Michael Cheika has a lot more to cope with than just selecting a squad for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash with the Springboks at Suncorp.
The Wallabies coach is like NSW Origin boss Laurie Daley, showing selection loyalty to his senior players.
But after six successive losses, and many of his senior players in the twilight of their international careers, the time has come for Cheika to make the tough decisions. (Click to Tweet)
He has to take a stand sooner than later, for the longer he leaves the obvious, the losses will continue and the fix harder.
With Matt Giteau and Rob Horne injured, Cheika should also move on Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton, Dean Mumm, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, and Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Eight senior Wallabies dropped in one hit would appear brutal, but tomorrow’s Wallabies have to be blooded.
Scott Sio is 24, Tom Robertson 22, Samu Kerevi 22, Andrew Kellaway 20, Nick Frisby 23, and Reece Hodge 22. Moulding them with the in-form senior Wallabies would be a positive move.
No one wants to see Australia lose, but to lose six with the same old, same old isn’t acceptable. Losing six blooding tomorrow’s Wallabies is sustainable.
But something new has surfaced in the ranks – a Wallaby union.
There’s a strong bond in the squad, and when one is under the pump, a senior Wallaby comes to his defence.
Israel Folau has strongly supported Moore as captain, while David Pocock has quickly come to Michael Hooper’s defence.
And Michael Cheika has to deal with all these factions.
Despite the varying and genuine issues, this is the new-look squad that must take the field on Saturday:
1. Scott Sio
Getting used to the dog-eat-dog existence of a Wallaby prop, and worthwhile supporting for years.
2. James Hanson
Has for too long played bridesmaid to Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau, his time has come and he’s the most accurate of the three at feeding lineouts.
3. Tom Robertson
This exciting prospect too must be supported for years.
4. Kane Douglas
As honest as he is tough, and he’s a senior player performing.
5. Rory Arnold
Huge and mobile, he will be right there alongside Douglas.
6. Scott Fardy
Has ceased being a passenger, and now that he’s back to his foraging best, he must take on a more executive role.
7. David Pocock
One of the best openside flankers in world rugby, making the ‘Pooper’ experiment null and void. Pocock to be captain until he leaves on his sabbatical.
8. Lopeti Timani
Overlooked for far too long, at the back of the scrum and acting as another lineout jumper, he will make his presence felt.
9. Will Genia
Playing near his best after a long injury lay-off, and getting better. He must be vice-captain on this side, to take over from Pocock when he takes his year off, with Fardy his deputy.
10. Quade Cooper
The x-factor, he’s matured, and will take on more responsibility with his goal-kicking.
11. Dane Haylett-Petty
Could be anything. He must be given more ball, and a lot earlier.
12. Samu Kerevi
Has a load of talent and with no Kurtley Beale available, must be given time to settle in with two Queenslanders inside him.
13. Israel Folau
Must have more time in the thick of the action, he’s too good a footballer to be pensioned off at fullback, and Kerevi will give him the openings.
14. Tevita Kuirdrani
With a lot to offer in terms of aggressive attack and defence, he will greatly benefit from having Folau inside him.
15. Andrew Kellaway
Only 20 and chockful of exciting attack and solid defence.
16. Tatafa Polota-Nau
Still deserves to be in the side, but he must – repeat must – improve his lineout feeding. In every other department he’s a genuine Wallaby.
17. James Slipper
Has the experience, the temperament, and the courage to be a Wallaby for at least another four years.
18. Allan Alaalatoa
Proved he’s a Wallaby prop, and will always be a major plus off the bench.
19. Adam Coleman
Will be a huge bonus off the bench with his behemoth frame, far more so than as a starter.
20. Michael Hooper
Still a world class flanker, but he’s also a more than capable replacement if aback is needed off the bench.
21. Nick Frisby
A live-wire half who won’t be involved in a running verbal battle with any referee.
22. Matt Toomua
Has fly-half and centre qualifications, providing his concussion run-ins cease.
23. Reece Hodge
Can play fly-half, centre, wing, and fullback, and is a quality goal-kicker from any range, especially long.
Bobbles
Guest
Robinson
JM
Guest
who was he ?
