Michael Cheika finalised his 33-man Wallaby squad yesterday.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, given the current nature of Australian rugby fandom, many comments were directed towards the fact that the Waratahs and Reds made up the majority of the squad despite finishing lower than the Brumbies and Western Force.
To some it was an example of state-based bias in Australian rugby, particularly in favour of the NSW Waratahs.
To others, however, it was an example of fans more interested in complaining about the Waratahs than the success of the Wallabies.
What this second group do not seem to grasp is that the complaining about Waratahs is symptomatic of a deeper frustration: Cheika’s inability to recognise and rectify key problems in the Wallabies or his willingness to select his teams based on recently demonstrated form rather than form from years gone by.
Indeed most Wallabies fans have four key frustrations with the team.
1. Inconsistencies on overseas-bound Wallabies
Prior to the June series Michael Cheika said overseas-bound players would be selected in the squad only if they were to be starters in the 15.
Many fans would have said, however, that Scott Fardy was the form number 6 in Australia. Fair enough, though – Cheika sees it differently and wants to build some talent for 2019.
He then went on to bring into the squad Rob Horne, despite his appalling 2017 Super Rugby form – and not as a starter first the second Test. He later dropped Tevita Kuridarni, one of Australia’s better-performing backs against Scotland, in favour of Horne for Italy.
2. Inconsistencies on the importance of Super Rugby form
Cheika explained he let Quade Cooper out of the extended Wallabies training squad due to his poor Super Rugby form, despite there being no backup flyhalf in the team.
Meanwhile, locks Kane Douglas and Rob Simmons were brought into the squad despite not playing well enough to start for the Queensland Reds.
Cheika justified Douglas’ selection as being about trying to get something out of him that he knew was inside.
Well, what about what is inside Quade? We know he can be electric for the Wallabies and he was good in his limited time off the bench in June and, but while we have no other Australian flyhalf starting for a Super Rugby team, the Western Force have a number of good locks to cover Douglas.
To say that Nick Phipps’ form in 2017 has been ordinary would be to put it mildly. He failed to nail down a consistent starting spot at the Waratahs with Jake Gordon in the time and was subsequently injured.
Despite this and his horror international form in 2016, Phipps has been selected over better-performing halfbacks Gordon and Michael Ruru.
Few would say that Tom Robertson has performed better than the other looseheads in Australia or that Ned Hanigan has been better than Ross Haylett-Petty or Scott Higginbotham.
(Image: AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
3. Exit options and kicking for touch
It has been painfully clear since the England series that Bernard Foley does not have a long or accurate enough boot to be the primary exit or touch kicker. His exits routinely either do not go out or find only the 22. His kicking for touch is lucky to gain 20-30 metres.
Reece Hodge and Dane Haylett-Petty both have howitzers, and in Haylett-Petty’s case his boot is very accurate as well.
For a few matches last year Hodge took over the touch finding duty and immediately the Wallabies started gaining 40 to 50 metres off penalties. Soon afterwards, however, Foley was back to sole kicking duties.
No single moment summed this up better than when Foley was yellow-carded in June against Scotland. Haylett-Petty kicked for touch and took the team from well within their own side of halfway to well inside Scotland’s 22.
The flyhalf does not need to be the designated kicker. Foley can remain as flyhalf and give up the primary kicking duties. Why has Cheika not made this happen?
4. Set-piece woes
Cheika’s unwillingness to pick three primaries and one secondary jumper in the line-out has been a thorn in the side of the team since the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
However, despite the obvious necessities of more loose-forward jumpers, Cheika overlooks noted jumpers in Higginbotham and Fardy and tall-man Haylett-Petty in favour of Adam Korczyk, Jack Dempsey and Sean McMahon, despite the latter heading overseas.
Likewise Tom Roberton’s Super Rugby scrummaging should mean that he is not considered for the Wallabies until he has at least fixed this major flaw in his game.
Unfortunately for those who do not like the complaints about Waratahs biases, Waratahs have been the ones who have primarily benefited by Cheika’s inconsistencies and downright flaws.
