With experienced halfback Will Genia back in camp with the Wallabies, coach Michael Cheika faces two important questions.
The first – whether Australia’s star of the Rugby Championships should be rushed straight back into a winning side – will be answered early in the week before the Murrayfield Test with Scotland on Saturday (kickoff at 1.30am AEDT on Sunday).
The second, trickier conundrum surrounds the 28-year-old’s availability for the tour-ending clash with England.
That fixture could be Australia’s chance to secure a rare grand slam win – a first since 1984 – should they remain undefeated until that point, which is still a mighty task given their coming clashes with Scotland and Ireland.
But whether Cheika will lobby hard for Genia to be granted a release from his French club for a Test that falls outside the international window is something he’s not ready to contemplate.
“You can ask me that question on November 28 (after the Ireland game, if the grand slam is still on offer),” Cheika said in Edinburgh on Monday.
“What we do this week will decide how much I’ll be able to ask that question later on.
“I think it’s irrelevant because right now the only game where the grand slam is up, is Scotland.
“At the end of the day, that’s the international window. Everyone knows it.
“We know when we set up Test matches outside the window, you’ve got to live with that.”
Cheika suggested Genia was “hurt” about being denied a release for last weekend’s clash with Wales, which also fell outside World Rugby’s international window.
“It probably hurt him last week, not being able to play, but that’s the way we always knew it was going to be,” Cheika said.
“He’s here now and we’ve got a few weeks together. I’m sure he’ll enjoy his time in camp.”
Of more immediate concern for Cheika is to work out how to reintegrate his star No.9 in a team that looked as crisp in attack as it has since the 2015 World Cup.
To change up a winning team could be considered a risk, especially with Nick Phipps warming to the role of starting halfback with an impressive display against Wales.
“(Genia has) obviously had a great Rugby Championship, there’s no doubt about it,” Cheika siad.
“But Phipps has played well these past two games. That’s exactly what I want to have, these issues.”
Cheika praised the competitive spirit among Genia, Phipps and the third halfback on tour, Nick Frisby.
“The boys compete hard for spots,” he said.
“They cheer each other on as much as possible when they’re in the jersey.
“They work hard together to get their skills right, and that’s what we want – have the three of them together working against each other and then for each other in the end.”
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.
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