage,” said Lealiifano, who came off the bench early in the first Test to replace the concussed Rob Horne.
The Wallabies have the day off training on Wednesday but Cheika is due to name his team early on Thursday.
PeterK
Roar Guru
what is funny is Vince Ruguari in 2 articles was pushing the line CLL would start, then a later one contradicts himself that Kerevi may start.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Carter means the lineout is a brumby combination, Moore, Arnold, Carter and Fardy that has some value. Carter is a similar player to Simmons good in both set pieces, good work rate, ineffectual in contact, and gives dumb penalties. Horwill may have been a better choice but the lineout did not go well with Horwill or Mumm (also a bit shakey with Simmons). No 8 is a worry though. Hope Mumm, Palu and Gill get dropped from the bench.
Adrian
Roar Rookie
Yes, agree Backs good, but forwards not brutish enough, Carter is more of the same but worse. McMahon not right type, and no need for Gill at all. Mumm still there! I think Jones dared him to try physicality and he did the opposite. Perhaps he thinks he's going to run them ragged, but they need go forward. Smells of compromise, or Larkham,..or something. They still could win!
Adrian
Roar Rookie
Hmm...a bit soft for me with Carter, but who knows? Energy from McMahon Palu on extended bench mightn't make the cut, but (unfortunately) Mumm probably will. A bit of a compromise I think
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No Skelton me old mate
timber
Guest
The beast forgot to set his alarm clock. He's a frightful menace but poor attention to detail is his nemesis.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well the team has been named with an extended bench: Reds pair Samu Kerevi and James Slipper have earned starts in the second Test against England, while Nick Frisby, Liam Gill and Greg Holmes have been named to an extended bench. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has selected St.George Queensland Reds captain James Slipper and centre Samu Kerevi to start in Australia’s second Test against England in Melbourne on Saturday night. The pair’s Reds teammates Greg Holmes, Nick Frisby and Liam Gill have been named on an extended 11-man bench, which will be narrowed down to eight on Friday. This weekend’s match will be Kerevi’s second start in as many Tests, after making his debut in the opening match of the series at Suncorp Stadium last weekend. Should Gill be named, it will be his first match for the Wallabies since November 2013. More to follow… The second Test between the Wallabies and England will be screened LIVE in High Definition and ad-break free on FOX SPORTS 502 from 7.30pm AEST and LIVE on Ten from 7.30pm AEST for QLD, NSW and ACT viewers (on ONE in other Australian States and Territories). Fans can also LIVE stream the match on Foxtel Go (for FOX SPORTS subscribers) and for the first time on TenPlay. Wallabies team to play England in the second Test at AAMI Park, Melbourne, Saturday, June 18, 8:05pm AEST 1. James Slipper 2. Stephen Moore (C) 3. Sekope Kepu 4. Sam Carter 5. Rory Arnold 6. Scott Fardy 7. Michael Hooper VC 8. Sean McMahon 9. Nick Phipps 10. Bernard Foley 11. Rob Horne VC 12. Samu Kerevi 13. Tevita Kuridrani 14. Dane Haylett-Petty 15. Israel Folau Extended bench to be narrowed down on Friday Tatafu Polota-Nau Toby Smith Greg Holmes Dean Mumm James Horwill Ben McCalman Liam Gill Wycliff Palu Nick Frisby Christian Lealiifano Luke Morahan The same backline thankfully retained. Sio pays for his scrum troubles. Pretty concerned with the pack really. McMahon is not the right man at 8, not carter at lock. The bench indicates that Cheika may again be looking at a 6/2 split. At least this time he's considering 2 number 8s to be included in the 23. Gill on the bench would be foolish with 2 starting.
OJP
Guest
not sure thats true JBJ, but it did make me laugh
Adrian
Roar Rookie
Agree 100% squirrel
jeznez
Roar Guru
The beast was asleep and rusty!
Browny
Roar Rookie
Give it a rest, Johnny Boy. He outperformed every other forward on the day and not for the first time. This red vs blue stuff gets really old, really quickly. If our chances for ever winning a bledisloe cup hinge firmly around Liam Gill or George Smith wearing the gold #7 then we may as well give up now and stop playing the kiwis.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Agree, for me it should only be injury enforced changes and probably a balancing out of the bench, reverting to a 5-3 split.
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
Hooper is Sydney's new Phil Waugh. The ARU will accomodate him in the Wallabies starting team even it if means moving George Smith or Liam Gill out of position. As long as this garbage is allowed to continue we'll never be contenders for a Bledisloe Cup
Big Steve
Guest
I'm surprised that there hasn't been more comments about Moore this week. He doesn't seem to be going that well. Doesn't do well with the ref, scrum isn't going well, doesn't seem to be making metres with the ball like he has before, lineout seems to be struggling. I wonder if he wasn't the captain would he still be starting?
John R
Roar Guru
I'd be backing Slipper to start too. I get the feeling that his dip in form last year was more to do with all of the injuries he was carrying. Now he's been operated on and is back up and running, I'd like to see him get the starters honors again.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Yeah Albo, most hookers are... cheeky! Or lying down :)
The OG AlBo
Roar Guru
TPN is a naturally cheeky interviewee. I wouldn't take his comments so literally.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Ummm Dat... talkin' about 'imbalance at the breakdown' you coping OK buddy?
Council
Guest
Actually Captain Sensitve, Mania is a Manu Samoa supporter. Are you Zero Gain in disguise?
Matt Porter
Roar Guru
Why was the beast asleep in the first place?