Something occurred to me during the Wallabies’ good-enough-is-far-enough win over France on Sunday morning.
Even though Wallabies coach Michael Cheika’s consistent chopping and changing of the side is something that has got my goat during 2016, he is simply running from the same song sheet he held since taking on the job.
At times this year, I’ve bemoaned the number of changes he’s made week-to-week, and the silly delays in naming a side, followed by a massively inflated bench one week, and no bench at all the next. Just once, I’ve had the thought, it would’ve been nice to read the words, “…has named an unchanged squad” on a press release.
The year following a Rugby World Cup was always going to be about rebuilding the Wallabies, and Cheika on multiple occasions this year has used words to the effect of ‘adding to the depth’ of the selection pool. In fact, going back further, he used those exact words when the ‘Giteau’s Law’ allowance for overseas-based players was announced.
The match against France was always going to be the match on the Spring Tour in which Cheika rested players and made multiple changes as he sought to get game time into other squad members and so it was, with the official wording reading, “Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has made twelve changes to his starting side for the Test against France at Stade de France in Paris.”
It ended up being one more than that, with uncapped Western Force flyhalf Jonno Lance a late replacement on the bench for the injured Quade Cooper.
So, 13 changes from the week before against Scotland, but in reality, 19 of the 23 Wallabies jerseys had different players in them than was the case in Edinburgh.
Lance went unused in the end, and will have to wait for his Wallabies debut, though Cheika since the 25-23 win has said, “He’ll run the show down in Bordeaux for the Wallaby XV that goes down there, and I’d say it won’t be long before he gets that (Test) cap.”
Kyle Godwin did make his long-awaited Test debut, however, becoming Wallaby no.903. He was the 13th debutant of 2016, which I’ve since read is the highest number of debutants in a single season since 2005. And who knows; there’s still two Tests left on tour, that record could yet be topped.
For what it’s worth, I thought Godwin played well. He didn’t play with same sort of midfield ascendency he enjoyed toward the back end of the NRC this season, but he did the ball-distribution and line-straightening job asked of him very well. He may not play next weekend in Dublin against Ireland, but I’ll be honest, I couldn’t quibble if held his place somewhere in the matchday 23.
But Godwin was also the 48th player Cheika has used in 2016. Curious as to just high the number of players used this season is, I mapped out the matchday squads for every Test played this year.
Cheika used 32 different players in the three-Test series against England back in June – by comparison, England used 27 – and used another 14 players during the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup series.
He’s added Tolu Latu and Godwin to that list since arriving in Europe, and Lance would’ve been no.49 had he crossed the sideline at the Stade de France in regulation time.
Could Cheika raise his bat before the year is out? With the likes of Marika Koroibete on tour, you couldn’t rule it out, though if we include the French Barbarians game coming up on Thursday night, then the number sails past 60.
The Wallaby XV squad to play in Bordeaux – to be joined by another five players from the official touring party – was named late yesterday afternoon, and added a host of new players to the 2016 list.
Among them are: former Western Force hooker Nathan Charles, now with Clermont after coming back from injury with Western Sydney in the NRC. Former Brumbies and now France-based backrowers Peter Kimlin (Grenoble) and Ben Mowen (Pau). The evergreen Mark Gerrard, from Toyota Industries Shuttles in Japan, and who I thought had retired from playing to start coaching, and really promising Western Sydney Rams prop Dave Lolohea, who at this stage remains without a Super Rugby contract for 2017.
They’ll join Sam Carter, Jack Dempsey, Sef Fa’agase, Nick Frisby, Andrew Kellaway, Koroibete, Lance, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Andrew Ready, Izaia Perese, Tom Robertson, Paddy Ryan, Will Skelton, and Nic Stirzaker, and I don’t mind admitting that now I’ve lost track of who is and isn’t in the Wallabies squad.
Several of these guys have been on tour as ‘apprentices’, you’ll recall, in the same manner the All Blacks have used in recent years. Half a dozen or more guys were added after the Barbarian campaign ended last week. Taniela Tupou is definitely with the touring squad though not eligible for another twelve months, and I thought Adam Coleman had gone home, but he may actually still be on tour.
And if that’s not enough, four new coaches are involved in the midweek game, too, with former Wallabies and NSW Waratahs assistant Scott Wisemantel, now an assistant at Montpellier, taking the reins. He’ll be joined by Melbourne Rebels backs coach Morgan Turinui, and former Wallabies Justin Harrison and Chris Whitaker.
Whatever the number, the point remains. By the start of the 2017 Super Rugby season, more than three complete XVs worth of players will have had recent Wallabies experience, and been exposed to the Wallabies system. If they don’t go into next season as better players for the opportunity, then it will have been the player himself who wasted his time.
And I reckon this is worth keeping in mind over the remaining games of the Spring Tour, too. By the start of next season, the Wallabies pool of player will be deeper than it was 12 months before.
We’ve questioned his logic, and second-guessed his motivations throughout 2016, but the whole time, Michael Cheika has just been doing exactly what he told us he’d be doing.
And when all’s said and done, he really can’t be faulted for that, can he?
