Michael Cheika is reluctant to heed fresh calls to shift Israel Folau to the centres as the Wallabies travel to Wellington striving to arrest their worst losing streak in more than a decade.
The Wallabies haven’t won a match since Cheika was named world coach of the year last November, while Saturday night’s humiliating 42-8 loss to the All Blacks was Australia’s heaviest defeat on home soil in 113 years.
Cheika is taking full accountability for the World Cup finalists’ alarming fall from grace, but has also placed his under-performing troops on notice that none is safe from the axe as they regroup to face New Zealand again on Saturday.
“I’ll have a look at the whole team as far as the set-up’s concerned and once we’ve had a good review of the match, both today and tomorrow, give the opportunities to the players that want to stand up and put themselves on the line for Australia in Wellington,” said Cheika on Sunday.
Major strike weapon Folau had little opportunity or impact from fullback, prompting further calls to play him at outside centre where incumbent Tevita Kuridrani had a poor night and has failed to impress this season.
But Cheika indicated it was unlikely.
“He’d be an option, yeah. We’ll have a look at it,” said Cheika. “He’s always in the selection mix that way.
“But I’ve always seen Israel as in the fullback role and that’s been his main role and it’s probably somewhere I’d like to see him keep playing.”
Tournament-ending injuries Matt Giteau, who suffered a broken ankle in Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener, and Rob Horne, who likely requires a shoulder reconstruction, will likely force Cheika to at least find a new inside centre.
Matt Toomua, who replaced Giteau on a disastrous night at ANZ Stadium, must pass a series of concussion tests before being considered for the return bout in New Zealand, where the Wallabies must win for the first time in 15 years to keep their Bledisloe Cup hopes alive.
With Giteau and Toomua used as second playmakers, Cheika said Quade Cooper was a definite inside centre option, along with rookie Reece Hodge and fellow squad member Samu Kerevi.
Cheika has numerous other worries, including a horror tally of 38 missed tackles.
Blindside flanker Scott Fardy could gain a recall after surprisingly being relegated to the bench before the Wallabies lost five lineouts on their throw in Saturday’s drubbing.
Cheika accepted responsibility for not having the Wallabies in the right mindset but hoped the six-tries-to-one rout served as a wake-up call.
“There’s no better reality check on that than what happened yesterday,” he said after the Wallabies slumped to five straight Test losses for the first time since the 2005 team under Eddie Jones.
“We’ve got to keep building after last year … We got to a high point, which maybe a lot of people didn’t expect, including perhaps some of the players (who) didn’t understand the potential they could reach when they really dug in.
“Maybe they’re dealing with that, maybe they’re battling with that, getting back to that level, but they will.”
Cheika, though, is under no illusions as to what level is required immediately for the Wallabies to stop the All Blacks from retaining trans-Tasman bragging rights for a 14th straight year.
“We’re going to have to improve by 40 points if we want to do that in the turnaround,” he said.
“That’s what we’re going to try to do this week.”
Bobbles
Guest
Or uncle fester moore
markie362
Guest
Why not play hooper at centre or on the wing.he spends most of his time seagulling out there anyway
Squirrel
Guest
How had the qld backline gone. Crap. Genia Cooper Kerevi would be a disaster. Time to blood new decent non qlders.
Squirrel
Guest
He's rubbish who has a great Manager, can't play but has fooled Pulver again
Dan in Devon
Guest
I actually like the look of that 10,12 and 13. Defence may be a problem but would need a few matches to build patterns etc. With two strong runners outside of him, Cooper would be a very dangerous player.
Terry
Guest
canadiankiwi That is what Checka will pick,Not what I`d pick.
Vic rugby
Guest
Wallabies on notice? Rumour has it chieko has found some even older out of form and past it players os with a record of getting thumped by nz
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He was capable of being Super Rugby player of the year. Hardly rubbish.
Karl Knuth
Roar Pro
Agree absolutely with your thoughts on Foley being a 12. Just a bit small, but his game is more suited to the position.
canadiankiwi
Guest
^ @ Terry
canadiankiwi
Guest
That is honestly the weakest forward pack I have ever seen! You actually want to make it shorter AND lighter?
Sulzberg
Guest
hes rubbish, was dumped by his French club b'cos they realised they brought a conman not a rugby player.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Sam problem is not much of that experience has been to much distinction.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Surely the bloke who played there 2 tests ago and has carved up Super Rugby in that position is next port of call.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nicholas Bishop I blame you for these unwarranted calls for Godwin now! You went and put him back on the map!
samalavich
Roar Rookie
I was thinking Godwin or hodge... probably Godwin as he has plenty of experience playing that position
Dontcallmeshirley
Guest
intersection headline. Cheika needs to axe a big name to make a statement. Moore? Hooper? Pocock? Hooper would be my choice.
Robin
Guest
“There’s no better reality check on that than what happened yesterday". Really, what about what happened when England were here recently, didn't reality set in they you lost 3-0? What is going to be your reality after this weekends result? You told everyone that you accept responsibility for not getting the team where you want them to be, now you tell them none of them are safe. Then your defense coach says the fix is simple. You guys are all over the place and don't appear to have much of an idea.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I would look at either Hodge or Godwin at 12 with Folau at 13 and H-P at fullback. Frisbee or Sturzaker at half. If Fardy is back then Timani at 8 with Pocock out. Moore also to go.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Peter I agree the handling is concerning. I think criticism of Kuridrani has to be tempered a little by the fact he's playing in a backline where's he is being offered very little by the "playmakers" inside of him. Give him a 2 or 3 games outside a Quade, Kerevi 10/12 combo and if the consensus is that those 2 are playing well and Kuridrani is not then fair enough. But right now he's doing ok as a battering ram when nothing is on and defending well.