Andrew Bergmann
Guest
The Wallaby's woes are the tight 5. They do not possess the physicality, strength, fitness and mongrel to compete against the All Blacks nor the Boks. The Lineout is woeful and confidence is lacking. The scrum is far from dominant. The tight 5 need to be fit enough to play 80 minutes of full on rugby and maintain the basic skills of carrying the ball across the advantage line, retain ball possession and tackle effectively. Until the tight 5 can compete with the opposition tight 5 and dominate them and have the smarts to get and retain the ball in hand, we will not go forward nor will the backline have space to weave their magic. Cleaning out the Rucks is woeful as the All Blacks have shown us that they are the masters. They hunt as a team, defend as a team and blow the Wallaby's away at the breakdown. Captaincy is also an issue that needs to be addressed... It is far from inspiring for the team! Cheika needs to select a new young squad and build a team that has belief, confidence, mongrel and the ability to win. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
david
Guest
No problem with this team and this approach. Incumbents are not performing and have a limited upside. Agree Haylett Petty better at fullback,
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
Good side Lorduu but Hooper is a certainty as our only attacking forward
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Perhaps the Waratahs/Wallabies/Sydney Uni could develop Will Skelton as a number 8...just saying
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Nice article David and I do agree with the general gist that changes in team personnel and the role of individuals and team tactics need a serious look at. True the WB have lost their last 6 matches, but they were against the teams ranked #1 and #2 in the world, so whilst its not total doom and gloom at present, I can't see much improvement if the WB continue as they have been. To my optimistic mind, the good news is that compared to say 2 years ago, the quality of WB potential locks and front rowers have improved. How many new locks have got a run in the WB team this year. However the quality of the backrowers has declined, mainly lost overseas. Good players like Jed Holloway, Jack Dempsey, Ross Haylett-Petty, Lian Gill (hopefully back after a couple of years) and S.McMahon all look promising there. I won't quibble about your forwards, though its a shame a place cannot be found for S.McMahon, but reality is you cannot fit everyone in. My major problem is the fullback A.Kellaway. I was at the SFS when he made his debut against the Rebels this year and have watched him closely. Yes he is promising, but for mine he is small and his defence needs beefing up. I would love to see him get a run in NRC at 5/8. So Kellaway out, put DHP at fullback and bring in a serious winger like H.Speight or Eto Nabuli. In the reserves, sadly I see Nick Frisby as having an even worse pass than Nick Phipps though a better box kick. There is a reason why the Reds star-studded backline just never fired. Dare I suggest the poor and slow service from the halves. At this stage, I don't think dropping N.Phipps is an improvement. I must admit I like the look of Joe Powell, a bit light framed but has a great pass. Finally, although some have Mick Byrne as the saviour, as David Lord pointed out in an earlier article, Mick's background is in AFL so his forte should be teaching blokes how to run and accurately kick into spaces. I would just be happy to see a 20% improvement there, rather than hoofing the ball down the opposition fb's throat all the time.
Rt
Guest
TPN starts. Hanson on the bench. Would never have let the Aldi TH go overseas I rate him in the top 4 in the world. Would play both Arnold brothers in the 2r and have a tardy/pocock/ McMahon back row (but would welcome Higgers back with open arms and if Holloway was fit I'd blood him and give Dempsey a shot of the bench). Have to keep Slipper if his shoulder is ok and Phipps to the bench. I'd put the top 8 wingers in Australia on the try line and tell them the first 3 over 30 yards make the match day 23. We need pace. I'd pick hodge and I'd put Izzy at OC. Not convinced with Kerevi and frankly if Horne was fit I'd pick him because he's thought. I'd dropSkelton and blood Tui. Let's use the next 12 months to build a balanced squad.
Jack
Guest
TK makes yards, lots of hard yards under huge pressure. Caused be payers inside shuffling it sideways. His defence is first class in a difficult defensive position. His hands have let him down sure but no worse than Hoopers. His running lines for most of the year have been off his best but then so have all the backs under Larkham's backline coaching. On form Steve would be dropped too.
Jesse langley
Guest
1 sio 2 TPN 3 kepu 4 Douglas 5 Coleman 6 fardy 7 pocock 8 ?????? 9 Genia 10 cooper 11 folua 12 kerivi 13 kurindrani 14 speight 15 DHP Our front best front row Give falou a license to roam inside cooper. Solid back three! Solid DHP boot.
