Like all good revolutions and re-inventions, the Wallabies at some point were always going to be forced into working out what their backrow would look like in the days beyond David Pocock.
Pocock’s looming 2017 sabbatical meant that the Spring Tour was probably going to be an opportunity for experimentation, but his broken hand will force Michael Cheika into action sooner.
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Pocock was forced off in the 36th minute against Argentina on Saturday, initially as part of the re-shuffle while prop Scott Sio was off with a yellow card, but didn’t return after halftime and emerged in the second half hunched under a jacket and with his hand already significantly swollen.
He had surgery in Perth on Sunday, has already been ruled out of the games against South Africa in Pretoria on October 1, and against Argentina in London on October 8. Depending on how his recovery progresses – and Samu Kerevi’s three-week layoff with a similar injury this season is being used as a guide – Pocock could be available for the final Bledisloe Test of 2016, at Eden Park on October 22.
“It was quite swollen so it was hard for him to move his hands,” Cheika said post-match. “He wanted to play through, I had to take him off.”
Of course, he’s not long back from the fractured eye socket suffered in the first of the three England Tests in June. Michael Hooper lamented Pocock’s luck in that unique way with words he has, while also highlighting the opportunities created.
“He puts himself in such a great physical nick to play, that sucks for him,” Hooper said. “We’ve got guys chomping at the bit to get in and it’s a loss to the squad.”
It certainly does, indeed, ‘suck for him’. But it sucks for the Wallabies too, because something they thought they might’ve had more time to prepare for now has to happen immediately. And rushed plans and the Wallabies don’t always go well together.
Cheika’s options for the next two Tests at least, but also going into 2017, are to go back to a relatively traditional backrow, or fashion another hybrid backrow out of his playing stocks to best suit – and I use this term loosely – the current Wallabies game plan.
So he can find a fetching opensider, a ball-carrying and lineout-jumping blindsider, and a physical wrecking ball No.8, or he can pick the three backrowers who tickle some obscure urge for him that week and let the rugby public come up with a silly name for it, like ‘Fapooper’.
I’m not entirely sure the weekend’s win over the Pumas, or the other games on the peripheral, did anything to solve the issue, either.
Against Argentina, Sean McMahon came on for Pocock after halftime, and had a storming game – he made tackles (and didn’t miss any), he carried strongly and left defenders in his wake, made metres, and got passes away.
Hooper played a typically strong, typically Hooper-style of game, ticking all of the same boxes McMahon did, made 20 tackles for the game, and scored a try running a nice inside line off Quade Cooper in the second half.
Dean Mumm was… Dean Mumm.
Lopeti Timani might have played the most anticipated debut in recent memory, but he really didn’t get much of a chance to show anything in his 13-minute cameo. He carried a couple of times, made a couple of tackles, but played at blindside with McMahon No.8-ing up a storm.
Meanwhile, in the NRC, Ben McCalman got through about 45 minutes unscathed in his return from a shoulder injury on Sunday, and left the field with Perth Spirit well and truly in command at 38-0 on their way to a big win over Queensland Country.
Like the rest of his Perth teammates, he did nothing but tackle for the first 20-odd minutes, but also showed some nice touches around the park in attack as the tries started to rain down.
The day before Scott Fardy played 60 minutes for the Sydney Rays, in a display best described at solid without being spectacular.
But Rob Simmons was recalled for the Perth Test after two solid but not spectacular performances for Queensland Country, so by that measure, Fardy would seem to be in with as good a chance as any of starting in Pretoria.
Pocock’s injury really doesn’t solve anything, and there is a real danger that Michael Cheika will keep playing selection lotto and we’ll keep debating this for the rest of the year.
But somewhere along the way – hopefully sometime soon – the decision needs to be made about the backrow formation in 2017.
Cheika can take the easy option and play Sean McMahon alongside Hooper and Mumm, and keep compromising the forward pack.
Or, he could shake things up and realise that that combination is really just a carbon copy of something that was so 2015, and start a backrow that will improve the Wallabies ability to compete at the breakdown and make the gain line.
Timbo (L)
Guest
Daz, Great premise , Being more controversial: put a number 8 on Hooper's Back, after all, his presence on the team is at the expense of the #8 Spot. 1. The scum push will be left-right balanced. 2. All of the flack from every Australian rugby forum will be directed at him instead of a patsy like Pocock or MacMahon.
