Bernard Foley’s three-week benching has given the Wallabies five-eighth a much-needed opportunity to refresh his body and mind, according to coach Michael Cheika.
Foley has earned a recall to the starting side for Australia’s must-win Rugby Championship clash against Argentina on Sunday morning (AEST) in Salta.
Foley was dropped to the bench for the last three Test matches as Cheika explored an alternative playmaking partnership of Kurtley Beale and Matt Toomua in an effort to jolt Australia’s attack – and Foley himself – back into form.
However, that experiment is now over and the Wallabies will revert to the usual set-up they have rolled out during Cheika’s reign, with Foley in the No.10 jersey and Beale shifting over to No.12.
Cheika was considering playing Toomua at five-eighth but the 28-year-old has squeezed out of the run-on team in what the coach admitted was a “hard” call on him, given his strong performances.
Cheika denied Foley had fallen victim to complacency, with no other obvious candidates in the five-eighth position pushing him for selection.
“I think Bernard Foley played the most minutes of any player in Super Rugby, not just Australian players,” he told reporters in Buenos Aires.
“Sometimes, even though you don’t want that to affect you, it can get in you.
“Maybe a bit of a freshen up and realise, ‘I’ve got to fight for my spot here and I’ve got to be excellent every day’ is what someone needs.
“I don’t think he would’ve got complacent at all, I don’t see that in him but when you look at it compared to the minutes that say Beauden Barrett played, then there’s a significant difference there.”
The midfield tweaks are the only changes made to the XV that was defeated 23-12 by South Africa in Port Elizabeth last weekend, a result that reduced Australia’s record this year to just two wins from 10 games.
Another loss or draw to Los Pumas will mean the Wallabies will finish bottom of the Rugby Championship for the first time.
“The most important thing is just the single commitment to every play,” Cheika said.
“Especially in the forwards – in (the last) game they mauled us, we didn’t have our body height right.
“We need to have our body height low, our legs going and very, very sure about stopping the Argentinian pack in its tracks.”
As expected, Marika Koroibete has been cleared to play after overcoming the concussion he sustained against the Springboks, with Tom Banks coming onto the bench to replace injured winger Jack Maddocks.
Meanwhile, Tolu Latu has edged out Brandon Paenga-Amosa for the reserve hooker spot.
Caleb Timu has also been named as back row cover, with either Rory Arnold or Rob Simmons expected to be cut from an extended nine-man bench.
WALLABIES: Dane Haylett-Petty, Israel Folau, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Ned Hanigan, Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Folau Faingaa, Scott Sio. Reserves: Tolu Latu, Sekope Kepu, Allan Alaalatoa, Rob Simmons, Rory Arnold, Caleb Timu, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Tom Banks
baz1
Guest
just makes me so frustrated -nearly everyone else can see the same things (Hanigan not test quality, Beale plays bad but Toomua gets dropped, Phipps, a bench player for the tahs continues to be selected rather than developing new 9s, Hooper gets more ball on the wing than foloau, players with promise like Banks get ignored etc etc). why cant cheika see this?? He needs to go whether or not they win
moaman
Roar Guru
Surely he doesn't need to be "world class" when even 'Test class' would be an improvement?
coldturkey
Roar Rookie
Nice.
TimO
Roar Rookie
Jack D was rubbish at 10 for Tens this season, but seems to have discovered form and playing well for Northland ATM.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Think of how much money Phipps is making for just a few minutes of Rugby every few weeks?
jameswm
Roar Guru
No. Hodge starts. 10-12-13 of Toomua-Kerevi-Hodge.
deadwood
Roar Rookie
If I cared enough (which I don't any more) it would be fascinating to see the average number of minutes played for players with more than 50 caps. Phipps just keeps getting those few charity minutes every match instead of one of the up and coming 9s getting some experience and doing a better job. just nothing positive about this team at the moment.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Yes Marcus. Daz above noted “Cheika after all this time still has no idea who his best players are and what is their best position. Beale is not a 10. Most roarers could have told him that. ” In fact, Daz some of us have been scratching our heads for 4 years trying to figure out Cheika’s plan B for number 10. Not to mention PlanC, D or E. Bealel was always his plan when Bernard ran out of form, ideas or fitness. I was hoping for better all along. Whilst finding it impossible to believe that Cheika had a real plan. I continually hoped to be wrong. But there was never such a plan. Before this Toomua fiasco there was the Cooper fiasco in 2016/2017. He outplayed Foley but ended up dropped, never to return. Prior to that Cooper toured to the RWC only to warm the pine while Bernard played his guts out, and helped us to a final that he could never help us win. (No one beats the ABs in a World Cup without a world class playmaker). And here we are, all the naysayers on here who are not in agreement on all things , yet in agreement on many things. Cheika’a ability to motivate journeymen into super human feats is world class. It had to be to get him where the team did surprise. But international coaching is about other things as well. Tactics, Selection and astute long term player development are crucial. On these measures Cheika has failed to excell. He seems at least as distracted by non-rugby matters as was McKenzie. I think that it can be said now that McKenzie was a better coach.
Armchair Sportsfan
Roar Rookie
"few flashy things that get noticed and having poor fundamentals" Pretty much describes the whole team strategy too.....
adam smith
Guest
I think Jack’s comment was tongue-in-cheek, a bit of attempted humour you may have missed.
The Slow Eater
Roar Rookie
Yep. We already know what the Foley and Beale combination brings and KB is well out of form atm
Armchair Sportsfan
Roar Rookie
Bring back Knuckles. Even just as interim for RWC Second highest winning percentage of wallaby coaches in pro era. If he had a decent tighthead, would have gone to the RWC final in my view. We could do worse.
The Slow Eater
Roar Rookie
Or even Bernard at 10 and Toomua at 12 with KB on the bench. KB has been playing poorly of late.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Last time Foley's form was really bad, Cooper had come back from OS and was given some time at 10, with out of form Foley crowding him at 12. Toomua comes back and gets a couple of goes at 12 outside Beale who was in the process of making a hash of 10. Result in MC's mind: Clearly, the best combo is Foley with Beale, if only Bernie and KB can string a few good games together. No, don't look at how Cooper and Toomua combined in 2013. That is yesterday's news, and why do what some other coach has done. You've got to do it your own special way to show everybody that your a rugby genius. If it works out your a super genius. If it doesn't, the players weren't good enough to realize your brilliant vision.
TimO
Roar Rookie
What did Matt Toomua do wrong? What did BPA do wrong? They've been 2 of the shining lights, in bleak year. Clown must go.
Adsa
Roar Rookie
Hoiles was pulled from club rugby and promoted to the Waratahs Super winning side after injuries to Dave Dennis and another Tah back rower (Mccuthcheon??) in their run to the title, and Hoiles is also a Randwick player just like Ned Flanders and Cheika.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
That is a very good point Melon.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
My reason for removing Beale is that he is just so out of form. He is not delivering, in any position at the moment. The brain is in overload or full of s....t and needs to be cleared.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Agreed - sensible combination
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Markus, I honestly believe that Koroibete should be out of the 23; defence poor, penalties many, and no Rugby Smarts on positional play. We have better wingers. I would place Beale there or use Banks. I think Koriobete has shown nothing of his capabilities or the reason he was bought!