As one of the very few rugby writers who support Michael Cheika as the Wallabies’ coach, there are times when I blink in disbelief at some of his selections.
Israel Folau is the latest, returning from an ankle injury on the right wing instead of fullback for the clash with the improving Pumas on the Gold Coast tomorrow night.
Why on earth would Cheika deny the inspirational, x-factor fullback Folau the full field to strut his stuff by slotting him onto the wing with a quarter of the field to move in?
Folau is the fifth highest Wallaby try-scorer in history, playing 61 of his 66 Tests in the 15 jersey in just five years.
Barring more injuries, he should be second by the end of the year if he stayed fullback.
Simply, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Champion winger David Campese (1982-1996) tops the list with 64 tries from 101 Tests, having played 16 at fullback.
Chris Latham (1998-2007) is next best with 40 tries from 78 Tests, from Adam Ashley-Cooper (2005-2016) with 37 from 116, and Drew Mitchell (2005-2016) with 34 from 71.
Then it’s Folau with 32 tries from 66.
Cheika’s explanation is to do “Just something different, shake it up a bit, and see how it goes”.
Bloody hell Cheik, this isn’t a social game of chess, it’s a rugby Test the Wallabies must win.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
His selection of Dane Haylett-Petty as fullback was on the basis of him filling in so well against the Boks last week with Folau out injured.
But Haylett-Petty is no Folau.
He’s a traditional style custodian, while Folau is without peer in world rugby under the high ball, and can make something out of nothing in attack.
He’s unpredictable.
But tomorrow night he’ll be hemmed in along the right touchline if, in fact, he gets his hands on the ball at all.
What happens if most of the Wallaby play keeps moving to the left?
That’s dumb.
It would make a shade more sense, but not a lot, if Matt Toomua was switched to 10, and Kurtley Beale regained his 12 jersey where he has more room to move and is closer to link with Folau.
But that hasn’t happened either.
The undisputed fact is Folau and Beale are the only x-factor Wallabies. Now, both are out of position.
Obviously, I hope the Wallabies win but even that won’t support Michael Cheika’s Russian roulette selections.
But it will show the Wallabies are now believing in themselves, a vital factor that has been missing this campaign until last week.
It would just be far easier if key players were in their rightful positions.
John R
Roar Guru
Great tune Clifto!
Baz
Guest
Yep. Should be Banks.
Bite Me!
Roar Rookie
Izzy on the wing - yes, yes, yes? Can't kick, can't pass, can't defend - ideal position wing; never fullback!
Rat
Roar Rookie
Izzy on the wing...yes yes yes!
Jockstrap
Roar Rookie
Most Roarers are just anti Tahs. Filey, then Hooper now Folau. Folau is the best attacking full back in the world. This is a one off, Folau will be fullback after today and Dhp will be out of the 23. Lordy you will be shown to be correct. Roarers all follow the same song, all Tahs are bad and all qlders and brumbies are brilliant.
JP Bogers
Roar Rookie
Then you get Owen franks and 100 tests and no try's or Slipper 80 odd tests and yep no trys :)
Tony H
Roar Pro
Jameswm, Totally understand that. I've just tried to ignore most of it, but this one really riled me.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
Wingers on average usually have the best try ratio rates, and let's face it, apart from Folau's high all skills, his try scoring ability is his only real asset to the team. Interesting that C Latham actually had a better strike rate than Folau, with Latham scoring at a rate of 0.513 tries a match, compared the Folau with 0.485 tries a match. If you look at the top try scorers and their ratio rate of scoring tries, and I think it is fair to compare wingers as well, as Folau is considered the most potent try scoring player in Aus, there are many others ahead of him in scoring rate. Here is a list of players who scored tries at a rate greater than Folau who have scored at least 30 tries... J Savea (0.852 tries per game), C Cullen (0.793), D Howlett (0.790), J Wilson (0.733), S Sivivatu (0.688), J Rokocoko (0.676), S Williams (0.659), Campese (0.634), J Lomu (0.587), J Kirwan (0.556), R Underwood (0.549), Ben Cohen (0.544), W Greenwood (0.544), B Habana (0.540), J Robinson (0.536) C Latham (0.513), V Clerc (0.507), T Umaga (0.486)... ...then Folau at 0.485. Maybe wing will open up his try scoring rate, and take away the weakness at FB from his reluctance to kick and been found wanting in his positioning, but I feel at times he has been over hyped in his threatening ability to score tries. Robinson, Latham and Cullen were more lethal from FB, and when you have 4 Englishmen with better try scoring rates than you (scoring at least 30+ tries), and one of them from centre...well...
