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.
Hemimac
Guest
I think Chiekas selections are the problem that the wallabies face at the moment . I do think they have the talent to be competitive and even take a game off nz. The team selection determines the coaching style you adopt and at the moment I think the two don't compliment each other. If you look at the ABs there set pieces are very dominant witch allows them to set targets and fracture defensive structures witch enables them to get fast ball to attack through spreading the opposition defence so when they get miss matches there backs are good an clever enough to take advantage of. So the ABs know that to win you have to dominate up front and this is where the wallabies are having trouble competing with them. Also the back line that they select are very skillfull and clever they understand the meaning of opportunity. In a nut shell the skill level the pace they play at the fitness levels the believe they have as a unit gives them confidence to play the style they play. Now the wallabies Team selection is key don't look outside of your super rugby teams Try this 15 Haylet Petty 14. Speight 13. Folau 12. Kereve 11. Toomane 10. Qaude 9. Genia 8. McMahon 7. Pocock 6. Fardy 5. Coleman 4. Enver 3. Allaatoa 2. Pollotanau 1. Slipper. Res. Sio Smith Hooper cotrell moore frizby follie hodge
PiratesRugby
Guest
Yes, drop Hooper to the bench or, if you can't stomach that, drop Pocock. You can't have both anymore. I know they're both good players but we need a 7 and an 8. Don't say it's just a number. We had Gregan and Whitaker but we didn't play them both at the same time.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Selection vs game plan is the issue here... The selections don't make any sense at the moment... but he is rusted to them it seems... Front row: Switching the front row ever other game offers nothing... Moore is playing really poorly as hooker and captain really... but then he is about our 1 millionth captain in the last 10 years, so if you replace him as captain, let alone starting hooker, who do you go with? Second Row: Why swap out our only true lineout taker in Simmons? This is the second time he has been dumped from the side, with the England series being the first time... Did it help? What was the point of dropping him from the England game? He then dropped Arnold, who was going well enough I thought. Knowing the lineout sucked from game 1, why didn't he keep Simmons and drop Douglas for Coleman? That would give us 3 targets with Fardy on the side. Back Row: Hooper and Pocock is not working like it did once... and having both players is taking up a spot that could be used to help our lineout. What did Cheika think McCalman was going to do in game 1? Why drop Fardy, and leave only 1 true lineout option in game 1? At some stage, we need to either create a better 8 than Pocock, or select the next best one... maybe Gus Cotrell from the Force could run at 8? Couldn't hurt could it? Halfback: Genia has been going really well... compared to Phipps who cannot pass into a barn if he was on the inside but can throw a good boot. By why didn't Frisby get more game time against England, when Phipps was clearly poor? Flyhalf: I have seen before with Cheika's "Finishers" that when he puts Cooper on, he doesn't seem to know his role... and so it was on Saturday. What was Cooper's brief on Saturday night? He didn't seem like he was allowed to run the show, with Foley still doing a lot of first receiving... so what was the point? Cooper's kicking game was much better than Foley's, but it is a low start mark isn't it? Centres: I think we have stuffed around with our Second Playmaker for 10 years now, and gotten nowhere. I would like us to go back to running a true 12. If you need a second playmaker to relieve stress, then your first playmaker can't handle the stress... Sure, have a skillful player at 12, but we keep barking up the "two five-eights" tree, and it is creating terrible play from a once strong point of our play. Kerevi was a shining light against England, but he was dropped... Admittedly Toomua came in and played very well, but why drop Kerevi clean out? If you thought he could play 13, why not drop Kuridrani, who has been a passenger for 12 months? Outside Backs: Do we have no speedy players in Australia? Is there no one playing 7s who is fast and decent? Is there no one in club rugby with toe? Folau goes good, but we need a better game plan than three forwards in a mid-field pod, pass behind the pod to someone who passes 20 metres back to Folau to try to get over the gain line 30 metres in front of him. So selections, mixed with a game plan I can't identify all add up to where we are now... pretty poor.