The Slow Eater
Roar Rookie
Wow. Wish I was there. Sounds bloody fantastic! We need a bit of positivity on these pages at times....
kiwikrs
Guest
What form are you picking Kurandrani on the wing with? An article about playing more and more players out of position
The Slow Eater
Roar Rookie
Debracini had a woeful year. He never challenged the gain line. Just passed off to Inman the whole time
FrancisF
Roar Pro
Time to do some blood transfusion into the Wallabies. Starting with game against the Boks, Andrew Kelloway is a revelation. I am perplexed why he is not even put on the bench. Kelloway is an instinctive player, uses his head and plays like Ben Smith. Wallabies neec more nimble runners and skills developed for off loads and how to avoid getting tackled on the run. The old timers should be given a big thank you note and sent out to pasture or to the golf course.
SandBox
Roar Guru
Agree with you both, and let's not forget DL's part in this with his Cheika, Randwick and NSW bias. At least he might finally be waking up. SpEwin tried to step on these players, but ended up just stepping on his pekker.
conor
Guest
Tony H Yes, Speight was dreadful for the Vikings against the Country Eagles on Sunday afternoon. The slowest and least skilled winger on the field. Alex Newsome from Country, who scored 2 tries, must be 10 metres faster over a 100 and is beautifully balanced footballer. Luckily, Speight was pulled from the field in the second-half (Cheika must have seen enough to select him in the Wallabies squad!) and he was replaced by young Andrew Robinson who immediately crossed for two excellent tries in the corner for the Vikings. Previously the Vikings were 60 points to nil down. Robertson, Latu and Ryan had it all over the Vikings' scrum and Country dominated all over the park a Vikings' pack, which had 8 Brumbies in it - Mann-Rea, Alaalatoa, Carter, Arnold, Enerver, Staniforth, Smiler and Butler. Ned Hanigan was magnificent at lock for Country plucking balls in the air that Carter and Arnold seemed totally non-plussed to deal with, and steaming through paper thin gaps in the Vikings defence - they all seemed too scared to touch him. Rowan Perry at 7 and Sam Ward at 8 dominated the floor and off the back of Country's hugely dominant scrum. From the start, Country's backs played the quickest and most exciting rugby I have seen this year from any Australian Super Rugby or Wallabies team. For those who didn't have the privilege - as I did - of being there - in the glorious spring sunshine at Viking Park, Canberra, I'll name the Country backline: 9 Gordon, 10 Deegan, 11 Newsome 12 Godwin, 13 Horwitz, 14 Robinson, 15 Kellaway. After seeing that performance I'm not so pessimistic about the future of Australian rugby.
Ruck
Guest
Nice article David. I almost whole heartily agree. I don't rate Fardy. I think he is another over rated player in the Wallabies. Not sure, but I think he's also getting on. I wouldn't have Genia in the team unless he was playing in Australia. The ARU should do all they can "sabbaticals" etc, to make that happen. Only bad things will come of the GL. Coleman off the bench could be useful if he doesn't play like an idiot. But with Cheika the coach, not much chance of that. Not sure about Folau at Centre. His tackling is very suspect. I'm sure the yarps would put it to the test. Other than that, you've got a pretty good line up,
maxxlord
Roar Rookie
Finally David. FINALLY you have woken from your Waratahs dream to offer a serious Wallabies team. If this team ran out in the next 4 games Australia would be a force again by the end of the year.
Chopper
Roar Rookie
Great team your Lordship. Only change would be to swap Falau and kuirdraini.
Wallaby Doctor
Guest
David, that forward pack is about right but frankly that backline you propose is wide of the mark, except for #9, #10 and #13. We need to find and pick proper wingers with positional nous and speed. For this upcoming test that is Drew Mitchell and Luke Morahan only from the current squad. DHP is only a fullback, and should be given a chance in that position with Folau at #13. Kuridrani is far too slow to be effective as a #13, let alone on the wing. I would drop him completely from the squad. And we need a multi-skilled #12, so Toomua and Godwin are the options here. With Toomua having some head-knock issues of late it's a good chance to finally get Kyle Godwin on the team. I proposed the following backline: 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Mitchell 12. Godwin 13. Folau 14. Morahan 15. Haylett-Petty