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Michael Cheika was never going to lose the battle for Peter Samu.
But the Wallaby coach didn’t want to rock the boat by naming the 26-year-old flanker in the squad to meet Ireland in three Tests this month, until New Zealand Rugby cleared him from the Crusaders.
Samu is a rugby globetrotter – has passport, will travel.
Born and raised in Melbourne, he’s an Australian citizen who just happened to end up in Kiwiland via Randwick, and club rugby in England.
The New Zealand Rugby Union rate him an All Black contender due to residency, and he’s on the Crusaders’ roster. But that’s rubbish – Samu is a bench selection at best for the Crusaders, with Kieran Reid and Matt Todd obvious first choices.
Besides, Rugby Australia released prop Tyrel Lomax from the Rebels last year earlier than anticipated to play with the Highlanders.
Yesterday, the NZRU gave Rugby Australia an ultimatum to secure Samu’s release, which is short on public content, but appears to be around cold, hard cash.
Really? Asking for money to release an Australian citizen to play for Australia?
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As I said, Cheika was never going to lose this one, and Samu will play against Ireland, in the backrow with Michael Hooper and David Pocock.
But the Kiwis can hang their head in shame – they have never sunk so low. That’s not their bag, they are better than that.
There’s a question mark over another Cheika battle.
He wants the Brumbies to rest David Pocock, Allan Ala’alatoa and Scott Sio from the Super Rugby clash with Sunwolves on Sunday, but the ACT hierarchy aren’t budging, despite the fact they are way out of contention to win the Australian conference, 11 points adrift of the Waratahs.
The powers that be reckon if the crowds don’t improve at home, the Brumbies will be in danger of going under.
Really? In the same breath they say if 15,000 turn up on Sunday, the club will donate $5000 each to three charities. Going under?
The Brumbies have always been different to other Australian franchises, especially with coaches.
Two of them – David Nucifora in 2004, and Andy Friend in 2011 – were sacked by insidious player-power, the lowest form of club life.
So, for once Brumbies, stop thinking of yourselves and do something for the greater good, and rest the trio.
The Cheika way surfaced again at the naming of the 32-man squad.
Waxing lyrical over the three hookers selected generated a smile as Cheika named Jordan Uelese, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, and Folau Fainga’a, who between them have played 35 minutes of international rugby.
Whoever wears the No.2 jersey for the June 9 kick off at Suncorp will be up against the Irish skipper Rory Best, with 111 caps on his belt – one mighty tough hombre.
Rory Best of Ireland celebrates with The Six Nations Trophy (Photo by Lynne Cameron/Getty Images)
Uelese has the 35 minutes on his belt, but Paenga-Amosa is the more interesting selection. He boasts a hefty physique of 183 cm and 117 kgs, and will be a handful on the burst. The 22-year-old’s switch from garbo to Wallaby status proves he’s someone special.
All up, this squad has an exciting mixture of experience with raw talent, and this series will be the perfect litmus test as to where Wallaby rugby is heading.
The men in gold have won four of their last six internationals, with success against Argentina, the All Blacks, Japan, and Wales, losing to England and Scotland. That’s a 67 per cent success rate – better than Cheika’s career rate of 53 per cent over 45 Tests.
Joe Schmidt’s Ireland have won their last 12 internationals, including the Grand Slam and Triple Crown for only the third time since 1883.
Schmidt’s career coaching the men in green has been over 57 Tests, with a 74 per cent success rate – he thrives on winning.
Which makes the heading totally correct – rugby the Cheika way is never dull.