Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has displayed black humour in a dark week for Australian rugby, but the injury woes of his inside centres is no laughing matter.
Starting No.12 Matt Giteau broke an ankle after 10 minutes of Saturday night’s 42-8 loss to New Zealand in Sydney.
The inside-centre spot was no kinder to Rob Horne and Matt Toomua, who suffered shoulder and concussion problems respectively after taking turns in the No.12 jersey against the All Blacks’ juggernaut.
All three have been ruled out of Saturday’s return clash in Wellington.
“We’ll probably retire the No.12 jersey – it’s not been a good one so far in this series,” Cheika quipped on Tuesday.
Saturday’s injuries further eroded Cheika’s choice of inside centres with Kurtley Beale, Christian Lealiifano and Karmichael Hunt already unavailable before last weekend.
The barrel isn’t entirely empty for Cheika, although he lacks specialist inside centres in his squad.
Playmaker Quade Cooper, uncapped Reece Hodge and hard-running Samu Kerevi, who played inside centre in the first two Tests against England in June, are in the squad and vying for the seemingly cursed No.12 jersey.
“There’s a few options we’ve got there – the possibility of playing more ball runners, together with Samu coming in there,” Cheika said.
“Or we can try and work two playmakers around. Quade has obviously been there or thereabouts in training.
“Reece Hodge also has put his hand up quite well at training over the last few weeks.
“It would be a big call for him, but he looks like he’s a lad who is up for it, too.
“I think we go back, right back to the very start, about attitude and who wants to make it right and we’ll go with the selections from there.”
Cooper is far and away the most experienced of the three contenders, although he has played the vast majority of his rugby at five-eighth with just the occasional outing at inside centre.
“Quade is someone I’ll consider in the team at 10 or 12 or fullback, depending on what our situation requires,” Cheika said.
“Obviously, we’ve lost a few of our regular 12s so we’re going to have to do something there that’s a little bit different – whether it’s structure in our play or set up in our personnel.”
Squirrel
Guest
Should be Kerevi at 12 Folau at 13.
Dat Mavis
Roar Pro
I disagree, he is too limited to play 12 in test rugby. Foley may need a second playmaker, but that's a product of a number of factors, including but not exclusive to the nature of the game plan. That being said, regardless of game plan, varying points of attack, or multiple playmakers, is a core tenant of good and successful modern rugby teams. For what it's worth I think Kerevi should be the starting 13 for Australia.
CUW
Guest
maybe i shud have elaborated when i said experience , i did not meant at 12. i meant at test level. u may probably see fekitoa move to 12 to accommodate seta this week end, probably for that reason. in general u would expect a guy with more experience at a certain level to adapt to a change , rather than pushing a new guy to learn a new thing. my logic is that being seasoned pros at test level AAC and TK shud be able to adapt to playing at center , than a rookie like Kerevi. and it was evident he was not comfortable there when he played against england. for eg. the NZ team is putting barrett at `15 , though he rarely if ever plays there in super rugger. the last he played 15 regularly may be at under 20 world cup ( in 2011 becoz anscombe was the fly half). to put it simply , older experienced heads will more quickly adapt to new situations than a young inexperienced guy.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Surely this is a no-brainer? Kerevi back to 12, with Hodge as cover on a wing or on the bench? Godwin brought into the broader squad. Hodge brings some distance into our kicking which would help cover Foley's greatest short coming. The backline with Kerevi and Kuridrani in the centres scored four good tries against England in the first test. Yes Hooper was amongst the scorers, but his tries were out wide on the wing. We showed good distribution and ability to create and capitalise on space. Second test in the wet with the our half having a weaker game the fluidity in the backline was lost but the wrong player was made the scapegoat. Get Kerevi back in there!
PeterK
Roar Guru
Not quite true In 2007 AAC started at 12 in 2 tests against Wales in the june tests and 1 test against Canada in the rwc. Nevertherless Kerevi has played the most, esepcially recently at 12. 2 years ago 1/2 the season at 12. NRC at 12. 2 tests in June against England at 12.