I, and countless other Australian rugby fans, are Wallabies fans first and Super Rugby fans second, and we would happily see 23 Waratahs in the team if they were the best options.
Our issue is not with the Waratahs; it is with the underperforming players in the squad and the team’s obvious weaknesses.
ScottD
Guest
I don't question Hooper vs Gill/Pocock as neither of those players is available for selection. I do however ask what the ARU is doing to get Gill back for 2019 so that we have a real choice for the starting side 7 from a squad of quality 7's.
ScottD
Guest
The SR record is a red herring. Only 15 players can make it on the field at once The actual question is whether the best 15 and 7 reserves from Aus can match it against the equivalent NZ side. On the day the fact that NZ has another 30 just as good that didn't make their team isn't relevant.
ScottD
Guest
Perhaps if you read the article again you would realise that the premise is that the best players haven't been chosen.
glider
Guest
Yes good article - dont forget stupid charged down box kicks, bringing players back who have not been in the Super Rugby Comp; (then why only select from Super Rugby Teams) and no play book and no style
Fionn
Guest
I have a feeling that longterm he will be 12 or 13. He is a very solid defender and has some power/pace. He needs to try and improve his power through contact, however.
MitchO
Guest
Yeah. I thought Cheika's theory is about building for 2019 and being prepared to cop some losses along the way. Hence guys like Hanigan being picked a bit early. Sure Horne knows the Wallaby and NSW systems and can slot straight in at short notice but this was Italy (Tier 2 nation who nearly beat us). Should have been an opportunity to give someone like Rona a run with an eye on 2019. For mine Rona has more to offer than Horne and potentially more than TK. He is quick and does offload and can finish a move.
MitchO
Guest
I thought Hodge played a bit of 12 in his career with the main issue being that he is so young he stepped almost from grade to tests. And in super rugby he has been shuffled something crazy. Plenty of upside for Hodge. I don't know where is actual test match position should be. Super sub credentials aside I don't know where is best for him. He has a good size, shape and enough speed and boot for fullback - but we have plenty. He is only just quick enough for wing, but we have a few. He could be a good 13 but we have a few. He doesn't pass well enough for 9 or 10. So whatever he does he needs to improve his passing game and his pace off the mark. For mine he is a 13/15 type who can fill in on a wing when his boot is required or if he needs to do a Rob Horne and do the defending for KB.
MitchO
Guest
Crazy H to be fair if you look at the Tahs and the Wallabies consider that the Tahs would not have been spanked by the Force if they had Sio, TPN and Alan A in front row and a second row as good as Coleman and Arnold. Sio may have copped some stick in the scrums from Ainsley and Faulkner but he'd have been better around the ground than Robertson and he's a better player generally. Hooper played well against the Force and he didn't have a lot help. Hanigan I am not a believer but he has potential - albeit potential to be the style of 6 that I don't prefer. Nasarini is not eligible yet and there is clearly a fundamental flaw in RHPs character or game that is keeping him out of the squad. I would be interested to know what that is so if one you guys could tell me that would be appreciated. Robertson is iffy and if nothing else he is not good enough at his young age for test duty. Super Rugby is supposed to get him the experience so when he's 28 or so he can push for a spot in the 23. Meantime we should go someone who's been around the block a bit provided that they can scrum okay.
MitchO
Guest
Mate I do feel that Mumm in isolation is just okay. Particularly if we have a tough second row rather than a busy but soft lineup. But fair enough. Back in the days when we were better than England Mumm was alright but on reflection he is not really up to it against any of the Tier 1 international forward packs.
Link
Guest
^ 2:22 v the AB`S was classic Foley.
