Five big questions Rugby Australia must ask Michael Cheika

Hard to figure out what the forward back would look like because of the Pooper dilemma. But a dangerous backline could be: 09 Genia 10 Foley 11 Naiyaravoro 12 Kerevi 13 Hodge/Rona 14 Falou 15 Beale

Whilst I harbour many doubts on Cheika's long term ability to influence a team, I'd propose a few other queries about the Wallabies: 1) Who would the All Blacks be most worried about us selecting? We have always done our best playing an innovative, smart game. Who can tick both boxes? Toomua has ruled himself out. Beale & Folau remain the danger men. 2) The 2 assistant coaches, former Wallabies, achieved little as Super coaches, yet have been 'promoted' to Wallaby status. As much as our recent onfield inconsistency is frustrating, one thing that will doom us at international level long term is the lack of quality Australian Coaches coming through the system, coaching our Super and U20 teams. At present Dan McKellar is the only Aussie Super Coach. As someone who knew and respected the Box O'Shea era of coach education, the quality of coaching in Australia has declined substantially since that time. 3) Cheika appears more focused on keeping players on their toes with constant team changes than building winning combinations. Seriously, I suspect there are less players who have NOT worn gold under his tenure than have. He is the best we have, but I guess that is the issue.

Whilst I share many of the questions, Steiner, and would ask them too if I ran into the Randwick 8 in the street, I have mixed feelings about your article. Questions are more powerful than opinions. And much of what you have written is thinly veiled personal opinion. (Btw I agree with much of your opinion). But good on you for posting anyway. I have been asking for some time now for clarity on the Plan B for the 9/10/12 channels. We don’t have one, unless Quade (idling in club rugby to be wheeled out fresh at an opportune moment) is to be the master stroke? Bernard Foley is overworked and over-depended on, and is not a well rounded 10. Where is the back up, Mr Cheika?

From rational bitterness comes reasonable questioning - fair enough. But cutting to the chase, after 100 years of historic half-arsed Aus Rugby results, clearly nothing will ever change here, short of a revolution, irrespective of all these adnauseum expert opines on hundreds of articles past. Continue to rant all we want - short of a revolution, our history suggests our future.

I think we all need to be honest. The Wallabies has been dominated by a core group of Tahs for a few years now. The coach is a Tah which is no problem. He has favourites who are undropable while all other positions are severely scrutinised to adhere to his ‘vision’. Still no problem. The problem lies with the extreme and rigid course of action Cheika has chosen. We’re going backwards faster than ever. The favourites he has chosen are no longer the right favourites needed for success. Quality players are leaving or taking sabbaticals (of course lack of confidence in the Wallabies has no bearing on this). What he has done would be fine if it worked. It’s gone bad and there’s been so much time to rectify the situation. Any other coach around the world would make Pocock captain and base the forwards around him. Next you pick Genia in the backs. This needs to go along with the correct 10,12,15 combo. I’m not convinced Foley is our best option but he’s the only one given an honest chance in 4 years. Quades chances came when Cheika experimented with the side across mulitple positions, not an honest chance. Foley has all the attributes but in limited stock but he’s got loads of ticker. We don’t have a stand out gun at 10 so we need a solid reliable play maker to safely and calmly guide us around. Need a gun boot, length and accuracy. People say Beale can’t be 10 because he’s been tried before and failed but he’s a far better player now. We should base the entire backline around Beale. You put him at 10 or 12 and he would deliver but he would make the biggest difference to the side at 15. I love Izzy but want to see him be the best finisher, his true strength. Beale coming in a 3 on 3 attack with Kuridrani and Folau/koroibete as options, he’s going to create more havoc than we have in a long time. 12 should be a strong defender with an ability to utilise our strong ball runners effectively. My backline 9 Genia 10 Toomua/CLL 11 Koroibete 12 Hodge 13 Kuridrani/Kerevi 14 Folua 15 Beale Beale and Hodge could be interchanged and it would still be an effective and balanced backline. The wingers are guns and to utilise them correctly we need to use the ball correctly to make ground without turning it over. Quality kicking options across the backline provides much more opportunity to get out of trouble and attacking kicks. Beale at 15 is important I believe. Beale will chime in for quality touches and really make our attackimg raids out wide far more threatening. He played 15 against Scotland at the last WC and was the reason we weren’t easily accounted for. He’s such a class player. Because he has a different role at the Tahs

Agree, Tsuru and Riddler. Steiner, you lost me totally at "I know you are a Michael Hooper fan and he is your captain. Is that still valid with David Pocock back to imperious form and his undeniable leadership qualities?" Pooey has played a couple of games. Looked good, if not outstanding. Last game no pilfers, or so i have read, but still solid in slowing down the attack at the breakdown. "Imperious form" is over-reaching.

Yes if Lams improvement continues and puts him in the Reiko class theyll have the two plus Naholo as genuine world class wingers but none of the FB variety, leaving Ben Smith and possibly Jordie to get five into three. Dmacs presence also allows for either he or BB to rotate the 10 vs 15 role. So there are options if not overcrowding, especially if Dagg and Nehe MS come back into the picture. They could do a horses for courses thing and only play the two FB types against the crucial sides. Hansen will probably be feeling much better with his outside backs than any other positions. Backup for Read and locks are concerning as is the midfield in terms of a settled pair, injuries afactor there. Laumape looks the best bet for me.

Yep, Fionn. Now there's a question I haven't been reading here for the last 3 years. And a good one. I certainly don't have an immediate, viable solution, but if it happens we should look at the performances of DHP, Hodge, Maddocks, et al, and figure out a way to have an effective back 3 without Folau. It would be a shame to lose him just when the Tahs have implemented a tactic that uses his skills best.

My point is the best defensive innovators have not all come from league and that statement which you made is challenged big time when the best of them all, and with the best defensive record over a number of years, is Wayne Smith

Best pack I've seen in recent years for the wallabies PeterK.

I never said he didn't make great tackles? In fact, if you read my comments I say that he does make a lot of dominant hits.

Too funny. Also accurate. In fact so accurate, I’ve finally been moved to leave my first comment after 3 years of just reading. (Even though I like to believe that Chieka is just playing a master bluff and is going to surprise us all)

Maddocks and Stewart are more exciting than both, and they can tackle.

I'm reading a really fascinating article on metacognitive skills in another context - which when it comes down to it is how to learn from one's mistakes or successes and improve. I think your article really pinpoints this deficiency.

Simmons? And I'm a Reds fan.