Matt Toomua has made a surprise appearance as well as a late push for a Wallabies bench spot in a Bledisloe Cup trial game at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval.
Toomua, who on Wednesday signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Australia and the Melbourne Rebels, started at five-eighth in the Cheika’s Choice team chosen by Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, in their 57-12 win over an Australian Super selection.
Toomua kicked three conversions and directed play well before coming off in the 52nd minute, the same time as Cheika’s captain David Pocock.
There had been doubt over whether Toomua, who is also contracted to English club Leicester, was eligible to play in the game and the man himself didn’t want to talk after the match.
“He’d been back in Australia for a bit, but I didn’t know what I was going to do there and I sort of called it last minute,” Cheika said.
“Because I think it would be good for him to get some time, especially if he’s going to be available to play in the first competitive match, that being the Bledisloe.”
Halfback Will Genia played most of the second half in his first game for almost seven weeks after breaking an arm in the June Test series against France.
He set up a try for Jordan Petaia with a neat crossfield kick and moved around the field well.
“I knew I’d done the work in terms of my conditioning to be up for it and I just feel a lot better for having that hit-out,” Genia said.
Cheika felt the trial was a worthwhile exercise and was pleased with the efforts of several players, including forwards Lukhan Tui, Jermaine Ainsley and fullback Tom Banks, who saved two tries and scored one.
“It was a physical game and some of our established players got to get a good hit-out,’ Cheika said.
“Some of our newer players or some guys who are on the fringes or haven’t been selected in the June series, I think put their hands up.”
Utility back Reece Hodge had a solid game in the outside centre spot, which is up for grabs after injuries to Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani.
“Curtis (Rona) will come in now probably to the squad and they (he and Hodge) will compete for that position,” Cheika said.
“We’ll have a look at a few other options, but you’d have to think it’s narrowing down to between those two guys.”
Prop Scott Sio came off the field early as a precaution after aggravating a shoulder issue he brought into camp.
The trial also marked the return to rugby of Wallabies prop James Slipper, who put in a solid shift fort the Super side in his first hit-out since completing a two-month ban for violating Rugby Australia’s illicit drugs policy.
ForwardsWinMatches
Guest
For the last 18-24 months every second comment on these pages has included a criticism of Cheika for picking players out of position. It seems Hodge is next in line, endorsed by most here. To go up against the best team in the World with Foley-Beale-Hodge at 10-12-13 is folly. Two weakish defenders and a utility at 13 - nothing to see here All Black coaches, move on! Ha! That’s why English at 13 and Toomua at 12 with Beale on bench to come on with 30 to go, along with Hooper and Toupo.
Fionn
Guest
I never said we 'couldn't' win. Only that it's much more likely with English, who is more experienced defending at 13. Hodge played like two matches there this season.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Am I wrong in thinking English has been playing all the time at 13 for 2 seasons now?
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Fionn, the full game is still up on the rugby.com.au website. It's just hidden in the middle of the article "FULL REPLAY: Toomua returns in Wallabies warm-up win," I got fooled at first as they had a highlights video at the top of the page.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
So you're on record saying we can't win playing Foley, Beale and Hodge but add English and we will. Well there is a revolution, I look forward to our flogging in two weeks and ABs scoring at will through Hodge.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Toward the end of the game the commentators said the official attendance was 9K plus.
Fionn
Guest
I'm not even sure what you're trying to claim now - that defence doesn't matter? The Wallabies haven't proven attack wins matches - we've gone for attacking teams since 2015 and we've had two seasons with winning percentages under 50%. So you admit the Irish didn't score many points and won, and yet you say defence doesn't win matches...? It doesn't take a genius to work out that if you have a defensively weak 13 along with defensively weak 10s and 12s against the All Blacks you're going to lose.
Numpty
Guest
Hodge is a good one on one physical defender. The question will be whether he has the decision making ability to rush stay back etc. I think he is worth a go there, reminds me of mortlock. Good ball runner stands up straight and is more likely to base the ball on than tk or kerevi.
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
You all keep your hands off Deegan - he's doing very nicely where he is, thanks!
