Expert
Wallaby coach Michael Cheika has made seven changes to the starting lineup soundly beaten 40-12 and 38-13 by the All Blacks.
He has promoted giant lock Rory Arnold to partner Adam Coleman, benched fly-half Bernard Foley for Kurtley Beale and promoted Matt Toomua to inside centre. Fullback Israel Folau has returned from injury, forcing Dane Haylett-Petty onto the wing to replace Jack Maddocks.
And in describing the Wallabies needed a shakeup, he’s dumped vastly experienced Sekope Kepu and Rob Simmons altogether.
But Cheika has again ignored one of the biggest problems by retaining Michael Hooper as number seven and captain.
In the five internationals this year, the Wallabies have won just the first Test against Ireland, but lost the next two, and the two against the men-in-black, by scoring only 80 points to 133, and just nine tries to 15.
Pathetic.
There was no inspiration from Hooper as you would expect when he’s not the best captain, nor the best seven.
David Pocock is comfortably ahead in both jobs.
If ever Cheika had all the ammunition to fire Hooper, it’s been in the last week.
When asked how he thought the Wallabies were performing after the second hammering by the All Blacks, Hooper made the extraordinary comment not one All Black would get into the Wallaby side if he was picking it.
That’s a crystal clear way for any sane person to call Hooper a goose.
The truth is only Pocock, and maybe Beale, might be picked in the All Black side.
The second penny to drop in Cheika’s lap was a recent poll among the four Australian franchises in the Super Rugby tournament, charged with naming their best Wallaby starting lineup.
There was no Hooper, and that’s come from those who played against him, and are without doubt the best judges.
They had no axe to grind, nor any favourites, they just told the truth as they saw it.
Two other very interesting front-line poll selections surfaced in Angus Cottrell, and Isi Naisarani.
The 28-year-old Cottrell has representative rugby blood flowing through his veins with grandfather Nev a former Wallaby hooker of the 1950s who played against the Lions, and his father a Queensland rep in the 1970s.
The current Cottrell has played 56 Super Rugby games for the Force from 2012 to 2017, and 14 for the Rebels last season as a number six. With a 191cm-105kg frame added to his speed around the paddock, he is a mighty impressive prospect.
So why isn’t Cottrell in the Wallaby squad?
Number eight Naisarani is Suva-born, and won’t be eligible for Wallaby selection until April next year when his five-year residency is completed.
He spent 2017 with the Force and was so outstanding he won the Nathan Sharpe Medal for the best and fairest.
When the Force were booted out of Super Rugby he played all 15 games last season for the Brumbies, and next season he’ll rejoin his former Force coach Dave Wessels at the Rebels.
Ink the 23-year-old Naisarani in for a gold jersey in Japan next year for the Rugby World Cup.
As a matter of interest, let’s compare Michael Cheika’s starting lineup for the Boks next Saturday at Suncorp, with the poll results:
Cheika | Poll |
1 – Scott Sio | Scott Sio |
2 – Tatafa Polota-Nau | Folau Fainga’a |
3 – Allan Alaalatoa | Taniela Tupou |
4 – Rory Arnold | Rory Arnold |
5 – Adam Coleman | Rob Simmons |
6 – Lukhan Tui | Angus Cottrell |
7 – Michael Hooper | David Pocock |
8 – David Pocock | Isi Naisarani |
9 – Will Genia | Will Genia |
10 – Kurtley Beale | Bernard Foley |
11 – Marika Koriobete | Taqele Naiyaravoro |
12 – Matt Toomua | Kurtley Beale |
13 – Reece Hodge | Tevita Kuridrani |
14 – Dane Haylett-Petty | Jack Maddocks |
15 – Israel Folau | Israel Folau |