Fox
Roar Guru
Yes I do agree the injuries to key players like Sexton will hurt Ireland and apparently they are pretty bashed up and bruised as you rightly point out - how much this carries over to the game - we will have to wait and see - but losing Sexton is a huge loss for sure but his replacement didn't have a bad game against t the AB's to be fair to him As to no way being number 3 in the world? - read Nicholas Bishops recent article on the Ireland v AB game where he suggests as some others may be right - just may be - when they ahve called Ireland now number 2 in the world - no one has tested the AB's this season like they have over two games that is for sure - of course England have no yet played the AB's of course
G Slacker
Guest
@Fox Saker Thanks for your response. For the record, I'm not about the status thing. And wasn't calling the 'guru' or 'expert' status into question, doesn't concern me in the slightest. And clearly you are knowledgeable on the game. My comment is more calling you out on the assertion by PeterK that the 'vibe' of all of your comments is invariably anti Australian rugby, whilst being very pro New Zealand rugby. And that's fair enough. I just think you need to be honest about your stance (clearly I agree with PK's assessment on your comments) The fact that it's taken you until now to admit you got it wrong about Wales just backs that up further for mine. I can't comment on the other games you've mentioned as I haven't been around that long. But it doesn't take a genius to imagine the backlash you would have gotten in regards to your predictions in regards to England. And you take the opportunity to vindicate yourself here, as you should. But you can imagine why you got the backlash right? the last time those two teams played, England got pumped at home at their World Cup.So it'd be a bit naive to expect a different response.
Fox
Roar Guru
I agree with you to a point Brett, and see the obvious long term benefits, but it is also important to create a winning culture and any defeat dents that benefit unless you have long history of rarely losing like the AB's do then you can carry the odd lose because it motivates the side to prove that it was an aberration by coming back with a vengeance in the next games Sure losing can kick you in ass like Ireland did to the All Blacks in Chicago, but losing two on trot, or losing more than you are winning in a season or close to it comes with its own negatives for the culture and mindset of the side as well. But yes blooding players does have long term benefits - but only if they stack up as test players long term or you are cutting off your nose to spite you face which is counterproductive as I am sure you would agree perhaps?
Brett McKay
Expert
he's an enigma, trapped in a riddle, etc etc..
Fox
Roar Guru
@ GSlacker - Yes I called the Wales game wrong - they played way below what they did in NZ and Australia played well so hats off and as an Australian citizen I was glad they won. What ? So that suddenly makes me not deserving Guru or whatever? Experts and x-players have called plenty of things wrong as well - and big time in some cases - like everyone on the first Ireland v All Black game in Chicago - guess that makes them not deserving of being experts either? At least I am prepared to out my neck on chopping block instead of dancing around trying not to upset anyone By the way, for the record, I follow the game extensively and have done for years as well as played for years in NZ.. I note you don't mention the fact that I wrote two articles on England and how strong they would be based on my knowledge of England and their players and that I thought Jones was a better coach than Cheika and it would show in the series. In these articles I predicted an English series victory of at least 2-1 or maybe worse. And yes as usual I got flak for even suggesting it . I predicted Australia would lose to the Boks in SA this year as well and have got plenty of things right my friend but hey wouldn't want to give me any credit for that now would we? No one gets it right all the time but that does not make their knowledge of the game diminish -just means they are human But hey whatever... @Paul like Fionn I didn't know I had an agenda...but hey thanks for giving me the heads up...
Brett McKay
Expert
I reckon there's certainly an element of that in it, Nick. Kimlin has certainly toyed with the idea of coming home since leaving (and re-signing with Grenoble, too), and Mowen hasn't played a whole lot with Pau since switching from Montpellier this season..
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
And you seem a very angry man to take this level of offence at a simple question buddy.
Custard Cream
Roar Rookie
This is why I'm not sold on the RWC; too many fans seem to think that all intervening games are trials or friendlies. 6N, 4RC, Bled, etc need to be taken seriously - these are not 'throw-away' games.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I wasn't aware that I had an agenda, but now that I've been told that I do then I should probably ensure that I stick to it.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Out of interest, what's my agenda, Paul?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Whereas I have different views on Pocock as a 7. First of all, he's not wearing that number, so we need to be clear what the relationship between Pocock and the number 7 really is. Will he play 7 this week? Or, will Hooper, who can only play 7 in the back row, play there and allow Pocock to do his thing while Hooper covers the rest of the role?
Kane
Guest
The atrocious boks team that beat Aus? Yeah Connor I've been following them. Take England's 3-0 whitewash over Aussie away and they're not ranked no2. Simple as that.
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
Hi Brett Is the idea in selecting France-based players and coaches to draw them subtly back into the SR and Wallaby orbit - increase the chance of their returning to Oz?
Crash Ball2
Guest
Entered Oz: 4. Left Oz: 2.
The Saint
Roar Guru
I wish Christian L a speedy recovery.
Celtic334
Guest
Someone that consistently performs at a high level on the international stage. I understand some people say it's who would make the world 15. But by that theory pocock has never been world class as mccaw would of constantly been picked ahead of him. Ditto folau because ben smith is the better player? is itoje not world class because whitelock and retallick are better? Was George smith not world class despite playing the same era as mccaw? Matt Burke with Christian Cullen? These players are all worthy of the highest elite status you can give them. E.g. World class Plus I'd say 2 x player of the year awards for the 3rd best team in the world, if that doesn't put you in elite class I have no idea what will.
The Saint
Roar Guru
Celtic334, what is your definition of "world class"??? To me its a player that can walk into any test team in the world. I can't see Hooper walking into the ABs, Eng, Ire or Wales. So he's a good player....but not world class
The Saint
Roar Guru
No arguments there cuw. Alround game wise...Pocock is the best 7 in Aus
The Saint
Roar Guru
Good post RedAndBlack
The Saint
Roar Guru
I agree totally Brett