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Ah that old cliche, defence wins matches. I think you will find for the Wallabies it’s been proven our attack wins matches. Our defence was very good against the Irish, they didn’t score many points, did we win? If we had more ball and more opportunities and didn’t have to do so much defence would we have won, can’t say for sure but if we had 50% of the ball I reckon we would have won all three games and they would have scored less.
Fionn
Guest
I looked at a bunch of internationals and in over 50% of the matches the team that had more possession and territory lost. The data makes it look like teams get burned off counter attacks more. I don't think the possession/territory thing is nearly as important as having an outside centre that can be counted on to defend, especially off counter attacks. Look at it this way, if we have 50% possession with a poor defending 13 we will concede way more points than 50% possession with a strong defending 13. Defence wins matches.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Why we lost Bledisloe 1 last year was certainly not 13s fault. NZ came out firing, Australia’s crazy defensive plan swapping players meant there was no cohesion. The defensive errors in 13 when Kerevi was on was lack of cover from his team mates, he made tackles and then had to sprint to the other side to fit into where they wanted him, backline was standing off in defence and inside players not taking their man quickly enough. It wasn’t 13 fault in isolation by any means... The way we played against the Irish was totally different, hence far less pressure on 13.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
I thought we were talking about defence? If you only have 40% of the ball means you are doing 50% more defence, so you are saying that doesn’t matter? What does that equate to in real terms? Physical expenditure, missed tackle count, opportunities for the opposing team, number of opportunities with the ball in good field position etc etc. Outside cetntre’s defence in isolation is not as important if you are dominating possession now is it? The outside centre’s defence in isolation isn’t what will lose us the games if we only have 40% of the ball.
riddler
Guest
all very good points peterk.. first time have agreed with everything u have written.. that forward pack would be wonderful to see in action..
Fionn
Guest
It's the reason I'd choose English too. Hodge second, and Rona third.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Fionn - But neither Hodge or Rona are strong defensive 13's. This is the major reason I would select English at 13 best defender, and as good an attacker as Hodge at 13. Rona has the best attack at 13 but probably because he has Beale inside him.
PeterK
Roar Guru
YAE - Work rate, if you mean in tackling and breakdown work then Pocock, Tui and Rodda will manage that. This is one reason I would start Rodda ahead of Arnold who has a lower work rate and is slower. Pocock manages to get to breakdowns out wide, he is quicker than people give credit. As for support play Foley and Pocock can run after breaks. Sure Hooper adds to this area but it is a tradeoff. With 2 opensides the lineout is too weak against the AB's Maul defense suffers, the scrum is weaker. My pack that I would look at first is 01 Sio 02 TPN 03 Tupou 04 Coleman 05 Rodda 06 Tui 07 Pocock 08 Timu a 6:2 bench 16 Latu 17 Alaalatoa / Slipper / Robertson (in that order of availability) 18 Kepu 19 Arnold 20 Holloway 21 Hooper This adds pace for the last 20 mins a 5:3 bench drop Holloway since Tui can move into lock.
Fionn
Guest
More possession and territory does not by itself equal more points. That's been disproven time and again. I think you're dead wrong. The improvement in Bledisloe 1 last year coincided with when TK came on. We've got a defensively weak 10-12. We need to go with a strong defensive 13.
PeterK
Roar Guru
there are plenty of strike player, ball carriers in the backline. 13 needs to organise the defense and be a good defender especially with Beale inside him and Koirebete / DHP outside him. Hodge is not good in this area and a lot of breaks by the AB's will be made through midfield. Rona isn't any better. English would be the best for this. Cheika though will focus on attack and yes he will probably select Hodge (which is a better choice than Rona).
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Where did I? Just once? What I will say is we had minority ball, had to do significantly more defence than the Irish and how many try’s did our backs leak. Our outside backs defence was decent. Against the ABs we don’t want to be doing that quantity of defence, that is where our biggest improvement will come, less defence; good, more ball; good. So yeah bang on about something you want to believe is currently our big problem, but it won’t be Hodge’s or Rona’s defence that lose us the Bledisloe.