Boatie
Roar Rookie
Of course, Geoff. As we all know the All Blacks are never beaten, they sometimes don't play well and lose.
Buzzard
Guest
He wont Harry.He will not drop Stephen Moore and he will never drop Hooper Douglas Foley Mumm Kepu or Phipps. They are safe .
Terry
Guest
I told you blokes months ago in june he was an average coach and an even more horrendous Selector...
BBA
Guest
Certainly agree with you that the AB's are not unbeatable, however if the AB's are only a standard rugby team I am interested in who the above standard teams in world rugby are.
Mark
Guest
Franks has been cleared. Wallabies didn't complain. Hansen has pulled a great one over Cheika re meeting with the ref. Sigh... It's enough to make Monday morning enjoyable.
Mark
Guest
Here's hoping you're right! ABs would love to play that combo four another four years.
Harry Jones
Expert
So many things to work on. For SA and OZ, at least pick the best hookers....
Buck
Guest
From a lot of the writing on the Roar, one would think that selections are all there is to winning a rugby game.
Nigel
Guest
Finally someone else has highlighted this frauds inability to select a team, he's as bad as Lancaster, cannot select a team or recognise talent, hope and pray this fraud of a coach does not take us to RWC!!!
Sullzberg
Guest
QC touched the ball a total of 8 times in all and had the cleanest jersey at the end of the match of any of the Wobblies!
Bakkies
Guest
Cullen and Macdonald in the centres were excellent decisions.
puff
Guest
The brutal truth at times is difficult to stomach and friends in high places distance themselves from the unsavory reality. With all the in depth training we keep hearing about, playing mix and match with positions. The Cheika audition still appears no closer to assembling a team that contains rugby logic, stability and constancy based on performance. Cooper was not the messiah and offered very little during his 80 minute stanzas, Pocock is a one trick pony, he is not a Read, Cane or the Wallaby answer to McCaw. Hooper contains numerous skills but is not an Ardie Savea. The Will Skelton experiment remains mystifying he will ever be a Brodie Retallick. Stephen Moore continues to be ugly fairy and Dan Coles the clinical next generation, the comparisons are endless. Cheika will never have the wisdom of Hansen it is not in his coach manual. Therefore as obnoxious as it may sound, as Wallabies supporter, a minor metal is ok. Everything is subject to change.
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
Jacky Jacky - a few more: Moore Hooper to the Bench -- he is not big enough and is a loss to the team in terms of delivering - last 20 minutes I am not impressed with Pocock at the moment - try him back at 7 - no improvement - drop him Phipps - bring in Frisby - keep Genia Cooper worked last night Centres - get it right - maybe Falou moves DHP - definitely needs to be FB or - has a roaming commission AND BRING AN ANYBODY THAT - WILL AT LEAST PLAY RUGBY WITH SOUND AGGRESSION - AND RUBY NOUS!! But if we do not improve our forwards - and improve the way they play and a match plan - then forget it - backs cannot perform As for the backs - Larkham is the problem - no structure, no moves, nothing. The ABS do not have a Backs plan - except good old fashioned - run it, pass it and back up
In Brief
Guest
Debreczini can't tackle, and doesn't even commit to physical contact in attack. He's not ready for test match rugby
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
Love It - Best contribution today!!!
CUW
Guest
@ canadiankiwi : did that selection have something to do with the changes to laws , not allowing ball to be kicked out from anywhere in full ( only only from the 22m) ? if i'm not mistaken it was cory jane who went to wing first.
CUW
Guest
@ P2R2 i do not think kaino had played at 2nd row prior to world cup. he and vito trained to play there to cater to the limited size of the squad. mainly becoz of the absence of Luatua in the lose forwards , since he is a 2nd row turned flank. there was an article about it , maybe u will find the link in planet rugby. barrett was the 15 at under 20 world cup in 2011. gareth anscombe was the fly half in that all conquering team. then anscombe went to chiefs and became a fullback , while barrett became a fly half :) i also think its the first time dagg came to the right wing. he played on left wing fro crusaders in 2015 at the start (when naholo was still in japan i think).