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Former Wallaby great Stirling Mortlock didn’t hold back when itemising the team’s deficiencies in the wake of the All Blacks thumping in Bledisloe one.
“There’s set piece issues, there’s defence issues, there’s breakdown issues, there’s kicking issues … there’s not many good things going on currently,” Mortlock said.
I would suggest that much of the malaise stems from selection issues.
More of the wash-up from Bledisloe 2:
» Match report
» LORD: Sack Cheika? No way
» Seven talking points
» What changes should the Wallabies make?
» DIY Player Ratings
» WATCH: Highlights from the match
Ever since he took the reins in late 2014 Cheika has shown an alarming lack of consistency and logic as a selector. Many of his decisions appear ad hoc, reactive and not part of a progressive, long-term plan to grow players within his Wallabies culture.
The most telling example of this was his befuddling decision a to change out six players from his team that played with so much verve and composure to beat the All Blacks in the first Bledisloe in Sydney last year.
In that 27-19 win the bold ‘Pooper-Fardy’ back row experiment proved a masterstroke with first class fetchers David Pocock and Scott Fardy dominating the breakdown to allow Michael Hooper a roving commission to wreak his ball-running havoc.
With a golden opportunity to repeat the dose in Eden Park the following week and end Australia’s 13-year Bledisloe misery, Cheika dismantled his winning combination, benching Pocock for Wycliff Palu at No.8 the most surprising of the six changes he made.
Another bombshell was bringing Quade Cooper in from the cold at fly half.
Sound familiar?
As we all know the changes proved disastrous with the All Blacks putting an emphatic 41-13 end to the Wallabies Bledisloe aspirations.
The men in gold’s breakdown dominance from the week before was swamped in the All Black tide and Cooper’s abject performance featured him spilling high balls when hiding at fullback on defence and conceding a yellow card and a penalty try for a high shot on Aaron Smith metres out from his line.
Of course the bigger context was the World Cup, about to get underway the following month in England.
Every Test in a World Cup year is essentially a trial for the showpiece. Cheika can’t be blamed for using this last hit out to chop, change and Test combinations. But he can be blamed for an error in judgement in not grasping the bigger picture.
Imagine the incredible momentum he would have swept into the World Cup with had he kept the winning formula and managed to jag an historic win at Fortress Eden.
That would have sent a message to the world and left the hitherto rampaging ABs with a sudden crisis in confidence. Cooper went on to play just one game, against Uruguay in the World Cup before a troubled stint for Toulon.
Today was his first game in gold since then, reprising the villain’s role he’s been so adept at playing since he raised the ire of all Kiwis with his series of cheap shots against demigod Richie McCaw all those years ago.
His selection smacks of desperation, which it is to a certain extent given the injury attrition to the inside backs last Saturday. But it does bring to mind the definition of insanity – doing the same thing over again and expecting different results.
Writing this a few hours before kick off there is always the danger that the mercurial playmaker will spark off his old mate Will Genia and lead a stunning Wallaby revival.
But I would suggest that danger is minimal. And is Bernard Foley anything other than a stop gap at 12?
Why not go the whole hog and start with Rhys Hodge at 12 to see if his genuine size and pace in tandem with the blockbusting Samu Kerevi could trouble the All Blacks.
And if you’re ever going to blood a new pivot, I’m thinking Jack Debrezceni. There’s no time like the present.
And why isn’t Nick Frisby, Australia’s best half back, anywhere near the number nine jersey?
Upfront what’s the long-term option at hooker? Stephen Moore is looking increasingly like a bloke attending his own funeral facing the media music after yet another “disappointing” loss and his form on the track is reflecting the enormous pressure he’s under.
Is impressive Reds’ rake Andrew Reddy in the frame at all?
And what of the Sean McMahon experiment at No.8. After a poor showing in the second Test against the Poms it actually came good in the third but appears discarded.
Then there’s the revolving door at lock.
Big and bustling Adam Coleman is a good swap for the largely anonymous Rob Simmons but is Will Skelton really the answer as impact off the bench?
How much weight has he gained and conditioning has he lost having not played in weeks?
Where’s Rory Arnold at after having looked the goods after debuting in the England series?
Cheika doesn’t appear to have a lot of answers to these selection questions. It’s hard to imagine sporadic, inconsistent selection will lead to anything other than that it in performance.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.