Markus
Guest
Kuridrani has never played at 12. And AAC's experience at 12 is a whole one game, played against the Barbarians. Kerevi will have less experience at Test level than the other two regardless of the position he plays, why compound that by playing all three out of position?
CUW
Guest
Cheika shud play AAC at 12 and Kerevi at 13 shifting Kuridrani to a wing . AAC is the most experienced and shud be able to adapt to a test game , rather than putting a rookie 13 at 12 . else Kuri shud shift to 12 and Kerevi play 13 - again becoz Kuri has more experience in tests. also Folau shud go to a wing and DHP to 15. Foalu will be able to manage a wing better than petty, who looked lost for some reason. i mean when a center breezes past u on the touchline , a wing must feel ashamed for sure.
CUW
Guest
@ canadiankiwi : i have not seen a single WING in any of the auzzy super rugger teams with PACE. the only guy i saw with genuine pace was Magany (the under 20 guy) but then he played in centers. Speight is injured ?? Tomane is injured ?? the guy Cheika got back from Europe - looked like a prop :D only other guy i can think of is the boy who played 7S. (and got nominated newcomer to world series - 4get his name).
Selector
Guest
Foley and Hooper will always remain solid Super Rugby players. Nothing more. I would like to drop more of these players, but I am hoping that is done during the spring tour. This would be my team for the weekend. 1. Slipper 2. Poluta Nau 3. Kepu 4. Coleman 5. Simmons 6. Fardy 7. Pocock 8. Timani 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Mitchell (if 100%) 12. Kerevi 13. Folau 14. Hodge 15. Haylett Petty 16. Hanson 17. Sio 18. Allalatoa 19. Doluglas 20. McMahon 21. Phipps 22. Foley 23. Ashley Cooper
Forgotmyoldroarname
Guest
My ideal backline is probably 9 Stirzaker 10. Debrekzeni 11. Kurindrani 12 Taupi (best option availiable with everyone injured) 13 Kevri 14. Navalo 15. Izzy It's light on kicking but with Potentially Cooper and Foley off the bench it's well worth the chance
SP
Guest
Yep i agree. Cooper should have an extended run at 10 rather be thrown into the lions den at 12
Terry
Guest
Kerevi Inadequate?? hahahah..He was one of the best out there mate .He was shuffled out because Foley is useless.and supposedly needed a 2nd playmaker.... We still lost the 3rd test
Terry
Guest
Thought you`d already packed up with Foley and Gitaeu being horrendous in their last two matches against the AB`S P.S Foley has been horrendous for about 7 games in a row..
Richard
Guest
Foley and Hooper will never ever be dropped while Cheika is in charge..It won`t happen..
Mike the Oz
Guest
Ive been a Cheika supporter. That said if he seriously thinks fans will stay onside with any of the ridiculous hairbrained suggestions he's got another thing coming. Foley MUST be given a spell. Theres no ifs or maybes. Cooper cannot play 12. If this happens therell be no forgiveness. 10. Cooper 11. Mitchell 12. Kerevi 13. Falou 14. AAC 15. Hodge
Markus
Guest
Kerevi was one of the Wallabies best against England. Saying he was inadequate says a lot about the rest of the squad.
Paul
Guest
Yeah ok. Great plan, but we don't have any eligible and fast wingers who are not barely Super Rugby level quality
Fin
Guest
I have no doubt if Beale was fit he would have played 12 outside Foley from the start of the English series. Cooper is the player most likely to form the same sort of combination so I would expect to see him there at some stage during the season. I would like to see Folua and Kerevi at 12 and 13 either way around and Foley and Cooper at 10 and 15 once again either way could work. Unfortunately Cheika seems unwilling to move Izzy.
The Slow Eater
Roar Rookie
Sounds like a plan, but who at 10?
The Slow Eater
Roar Rookie
Surely after losing our last 5 games (4 on home soil), Cheika must be considering changing the #10. Foley has proven time and time again that he's not up to it. Even with all his problems, if he could kick then that would be something - but he can't so he has to go.