Stu
Roar Rookie
You guys can all rag David Lord however much you want (#irony), but on his Hooper theme, could you please offer a coherent rugby tactical reason (something better than vague subjection preferably) on why last week against the Boks (and lots of other games), when we were attacking, Michael Cheika had Hooper stand out wide on the wing, as the last man on the line, out past even the wingers? Literally the widest guy on the park. This is a genuine question.. I get most of Cheika's hairbrained ideas, but this one is a real leap of faith for me. Why run your 7 out wide to the wing when your team switches to attack? Does NZ bother doing this? Does anyone? What's the idea behind it, and how could it be considered even remotely clever?
Banjo Kelly
Roar Rookie
Great stats Lano. The numbers are the numbers. Izzy is peerless under the high ball, has an unstoppable right foot step and finishes rather than creates. Sounds like the job description of a right winger to me.
JP Bogers
Roar Rookie
Hanson has said that he considers wings and fb are inter-changeable. So if Chieka believes the same thing then does he also believe the players have the skillset to do it? Ben Smith might be a freak that's able to do it but I don't see Folau able to... Especially on D.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Cant correct the typos and aint getting a bigger fone!
taylorman
Roar Guru
Well I actually agree with Mr Lord on this one. Hes being rubbished for Folaus move even though: 1. We have no evidence to suggest Folau will immediately be successful on the wing, yet we know he is a success at FB 2. DHP does not have a wealth of experience at FB so by the numbers oz have two uncertaintys going on there when they can readily avoid one. 3. Its easy to say Folaus game wont change but there will need to be some time taken recallivrating that deal with the changing of the jersey numbers. That could deny Foau several key familiar moments to capitalise on, and he only usual needs one or two, if hes stuck out on the wing away from play. 4. Argie have a very slick backline. Better to play your sure bet positions given Cheikas also playing around with the inside backs. As boring as Foley hes, he just might be better at containing Sanchez than Beale and with Hooper gone the slow coach oz back row arent going to nab him easily. Now Ive read it all Pocock at 7 and Folau at 25 gives oz its best chance of tying down the new 10-12 combo. Dont think David is far off the mark this time at all. Its good Cheika is letting his hair down, just not sure about the timing.
Shane
Guest
Oh dear. Another hype believer
Markie362
Guest
Dl is forgetting folau is a poor fullback.at least his positioning might be ok on the wing.maybe
MA
Guest
If Beale has 'X' factor it is surely X Axis factor as he only plays across the field. There is no Y Axis in Beale's game. As for Izzy. Is clearly great at 2 of the 4 roles of the fullback position. The other 2 roles? As per all of Cheika's selections he puts 2-3 players together to cover the roles of 1 player. His words when he spoke at the World 10's in Brisbane.
Lano
Roar Guru
True.
double agent
Guest
Hard to argue with that Timbo. Israel below 20 at FB an exaggeration of David Lord proportions but all good.
Baz
Guest
DHP is a more reliable defender than Folua. His decision making and anticipation is far better. He may not be as good in the air but then who is (ok Michael Jordan is). I think Cheika has got this part of the puzzle correct although I think Banks deserves a shot in place of Koroibete. I think you will see Folua given a roving commission. He has become far too predictable at fullback. I support the move.
double agent
Guest
Is that a stat now? Points directly from a high jump.