Fionn
Guest
I agree Horne was decent without being spectacular, but it was the principle. He had done nothing to deserve his call up, he was lucky to be the 5th best 13 in Aus in 2017, and he was going overseas. Cheika picking him made a mockery of his claims to care about both Test form and players heading overseas. Fundamentally disagree that Dean Mumm was Test quality, especially in his second outing from being overseas. Hanigan is taking the spots of far superior players, all of whom are likely to be capable in 2019 – RHP, Higgers and Fardy for starters. Powell was decent for the Brumbies but I would prefer Rruru definitely and possibly Gordon as bench impact. Robertson is a poor scrummager at SR and is ineffectual around the park. I just can't even get my head around his selection it is that baffling to me. I'd get that Faagase bloke, Cowan or Ben Alexander.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
None of the Tahs four wins were convincing. Two of those Tahs wins were against the injury stricken Rebels. Another was the first game of the season beating an injury weakened Force by 6 points Then the Reds by 3 points. Beaten by the Brumbies 21-12 Were absolutely destroyed by a full strength Force side 40-11. Were unable to beat any non-Australian side. A significantly worse result than any other Australian side other than the Rebels.
MitchO
Guest
Cheers Fionn. I too am not a Tahs hater and don't watch enough Super Rugby to be able to offer a defining opinion. However, in defence of Cheika and Rob Horne, I thought Horne did everything asked of him when parachuted back into the team in June. I'd have preferred they parachute in a Rona or someone but so be it. We need to be strong in set piece. Scrums and lineout. Robertson probably has a good head on his shoulders but I was not convinced by his scrummaging or by Toby Smith's in June. I thought Smith would at least be steady. So back up loosehead is up for grabs. Cowan is a decent player and just up to standard. What's the Queenslander like? Who else is there (Ben A aside and the injured Daly who looked good in the only game I saw him play). We do need a decent lineout and that rules out Kane Douglas. Coleman, Arnold to start with Simmons on the bench. I can live with Hanigan but don't particularly want to. He is a Dean Mumm type, Cheika loves the Dean Mumm type. Okay. I do think RHP is tougher. Hanigan is pretty quick. Needs more grunt. Fardy is unlikely to be good enough in 2019 so I don't mind them trying to replace him now. Hanigan will be okay in the World Cup squad as a Dean Mumm. Isi Nasarini and Timani are two guys with a real claim on the 6 and 8 positions though. Timani did okay in June and he's had limited game time too. Can Sitalecki Timani be brought back? I think he's taller than Douglas. Really I look at all those NSW guys and who doesn't deserve to be there? i thought Dempsey did okay in June. And on the back of no rugby. Is he the answer at 6/8? Dunno so he's questionable. Hanigan questionable. One day he will grow up to be Dean Mumm and that is test class but only just. Robertson is questionable and Phipps questionable. But Phipps has done okay I just hate those dodgy passes that come out quite regularly. Powell from the Brumbies looks good to me. Not Kiwi good (TJ or Smith or TKB) but lots of energy and gets the ball moving and has good hair. Would have been nice if he had a proper run in June. Robertson scrummed as badly as Toby in June so what to do? Stay with him. Maybe fair enough. Cowan is worth another try though and he is a good age now.
Fionn
Guest
Damn, bakkies, you shouldn't have pointed it out, you just ruined my entire self-confidence..
Fionn
Guest
Hahah, I've never put it quite that simply. Thanks for that, I'm sure I'll be using that quote in the future.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Like you say, an 80m kick that stays in is better than a 25m one.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Hey Tragic, Tah's didn't beat an overseas team this season. They got Pants'ed by the Force and got out of jail on 2 other occasions. How does this qualify the players for international selection. The other 6 non-wallaby Players in the Tahs side must be sooooo bad that they can make the side peppered with world class players fail this badly. Let's start blaming Horowitz, Clark and Kellaway for the woeful performances. Either that, or your logic is flawed.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
They should be selected based on current results. Otherwise Bring back Greagan, Lynah, Eales, Herbert, Horan,........... Stop living in the past.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
I don't think the bulk of the message is to blame everything on the Tah's. The Tahs are fine doing what they do. Just don't invite them to be the core of an international Rugby side. The Blame is with Michael Chieka. He is the one selecting players that aren't up to the task.
Fionn
Guest
As I said, I think he was thrown in the deep end and we expected too much from him in his first year of SR, and this year he has been surrounded by a very poor team.