Michael Cheika has revealed his World Cup hand as the Wallabies chase a successful conclusion to an otherwise rollercoaster Rugby Championship campaign.
Cheika has named an unchanged starting XV for the first time in his three-year, 40-Test tenure for Sunday’s dead rubber against Argentina in Mendoza.
While there’s no silverware on offer for the two sides, the Wallabies coach is urging his charges to step up in the countdown to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
With less than two years remaining before the global showpiece, it’s more than halfway through the World Cup cycle and Cheika admits “it’s about now” that he’s seeking selection stability after introducing 11 newcomers to the Test arena in 2017.
“I said before this campaign, the Rugby Championship, that the base is here now,” he said after naming the same run-on side that drew 27-27 with South Africa last weekend in Bloemfontein.
The frustrating stalemate followed a 23-23 drew with the Springboks in Perth, a last-minute 35-29 loss to the All Blacks in Dunedin and 54-34 defeat at the hands of the rampant world champions in the tournament opener in Sydney.
Australia’s only victory in the championship was a 45-20 win over the Pumas in Canberra, after they trailed 13-10 at halftime.
With one match remaining, Cheika has given the Wallabies a pass mark but wants further improvement ahead of their third Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks in Brisbane in a fortnight.
“It’s been strange. We started off the first 40 minutes (of the Rugby Championship) really poorly and since then we’ve been more than competitive,” he said.
“Players are improving and we’ve got fitter, so we’re able to compete in games for longer and I’m pleased with the progression.
“I would like to obviously have another couple of wins but I’m pleased with the progression considering where we started off in June and we’re looking to improve more before the year’s out.”
After making a raft of changes before Australia’s last outing, Cheika has retained faith in his three starting debutants from Bloemfontein — winger Marika Koroibete, flanker Jack Dempsey and second-rower Izack Rodda.
Lock Lukhan Tui has kept his bench spot after making his Wallabies debut against the Sprinboks.
Prop Tetera Faulkner earns a recall three years after playing his second Test on the 2014 spring tour of Europe, in Cheika’s first month at the helm.
Faulkner replaces Tom Robertson on the bench, with Ned Hanigan relegated as the Wallabies instead opt for winger Henry Speight as a backline replacement option.
Israel Folau
Marika Koroibete
Tevita Kuridrani
Kurtley Beale
Reece Hodge
Bernard Foley
Will Genia
Sean McMahon
Michael Hooper (capt)
Jack Dempsey
Adam Coleman
Izack Rodda
Sekope Kepu
Tatafu Polota-Nau
Scott Sio
Reserves: Stephen Moore, Tetera Faulkner, Allan Alaalatoa, Rob Simmons, Lukhan Tui, Nick Phipps, Samu Kerevi, Henry Speight.
In Brief
Guest
After this year's disastrous super rugby campaign and the ARU's bungling of the Force fiasco, the wallabies results in the rugby championship represent one of the biggest turn arounds in form i've seen. Incredible work by both players and coach.
In Brief
Guest
After this year's disastrous super rugby campaign and the ARU's bungling of the Force fiasco, the wallabies results in the rugby championship represent one of the biggest turn arounds in form i've seen. Incredible work by both players and coach.
Dave_S
Roar Rookie
yes I know, hence the "good luck to Japan" bit
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Some seriously big news you share here Carlos. Thanks. Saw that Argentina will pick players from Europe for the WC. Indeed good news, but they need European players in TRC also. I understand if they don't select them for June and November, but TRC is a major tournament.and deserves their top selection. http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2017/10/06/argentina-will-pick-from-europe-rugby-world-cup/
Tony
Guest
If you think that a Dirty Sanchez involves pretending you should really turn the safe searching filters off from your search engine of choice....
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
Taking players away for the experience with no intention of playing them is OK on the EYOT when there is no other Rugby being played. Taking key players from a team that is playing then not using them is not.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
I think you guys might be taking CH's language too literally. There is a lot of emotion in it. Take the spirit though, Cheiks did the Same thing to Gill last year- Refused to release him to Toulon only to sit him in the Stands in a suit. There is a balance, but at some point you need to respect the players and their teams. The travel alone is a source of fatigue. They would want to be getting some really good returns at training to justify it.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
So you are saying Hooper is great at clean outs and ruck protection.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Arnold, Perese and Korczyk are back. Keeping 3 players for the 1/2 game positions like Hooker makes sense. But with only 2 bench spots for backs there is no chance Meakes or Rona will get a run. Ulese could get the call up if Moore or Taf get injured
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Bookies odds on that one are $1.0000000000001
Don
Roar Rookie
Playing 2 opensides hasn't helped Australia. We've had the Pooper many times and have even gone the McPooper with 3 number 7s on at once. I still consider McMahon is a 7 not 6 or 8...
PeterK
Roar Guru
McMahon is weak at the ruck, poor in cleanouts and even worse at pilfers, a poor mans Hooper in fact
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Sorry to add this as I forgot when I posted this. On Facebook, there is an article posted by a journalist from Tucuman, the province where Hourcade comes from. This journalist claims that the match against the Wallabies will be Hourcade's last. This particular link was "liked" by Hourcade himself And his Facebook page is the official one. I can't believe it! He likes a page that states that he is cooked.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
The most amazing news coming out of Argentina is that Mario Ledesma, the current forwards coach for the Wallabies, will be announced as the head coach of the Jaguares this coming week. Every major rugby journalist in Argentina is reporting this and it seems that Araujo, the president of the UAR (Argie rugby union) is not denying the reports. I am not in Argentina to confirm, but I have read multiple sources for the same thing. In an Argentine blog, Nobrain claims that he spoke with Aussie journalists in Argentina and they didn't know anything about this impending announcement. Maybe Ledesma as part of a process will be good for Argentina and the Jaguares, but the whole situation is a mess. Reports state that he will also bring a trainer with him as Ledesma appeared to claim that fitness levels were poor for the Jagumas.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Hendrik Tui was a capped Japanese international before he signed for Queensland as an international marquee (salary cap exempted) player. He is apparently up to 40 caps since a 2012 debut. He was never any kind of contender for the Wallabies. And his passport says he's from the wrong side of the Tasman Sea.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
No surprise Cheika has named the same starting XV and fair enough too. The Argies will be tough to beat at Mendoza where crazy stuff always seems to happen.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
It must be Xmas, No Ned, No Tele-tubby Tommy! And isn't it great that Tetera Faulkner finally has been recognised again, am amazed of a Force player usurping a Tah boy. Another Southern Districts Shute Shield alumnus who left the Tahs to succeed in another SR franchise. Faulkner won two test caps way back in 2014, but couldn't hold his spot against good scrummagers like Greg Holmes, Sekope Kepu and James Slipper. He was playing pretty well in 2016, but about July he did his Archilles, which held him back till halfway through 2017. This is a reward for another of this year's Force forwards that finished the SR season so well. I wish the bloke has a good game once he gets on the field. I read that the Pumas have two opensides, perhaps hoping to repeat how Scotland beat the WB back in June, but they don't have the defence or fitness of the Scots. If the WB start well and get a fair share of the ball, they should win this game strongly.
Dave_S
Roar Rookie
Yes on form H Tui was a real contender for a WB 6 jumper. Anyway good luck to Japan.
Paul D
Guest
Don't waste your time trying to find meaning or logic in Crazypants' posts. The first part of his moniker is quite appropriate.
cinque
Guest
How is Meakes different from Korczyk? Perese? Powell? Uelese? Or did some of them fly home? (I've lost track)