The mind boggles at a head coach, together with his defensive coach, developing the erratic, complicated system the Wallabies employ, especially when you have players who are average defenders at the best of times.
The system has never worked for the Wallabies against the best sides in the game, or even rising sides like Scotland. It is also a system that All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster openly admitted they had planned to attack in last weekend’s 54-34 drubbing.
To even have any chance, slim or otherwise, of pulling Nathan Grey’s system off, you need the players with the skillset in defence first. The irony here is, if you had those players, you would not need to keep swapping them around all the time.
In the Rugby World Cup, players like Rob Horn and Adam Ashley-Cooper were very good defenders in first place, meaning the system did not need to be as ridiculously confusing as it is now. Samu Kerevi, Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau and Tevita Kuridrani all have defensive issues. On the wings, the Wallabies had an inexperienced former league player in Curtis Rona, who missed three tackles, and Henry Speight, who has been in and out of the Wallabies through a series of injuries.
Who were Cheika and Grey relying on to organise the midfield defence? Where is the Wallabies’ Conrad Smith, Ryan Crotty, AB De Villiers, Brian O’Driscoll, or Owen Farrell? They need to find somebody to fill that role.
Cheika also has a dreadful history with revolving lock combinations.
During last year’s England series, Adam Coleman should have been one of the starting locks, not dropped from the squad altogether! Then, after a poor showing against England in the first Test, Coleman was suddenly redrafted back into the squad and eventually the starting line-up.
After much pressure and perhaps a wise up, Cheika selected Adam Coleman and Rory Arnold as Australia’s starting locks against the All Blacks last week. But no sooner had Australia’s possible future long-term locking combination started that Arnold was dropped to the bench.
He was not rampaging, but neither was Coleman. Arnold did lack a bit of physicality, and looked tired early, so perhaps that is the reason he has been dropped, but he is one of those players who gets better with game time. If he has a weakness, it is that he takes two strides too long to get going at Test level. Perhaps he should shed a handful of kilos?
Arnold should not be dropped from the starting side – the Wallabies need a strong, consistent locking combination.
But Cheika has again pulled back a player no longer in the squad, Rod Simmons, who has been done to death. Is Simmons now suddenly the answer against the world’s best locking combination when he never has been in the past?
In the back row, Ned Hannigan made the second-highest number of tackles, with eight, but he lacks a bit of physicality and he made three runs for absolutely no metres according to the stats. He is a good Test player in the making, but was blown off the park by his opposite number, Liam Squire.
Lopeti Timani looked good when he came on and seems to relish playing New Zealand. He is physical and a strong carrier, which makes Hannigan keeping his place puzzling. He made his tackles, but added little else to the game and a No.6 needs to be more versatile and physical – his hits were not high impact for Test level. Timani could have provided that needed impact.
Overall, Cheika too often looks like a headless chicken when it comes to selections. There are too many unsettled combinations for a side that already has defensive issues.
Something must give if things continue. Will it be Michael Cheika or Nathan Grey who gets moved on?
Len Davies
Guest
AB de Villiers was a great schoolboy rugby player, but seeing him organizing the defense, bat in hand, boggles the mind. I'm sure you meant Jean who was great at marshaling a defense.
Fionn
Guest
Coleman, like it was last week. Selecting Simmons over Arnold was unfathomable, Simmons couldn't eve crack theReds for a lot of this year. At this point I query whether even Cheika knows what he's thinking regarding selections. Aussie rugby journalists are dropping the ball big time, Cheika needs to be held accountable. I've never seen a coach with such abysmal results face such silence and respect from the media.
Gloucesterman
Guest
We have an Australian coach coaching England ,make him a better offer .