Timbo (L)
Guest
It feels like you guys are misusing stats again. McMahon can only play 30 minutes etc.. 1. As an impact player off the bench he is only going to get 30! 2. The one time he started he suffered a neck injury.
GlynnP
Guest
McMahon and Hooper and clearly the standout flankers (post Pocock), so play them in position. If Fardy is the next best, play him at No 8 where he provides run, tackles, offloads and lineout options. Probably have 70% of breakdowns hit by either McMahon or Hooper with Fardy arriving next, that cant be a bad thing.
Daz
Guest
TH I'm no member of the anti-Hooper brigade. He's a fantastic little player but his continued selection at 7 unbalances and compromises the back row. It was Pocock's versatility and generosity in giving up his world position and playing 8 that has allowed him to be selected at 7 not vice versa. No Pocock now means we have to think outside the box and accept his true position is 11 or 12. Popular little guy that he is he has forced so many other players to play out of position to accommodate his style of play. It's time he stepped up and dis-accommodated himself for the greater benefit of the team. And he would make a fantastic 11 better than the Honey Badger but albeit without his larrikinism and way with words.
Timbo (L)
Guest
Timani doesn't offer the Jackal skills that Pocock and McMahon provide to fill the void left by Hooper. If he starts it will need to be at 6.
Timbo (L)
Guest
Adrian, Great observation about the altitude and a 6:2 Bench. The ironically named Highlanders ran out of puff against the Lions in SR the semi's The Wallabies will be facing the same environment. Douglas and Arnold will only be good for 50 minutes. Coleman and Simmons: 60-70 Coleman and Douglas to Start, Simmons for Douglas around 45-50, Arnold for Coleman 50-60 I suggest this pattern because we need a shot caller for all 80 minutes.. The selection of the back row will be important, 2 out of the 3 will need to go the full 80 at altitude and we will need a potential Lock replacement and shot caller either on the field or on the bench in case of a 2nd half injury. Hooper is obvious, the role that he plays isn't as fatiguing because he doesn't do any heavy lifting or jumping, or rolling. McMahon is the next choice, he has a heart the size of phar lap - #8.. Fardy/Timani/Mumm are the options for #6.and #21 Option/Opinion 1: Mumm or Timani to Start, Fardy to come on for Impact. I suggest this because if Simmons get's Injured, Fardy can Call the shots. McMahon might be gasping for air by 70 and might need Fardy's help to close out the match. Option/Opinion 2: Drop Arnold or Douglas and Have Both Mumm and Timani on the bench. It gives a bit more coverage if McMahon gets injured or runs out of steam. I know a lot of people don't like Mumm but he is a jumping 6/4/5. Fardy gives up lock versatility for breakdown supremacy
Timbo (L)
Guest
pformag I used to think the same way you do, but after seeing McMahon fingertips away from winning an opposition throw, I get that 50% of this, is the guy underneath throwing him in the air like a rag doll but in my opinion, he has earned himself a starting jersey.
Timbo (L)
Guest
David, Pocock wasn't in the team to be a number 8. He was there to be a number 7 and to share as many 8 duties as he could with the 4,5,6's. It is important that he isn't measured against the 8 stick. It may also explain the spate of injuries the Australian #8's keep incurring.
Timbo (L)
Guest
To your second point, I am glad someone else recognizes the loading 2x7's puts on the rest of the pack. I fear we will see the same cracks appearing with 2x10's FFS CHOOSE 1 ONLY
Timbo (L)
Guest
Good points Ray, From a stat's perspective, what is worth more: McMahon's crashing run setting up Ginea's 2nd try or Hooper's try scoring inside run into open space. The answer: they are both equally as important. The problem is that these 2 stats are being used to compare the 2 player's. "Look at Hooper's running stat's - he is a fantastic #7 and better than McMahon" What if we compared his 87 run meters against Kerevi's 210 - made in 1 less game or his tackle count against Kuridrani 18 vs 19 (normalized to tackles /100 minutes) To use a cliche, It is like comparing Apples with oranges.
