Michael Cheika has unveiled an experimental side for the Wallabies’ upcoming clash against the Barbarians in Sydney on Saturday, naming Nick Phipps as captain and regular fullback Israel Folau on the wing.
Cheika flagged a positional switch for Folau earlier in the week, and his shift to the wing will see Karmichael Hunt line up in the fullback jersey, giving the clearest indication yet that the Queensland Reds man is in line to nab the 15 jersey on the upcoming Spring Tour.
Folau will not be a part of the end-of-year tour, with Saturday afternoon’s clash to be his last match of the year.
Hunt and Folau will be joined in the backline by Test regulars Henry Speight and Samu Kerevi on the wing and at outside centre respectively, while Billy Meakes has been given the nod at inside centre.
Queensland Reds playmaker Duncan Paia’aua will start at five-eighth, while experienced Waratahs halfback Nick Phipps will captain the side in the number nine jersey.
There is a similar mix of youth and experience in the forwards. Ned Hanigan, who has been a controversial selection in the number six jersey for much of the year, has been selected in the back row alongside Lopeti Timani and Jack Dempsey, the latter of whom is fresh off a man-of-the-match performance in Australia’s recent win over the All Blacks.
Giant locks Lukhan Tui and Rory Arnold will start in the second row, while Allan Alaalatoa, Jordan Uelese and Tom Robertson will line up together at the front of the scrum.
On the bench, veteran hooker Stephen Moore will make his final appearance on Australian in the green and gold, joined by Melbourne Rebels pair Tetera Faulkner and Jermaine Ainsley.
Experienced forwards Kane Douglas and Ben McCalman will also start on the pine, as will Joe Powell, Curtis Rona, Izaia Perese.
1. Tom Robertson (NSW Waratahs)
2. Jordan Uelese (Melbourne Rebels)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (vc) (Brumbies)
4. Rory Arnold (Brumbies)
5. Lukhan Tui (Queensland Reds)
6. Ned Hanigan (NSW Waratahs)
7. Jack Dempsey (NSW Waratahs)
8. Lopeti Timani (Melbourne Rebels)
9. Nick Phipps (c) (NSW Waratahs)
10. Duncan Paia’aua (Queensland Reds)
11. Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs)
12. Billy Meakes (Western Force)
13. Samu Kerevi (vc) (Queensland Reds)
14. Henry Speight (Brumbies)
15. Karmichael Hunt (Queensland Reds)
Reserves
16. Stephen Moore (Queensland Reds)
17. Tetera Faulkner (Melbourne Rebels)
18. Jermaine Ainsley (Melbourne Rebels)
19. Kane Douglas (Queensland Reds)
20. Ben McCalman (Western Force)
21. Joe Powell (Brumbies)
22. Curtis Rona (Western Force)
23. Izaia Perese (Queensland Reds)
1. Pekahou Cowan (Western Force and Australia)
2. Andrew Ready (Queensland Reds)
3. Taniela Tupou (Queensland Reds)
4. Luke Jones (Bordeaux Begles and Australia)
5. Sam Carter (Brumbies and Australia)
6. Isi Naisarani (Western Force)
7. Matt Hogdson (vc) (Western Force and Australia)
8. Wycliff Palu (Toyota Verblitz and Australia)
9. Augustine Pulu (Blues and New Zealand)
10. Quade Cooper (c) (Queensland Reds and Australia)
11. Eto Nabuli (Queensland Reds and Australia)
12. George Moala (Blues and New Zealand)
13. Tom Banks (Brumbies)
14. Taqele Naiyaravoro (NSW Waratahs and Australia)
15. Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs and Samoa)
Reserves
To be confirmed
John R
Roar Guru
I knew about Inman and Debreczini but didn't see anything about English leaving. He's a good player.
Rebellion
Guest
This is such a ridiculous ongoing argument - Phipps doesn’t deserve to be in the team so shouldn’t ever come into the conversation as captain. Period. A halfback needs to have a reliable pass just like a pitcher needs to be able to throw the ball straight 3 times in a row
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
I back Cheika 100% on his decisions. Keeping his usual suspects would give him everything to lose and not much to gain. If the Baa Baas get up, he looks a fool. With the reserves playing, he restricts AJ's selection options and if they lose, it validates his a-list. If they win, he takes the credit for developing depth. Cynical, I know.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
He is exactly as bad as the haters say. When your own coach won't even start you, you have no place in a wallaby squad, let alone in the team, starting or captain. Gordon, Powel, Ruru, Stirzaker, all better players with better SR and NRC form and better prospects for the future. I haven't been paying close attention but there are a couple more in NRC like Nucifora that deserve a go too.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Which year was that again? And it was a full strength kiwi side right? And we beat the Boks twice right? Randwick rugby from a quarter of a century ago is incredibly successful Rught?
PeterK
Roar Guru
piru - No, you were castigated for saying that anything , and that means anything, the ref doesn't penalise is fine, didn't matter if it was in backplay where it was impossible for the ref to see, nor what they did. Not fine morally but in terms of legality.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Perter, Perhaps your eye socket is so badly bruised from wearing the sky blue monocle for so long that you are now blind to the truth.
soapit
Guest
depending where hodge plays id ssay rona would be a good buy for 13
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Reid's boys were disgusting, Coles in particular, but Barnes told Reid to talk to "Your #2" He didn't tell Reid that he was setting a bad example for his team. Not sure how this is a fair, or even relevant argument though. I am speaking of the captains performance, not the subordinates. Reid managed it well and kept out of the mud. Hoops was lord of the flies.
soapit
Guest
twas i think its fair to say that the dozen or whatever outside the match squad arent going to be in too high demand seeing theres less spots now so reasonable to exclude those kind of numbers from the discussion. leaves piru with a reasonably high proportion and a point id say
soapit
Guest
piru perhaps if an all black had done it youd never hear the end of it because (most) new zealand fans would spend the entire discussion finding reasons why there was nothing wrong with the conduct and hence the whole thing would protract. i think for the most part it was accepted that phipps can be a bit of a knoob by the fans and this was another example and he's lucky he didnt hurt the guy and so we all probably moved on.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Rookie of the year! It is like Kim Jong Un being voted soccer player of the year. Ned bashing aside. I do like him as a player. In my opinion did a good job on the far side of the scrum for the Tahs. Not wallaby material,... yet... and I fear that he will face the same fate as Liam gill. Had a rocky inrto into the Wallabies, got dumped, got a lot better and now carries that stink that means he will never make it back.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
English, Inman and Jack D all jumped ship when the fiasco started.
Drongo
Guest
Yeah and look at the posters leading that. Piru chimes in with his usual negative character assessment.
Drongo
Guest
We are never hearing the end of it.
Drongo
Guest
Ah, the usual Kiwi character assessment. He is a top bloke. Ask anyone that actually knows him.
piru
Roar Rookie
Poetic licence TWAS - but the question remains.
piru
Roar Rookie
MitchO won't disagree with that.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I think most people are actually pretty optimistic about McKeller. Between the good work he has done as an assistant + the return of Fisher + the relative stability of the squad + the club's reasonably good track record of prior appointments I think people are cautiously optimistic about him. Cautiously optimistic is how I feel anyway.
John R
Roar Guru
Is English still contracted? I can't find any info on him online. Not playing NRC either? Rona would be a good fit for the Tahs. They're pretty bare bones at 13. And based on this season, Irae Simone isn't the answer unfortunately.