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One of the biggest positives coming out of the Wallabies’ camp over the last couple of years has been the depth developed across the park.
Admittedly, the talent pool in Australia is not as deep as some of our contemporaries – namely New Zealand or England, for whom Eddie Jones yesterday announced an impressive elite playing squad.
But, partially as a product of the three-year-old National Rugby Championship, and perhaps as the result of a number of injuries in recent years, depth is growing in a number of positions.
Generally, we are able to cover injuries across the board. With Lopeti Timani replacing Sean McMahon, who in turn replaced David Pocock at the back of the scrum, we’re beginning to see the rewards of this.
Yet a quick look at the current squad for the tour to South Africa and subsequently London to play Argentina exposes one anomaly in this growing depth: there are only two flyhalfs in the squad – and one of them is our starting inside centre. There are only two inside centres in the squad – one is on the left wing, and the other is playing at outside centre.
If Bernard Foley were to go down during a match, I assume that either Reece Hodge would shift to 12 and Sefa Naivalu would come onto the wing, or Samu Kerevi would move a spot inward to the 12 channel, leaving Tevita Kuridrani to play at outside centre. A similar arrangement would be made if Quade Cooper went down, with Foley likely moving into flyhalf.
Yet one has to question how far our depth in the halves can stretch beyond that, especially looking into 2017, in which Matt Toomua is playing in the Premiership, Matt Giteau is unlikely to be recalled, and Christian Lealiifano is very sadly, and hopefully only temporarily, out of contention due to illness.
I’m sceptical of Kurtley Beale’s likelihood of returning, especially for any June test matches. Given the failure of the returns of Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley Cooper and Drew Mitchell, and for the purpose of this article, we’ll leave him out of discussion.
Based on the current squad, it will be just Bernard Foley and Quade Cooper competing for the number 10 jersey in 2016.
Competing for the 12 jersey, assuming a Cooper/Foley combination does not prevail, will be Hodge, and perhaps Kerevi, though he does seem settled into his new role at outside centre, and he’s likely to continue at 13 for the Reds. Given Michael Cheika’s persistence with a dual-playmaker system, I’d assume that Hodge is the obvious frontrunner. But, if you’re a Roar reader, you’ve been saying that all season, no doubt.
I’ll have a brief look at the potential talent that could push for a playmaking spot next year, or at least those who could push for a position in the wider squads.
Kyle Godwin
If you haven’t heard of Kyle Godwin, you probably haven’t spent much time on this website.
The 23-year-old has been with the Western Force since 2012, playing 52 games, and scoring seven tries. He played in the Australian Under-20 side in 2012, and has been garnering repute and fans slowly since then. Perhaps underutilised in a flailing Force side, Godwin has signed with the Brumbies for next year, where he’s sure to play plenty of rugby. Usefully, he’s also an accomplished inside centre.
One gets the feeling that Godwin is just one stellar rugby season away from breaking onto the international scene, and this could come even sooner, with Michael Cheika bringing him into the Wallabies squad for the home tests against South Africa and Argentina, and a spring tour looming.
Godwin’s form with the table-topping NSW Country Eagles in the NRC is also promising, as he displays the ability for cool-headed playmaking as well as the distinctive unpredictability and flair which has him earmarked by many as a promising talent.
Godwin has a real opportunity to cement himself as a reliable Super Rugby performer at the Brumbies in 2017, and a strong season there would see him right in playmaking contention for international duties.
Jack Debreczeni
Another 23-year-old talent, Debreczeni plays for Super Rugby side Melbourne Rebels and NRC side Melbourne Rising. I was lucky enough to witness Jack terrorise my old high school, Cranbrook, as he led Trinity Grammar to an unbeaten 2011 season.
He’s been plying his trade promisingly with the Rebels for a few years now, with his impressive goal-kicking a major drawcard. In the 2016 Super Rugby season, he scored 120 points from just 14 matches. While a little down on form this year, Debreczeni is still an impressive, promising young talent surrounded by a similarly progressive Rebels program. You’d back them to only improve in 2017.
So far in the NRC, Debreczeni has scored 3 tries from 4 starts, playing his rugby at fullback and flyhalf, notching up 36 points in the season so far, and navigating the Rising to third position.
It will be interesting to see how Jack steps up next season, with a Rebels outfit now teeming with Wallaby debutants as well as some established players. He and young scrumhalf and captain, Nic Stirzaker will have to lift their games to a new level.