Timbo (L)
Guest
There are utilities, All rounders, specialists and natural positional pairings. It Most positions have natural skill pairings and there is an expectation that players can do at least 2 of them.. 14/15; High Ball, Speed, kicking 11/13; Ball Running 10/12; Play Making 10/15; Kicking play making 4/5/6/8; #6 generalist. 6/7/8; Back Rower 4/5/8 Lock I am a little frustrated with people's (Roarers) perceptions of players' positions based on Cheik's baffling selections. DHP is a 15, not a 14 Folau is an 11/13, not a 15 Kerevi is a 13, not a 12 Hodge is a 10/12/15, not an 11/14 Pocock is a 7 not an 8 McCalman is an 8 not a 6 McMahon is a 7 although his improved line out skills and ball running make him a utility 6/7/8 back rower. Hooper isn't really playing as a 7 - it is some kind of weird cherry picked selection of 7/12 roles, He can't do the entirety of either, This makes him a specialist, maybe even a unicorn. Rory Arnold is not an all rounder because he plays 4 or 5, he is actually a specialist because he can only play 4/5 The #6 position tends to call for a "Generalist" skill set. A back rower with the line out and scrum skills of a lock. Because of the speed, agility and fitness requirements of the back row you end up with lean, fast, jumping tall men like Fardy, Mumm, Dickson and Itoge. As good as Kaino is, I think he plays more like an 8 with 6 tendencies. He can do this because Reid is More like a 6 with 8 tendencies. - One of those balanced "pairings" The nature of the job requirements is they are able to fill in at 4/5 and 8. They aren't the best at it but are able to fill in in case of an injury. They aren't the best at any one skill, they are just good at all of them. What I see is a lot of Roarers comparing the #6 against the high skill standards of a 4,5,7 or 8.and bitching that they don't meet them. Why aren't Fardy or Mumm as fast as Pocock or Hooper? Why aren't they as physical as Arnold, Coleman or Douglas?,
CUW
Guest
think there was more to it than that but Mowen found it hard to get a start at Montpelier fighting against Pierre Spies. i think even Nik White was also warming the bench ; Mogg was an intermittent starter. the name many forgot was kimlin ; i thought he was a very good player who left at the peak of his powers.
CUW
Guest
' Whatever “his” way is, is what the coach wants from him. " disagree. if my memory is right , he has played for 3 coaches ; his style has never changed. he plays the same way he did like 3 years ago. AND he plays the same way for Waratahs. there is no change to his style at all. this is different from say Sam Cane , who carries a lot more for Chiefs than he does for NZ. Cane plays differnt for club and country; not Hooper. i do not think it is ego- that assumption is silly. i just think he knows no other way to play. but becoz he is a very good player in oz , he is accommodated in the team and the 3rd row is adjusted to accommodate him and his style.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Ha ha ha - too good Nicholas!
Dat Mavis
Roar Pro
Also, said this above, but Mowen left for the money and the lifestyle (totally fine of course). But he basically made a decision he didn't want to play for the Wallabies anymore.
Dat Mavis
Roar Pro
Mowen also left because he didn't want to play for the Wallabies, basically...
Browny
Roar Rookie
PiratesRugby, Brett isn't actually defending Dean Mumm's old man anywhere there. Terry said John Mumm is on the ARU board and Brett said that he actually isn't. Buzzaard made some ridiculous claim that because John Mumm works for Buildcorp that if Dean is dropped they'll pull their sponsorship, Brett rightly pointed out the stupidity of that statement. So Brett responds with facts to two nonsensical posts and you have a go at him? What has Ewen McKenzie got to do with Dean Mumm or Buildcorp? It's not Queensland against the rest of the world.
Akari
Roar Rookie
You mean, TiMacHoo, HooMacTi or MacTiHoo???
ForceFan
Guest
What's needed to be a good No 8? Obviously height & weight are good starting points: Billy Vunipola 1.88m 126kg Sebastian Chabal 1.94 120 Wycliffe Palu 1.94 120 Duane Vermeulen 1.93 120 David Denton 1.96 119 Lopeti Timani 1.93 117 Leroy Houston 1.91 117 Jed Holloway 1.95 116 Luois Picamole 1.92 116 Toutai Kefu 1.91 113 Taulupe Faletau 1.89 113 Sergio Parisse 1.96 112 Victor Vito 1.92 112 Elliott Dixon 1.93 111 Kieran Read 1.93 110 Jamie Heaslip 1.93 110 Ben McCalman 1.92 108 Warren Whiteley 1.93 106 Facundo Isa 1.88 106 Michael Leitch 1.90 103 David Pocock 1.84 115 Sean McMahon 1.86 100 The Wallabies No 8 stocks could improve progressively and quickly with ongoing exposure and skills development in the position and return from injury.
Stin
Guest
He never played centre for Manly Roos. Always 7. Maybe Pius, but standard not as good.