Bob Wire
Guest
Hard to argue with any of that Fox. Is it definitely confirmed that MC is sole selector? If so he needs help, I'm being serious here, team selections need people to bounce ideas off. Whatever, the selections are strange and all over the place, I mean what is the plan? I wonder if the best players (in the selectors opinion) are selected and then THE PLAN is formulated, or is it the other way around? Too hard, I can't figure it out ( neither can some of the boys on rhe paddock)
Fishboy
Guest
I was thinking Willie O too Galatzo. Seems only yesterday, when we didn't have to think about No. 8. Oh well, at least we lived through the sunshine years.
Zulu
Roar Rookie
Who's you're line out caller and general?
ask
Guest
He has now backed himself in to the corner of not doing the logical thing because it means admitting earlier faults. Instead he could just say "look we tried to do something different rather than copying the all blacks all the time which would would mean we are always one step behind (better to be one step than the half a dozen and fading they are now :)) and it didn't work so now we are going to go back to a simpler structure and focus on executing it well. He would still cop flack but nowhere near what he is copping now.
ols
Roar Pro
It's a poor international lineup for sure. :D But it's the best 7-15 team from Chieka's current squad I reckon.
PiratesRugby
Guest
At RWC 15, Pocock should have been our starting 7. Coleman and Arnold should have been our starting locks. Timani should have been our starting 8. Cooper should have been 10. Instead, these players made way for Foley, Hooper, Palu, Skelton, Mumm, Douglas. Cheika treats the Wallabies like a Waratah benefit squad. If these selections weren't enough to get Cheika sacked, then humiliating losses to Scotland, England, and New Zealand should force him to resign. What will the excuse be tonight?
Waxhead
Guest
yes Fox - I agree with you 100%. I say both Cheika and Grey have to go now. My main reasons being........ 1) the blatant and damaging Waratah bias in selections. 2) the lunacy of the over complicated defensive system forced on poor defenders.
Waxhead
Guest
you're dreamin David :) What you've picked is a poor international line up imo. Genia - too slow now & a shadow of the player of 5 yrs ago. Foley - can't kick or defend well. Would not make any NZ super rugby squad. Kerevi - we saw what happened to him last week. Kuridrani - inconsistent, error prone and a total hog. Speight - good international winger. Folau - good in attack, poor kicking & defensive game. Beale - rubbish full back. Poor under the high ball and in defense. McMahon - underweight for a No 6 and is playing out of position. Hooper - over-rated and has a high error & missed tackle rate. Poor captain. Timani - could be great if given some game time and allowed to settle.
Fox
Roar Guru
Yes I called the wrong de Viliers but I think people know who I mean Harry - momentary brain fade there - it happens even to newspaper journo's thankfully for me :)
ols
Roar Pro
Bk That would be a great article for a NZ newspaper. Ask a few of the best NZ experts to name their Oz team from current pool of players and see what they come up with. Or even our NZ experts on the Roar here. Very interesting to see what others think from the outside who are not burdened with rusted on views and/or state team bias.
ols
Roar Pro
Sounds perfect team we could supply with current squad. You see it, I see it. I think a majority of Roarers would be reasonably happy with this. Then why can't Cheika see it?
ols
Roar Pro
Clever.
Fionn
Guest
I have a feeling that we wouldn't see Simmons played over Arnold if he was picking the team, or Ned Flanders and McMahon over Fardy, Timani and Higgers.
Bk
Guest
I would love to see the Wallaby side Steve Hanson would pick out of the pool of Australian Super Rugby players. I suspect it would be vastly different (and better) than what we have. We have to get away from teachers pet selections and choose players on performance. Unfortunately Ithink the first ones to go would be the captain, two vice captains and former captain.
David is frustrated
Guest
With mostly the same team he can have a simple structure with players defending in position. 9 Genia 10 Foley ( if he must ) 11 Folau 12 Kerevi 13 Kurindrani 14 Speight 15 Beale 6 McMahon 7 Hooper 8 Timani I think our set piece was pretty good, can we just try it?
Stone-whall
Guest
Ha ha, fine shot for the boundary sir!
Galatzo
Guest
Jimwm - I'm hoping Timani will start against Cassiem September 9 in Perth. McMahon versus Read is like Mayweather vs McGregor.