Mack Mason
Young Mack Mason is still only 20, but he seems to have the world at his feet at the moment.
He played in the Australian Under 20s side this year, and has now been plying his trade with Queensland U20, The Queensland Reds and Queensland Country.
Part of what seems to be a growing trend, Mason was signed from the Melbourne Storm’s U20 squad, where he trained under Storm star Cooper Cronk. The experience he has gained from that experience seems to be coming through in his inventive playmaking.
He’s been playing well in an underperforming Queensland Country side, who on Saturday picked up their first win of the season. Mason himself has picked up 34 points and a single try. At such a young age, every match will grow the young man’s skill set and match readiness.
An obstacle for Mason will be where he fits into the Reds set up in 2017: with Quade Cooper resigning at Ballymore, and fellow young gun Jake McIntyre the incumbent, Mason will be hard pressed to make a match-day 23. But at only 20, you’d back him to keep improving. He could be a force for the future.
You’d have to say Godwin is a contender here, too.
Reece Hodge
Though he’s a capped Wallaby, Hodge is yet to play in his favoured position of inside centre in a gold jersey.
Hodge had a breakout season with the Rebels this year, after they signed him from Shute Shield club Manly had the beginning of the year. His statistics make for impressive reading: despite missing six games, he finished the season with 8 line breaks, 50 tackles, and an impressive 63 points – 45 of which were from his nine tries.
His form since debuting for the Wallabies has been impressive, too. I get the feeling he is breaking in his test boots on the wing, and perhaps his move to inside centre is an inevitability. He has the line-breaking ability of a great running twelve, but backs that up with some good distribution too. Personally, I view that diversity in attack to be a stronger option that a ‘double shotgun’ Kerevi/Kuridrani option, or a Cooper/Foley combo which lacks genuine attacking go-forward.
But I digress.
Hodge is perhaps the most exciting Wallaby prospect to come out of a bleak year, and no one would be surprised if he becomes a long-term option at 12.
Karmichael Hunt
Hunt is an unusual candidate for inside centre, yet one clearly in the favour of coach Michael Cheika. Injury has soured his chances in 2016, with the relative hype surrounding him before the June series dying down to somewhat invisibility now.
Hunt plays most of his rugby at fullback. A league/AFL convert, he’s got a good running game and kicking skill to boot (ha). Personally, I’m a little sceptical of Hunt’s capabilities. I think Cheika would be better investing in some younger talent, yet he seems interested in Hunt, so 2017 could bring an opportunity for the code-hopping star.
My scepticism comes from the fact that, across the 11 rounds of Super Rugby he played in 2016, he made 2 line breaks, 24 tackles, scored just one try, and lost possession nine times. For a hard-running, harder-defending inside centre, his performances are a little worrying. But, playing at fullback for all but one match (in which he played at 12 and made 7 tackles), the jury might remain out until we can properly assess his inside centre prospects.
A wildcard in the eyes of most, but seems to have the favour of Michael Cheika. Keep an eye out for Hunt in a bolstered Reds outfit under new leadership.
Irae Simone
At just 21, Simone may have a few years yet until he’s contesting for a Wallabies jumper.
But, looking at Reece Hodge’s rise from Shute Shield to Bledisloe Cup in the space of one year, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see this promising youngster in contention should he break through at the Waratahs, where he’s signed for 2017. Given Kurtley Beale’s departure, Simone looks likely to contend with established youngster David Horwitz for the number 12 jersey, assuming coach Daryl Gibson makes no signings in this position.
Simone played New Zealand Schoolboys rugby in 2014 before moving to South Sydney to play in the Rabbitohs’ under-20s program. That year, he played in the Auckland Nines and covered every position in the Holden Cup sides’ backline.
He continued to display his versatility upon moving to North Sydney’s Shute Shield side – a team which broke a 41-year premiership drought in 2016. Simone won the competition’s Rookie of the Year gong, before continuing his hot run of form with NRC side the Sydney Rays, taking them to second in the competition.
Simone has been instrumental in the Rays’ success, scoring 3 tries and carrying 83 times for 408 metres so far this season. His running game meets his playmaking vision nicely, versatility perhaps picked up in his league days, to create an exciting young prospect.
I expect Simone to be a real presence in ‘Tahs selection come Super Rugby, and with coach Michael Cheika publicising his keen viewing of the NRC, the youngster is likely to turn some heads come finals time.
These are just a few options I’ve cherry-picked. Who do you think is in the frame for selection?
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.