Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has revealed a cluster of emerging players and one familiar face are on his radar in the battle for back-row spots in his first squad of the season.
A squad of around 33 will be named next Tuesday for the June home Tests against Fiji, Scotland and Italy,
While superstar flanker David Pocock is on sabbatical, Cheika believes there are plenty of players vying for back-row spots.
Stalwarts like Michael Hooper and Scott Fardy will be joined by some less experienced players with the possibility of at least one uncapped back-rower making the squad.
‘We like what we’ve seen from (the Reds Adam) Korczyk and (the Waratahs Ned) Hanigan, these young guys coming through, definitely not finished articles,” Cheika said.
“I’ve said before I like (the Force’s Richard) Hardwick too, so there’s a fair bit of depth there.
“I think it’s going to be an interesting competition for a spot and more about who can go up a level and make it into the gold jersey.”
One proven international attracting Cheika’s attention is Queendland’s 30-year-old No.8 Scott Higginbotham, the most prolific tryscoring forward in Super Rugby history.
The most recent of his 32 Tests was back in July 2015 and he failed to make the World Cup squad announced the next month.
“The guy I haven’t mentioned at all this year, but at some stage you have to mention him is Higginbotham,” Cheika said.
“He’s kept his chin up and he’s stuck at it. And we know what he’s about now and we’ll have to consider where he sits in the picture.”
Other potential pieces of Cheika’s back-row puzzle include Rebels’ duo Sean McMahon and Lopeti Timani, who have recently returned from injury and suspension respectively.
“They need to get their fitness up and running, but the signs are looking good there for them as well,” he said.
Cheika had hoped Waratahs flanker Jack Dempsey would be pushing for a Test spot after going on last year’s spring tour as a development player, but a foot injury has sidelined him for the last two months.
“I was hearing he’ll play club rugby this week which is a positive,” Cheika said of Dempsey, who is set to fly to New Zealand on Sunday to join the Waratahs squad, ahead of their game against the Chiefs in Hamilton the following weekend.
Crash Ball2
Guest
You're damn right he needed help at the breakdown. Could have done with an openside flanker.
Jimbo81
Guest
yep
Bakkies
Guest
Higginbotham was anonymous at the breakdown in that match. Fardy needed help as he couldn't do it alone. He was getting driven out of rucks far too easily
Utah
Guest
Higgenbotham wasn't even picked in the broader squad of 50. Hard to believe. Cheika really doesn't like him for some reason only apparent to him.
Val
Guest
Forget the RWC in 2019. The ARU should instruct Cheika to a pick a Wallabies side to win the next three tests. Australian rugby needs a lift - imagine what we all would be saying if they lost even one of these tests!! That means Hooper, Higginbotham plus a No 6. Made difficult by Timani missing last game and McMahon getting an injury, so no standout! Maybe it should be Fardy - four jumpers so even our hookers should be able to hit at least one!
cuw
Guest
and anyway Mafi rarely if ever jumps , LOL sometimes i wonder if people make comments looking at the wiki profile :)
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Alcock is my Pick. Hardwick if I put on my Dark Blue Monocle. MacMahon if he wasn't just back from injury. All 3 do the hard work in the shadows and aren't out seeking fortune and glory. It's a short song but one hell of a story . Smith has stepped up and said he would love to play but not at the expense of keeping the young guns out of the side,
Kaizer
Roar Rookie
6.Fardy 7.Hooper 8.Higgers McMahon off the bench as cover. Not a fan of Hooper but his dad will pick him. Fardy won't be there because he plays way too much like a kiwi back rower and we can't have that. Higgers is our form number 8 with daylight second and bacteria growth third. So I'll revise my back rowers. 6.Higgers 7.Hooper 8.McMahon
John
Guest
Hooper@ #2, Higgers@ #8, Fardy on the bench as impact player.
Browny
Roar Rookie
The only way I'd accept that if it was all a trick to make it look like we were running a super light backrow and then at the last minute Mumm withdraws during the warm up and we go to some combination involving Timani, Higgers, Fardy and McMahon across the 6,8 and 20. Up until that moment there would be a lot of rough language...
Browny
Roar Rookie
Louwrens is injured. Stirzaker has been injured a handful of times this year and is hardly in form. Not sure on Tuttle. Gordon needs some more time. Frisby... yeah. Phipps hasn't been able to nail down the starting Tahs spot. Pretty sure Powell is well and truly in the mix and should be second in line behind Genia right now.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Marto, Great to finally meet a brother in arms. Your observations match mine perfectly, I suspect we both actually watch the games and wonder why the tahs have poorly defended ruck after poorly defended ruck. Mafi and Higgers certainly knew where the gap was and plowed through it. Reid, Kaino, Warren Whiteley, Isa and Parisse will be sure to bring their tokens to go through the turnstile as well. I also turn the Commentators off so I am not jaded by the biassed commentary. I will say that Hoops played his best game in years against the cellar dwelling Rebels. He defended 1 Ruck and made a pilfer from another.
Browny
Roar Rookie
Fionn, it's not about the player, it's about the colour of jumper during the SR season! I get the feeling that Marto wouldn't think as poorly of Hooper if he was still in Brumbieland....
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
This is why Hardwick is being groomed in Pocock's Wallaby image - a number 7 with 8 Skills. He has spent a lot of time on the back of the Force Scrum. Packs in at 8 in attack, controlling the ball and 7 in defense to hit the 10 and 12. I first saw him in the NRC final last year and think he is great. But I don't think he is ready for an international against the big boys. I think he needs to mature and the June tests might just be the forum for it. I think Alcock is a better choice for the 7/8 Role.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
I thought you misspelled Lock, but C and L are a long way away on a keyboard.
Fionn
Guest
If Mumm makes it over Higgers I'll have a breakdown.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
Mumm at 8. 1st test.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Except he was better than the challenger in DHP against NZ and England , the top 2 teams (all 7 games BTW he was better). In his last 6 tests last year he had good or very good games with only 1 mediocre one against Ireland.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Phipps should have been dropped ages ago. Louwrens, Powell, and Stirzaker should get a go. Gordon and Tuttle need to work on a few things (both better than Phipps and Frisby though).
Fionn
Guest
Who is the answer then? Pocock is gone and George Smith, while I love him, isn't the answer going forward. Hooper just utterly outplayed McMahon.