There have been two occasions this winter when the players have officially had their say – the players choice for the Australian Super Rugby team of the year, and the John Eales Medal. However, both selections have been largely ignored by Wallabies’ coach Michael Cheika.
Tomorrow, the Wallabies take on the All Blacks at Yokohama in the third Bledisloe Cup match, having comprehensively lost the first two 38-13 at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, and 40-12 at Eden Park in Auckland.
Yet, only six Wallabies from the players choice Super Rugby lineup will be in the run-on side in Yokohama.
Let’s put the two lineups alongside each other. The first is the player picked Australian team, the second is Michael Cheika’s for the Bledisloe:
| Players team | No. | Michael Chieka’s team |
| Scott Sio | 1 | Scott Sio |
| Folau Fainga’a | 2 | Folau Fainga’a |
| Taniela Tupou | 3 | Allan Alaalatoa |
| Rory Arnold | 4 | Izack Rodda |
| Rob Simmons | 5 | Rob Simmons |
| Angus Cottrell | 6 | Ned Hanigan |
| David Pocock | 7 | Michael Hooper |
| Isi Naisarani | 8 | David Pocock |
| Will Genia | 9 | Will Genia |
| Bernard Foley | 10 | Bernard Foley |
| Tagele Naiyaravoro | 11 | Marika Koriobete |
| Kurtley Beale | 12 | Kurtley Beale |
| Tevita Kuridrani | 13 | Israel Folau |
| Jack Maddocks | 14 | Sefa Naivalu |
| Israel Folau | 15 | Dane Haylett-Petty |
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The glaring differences are the number seven, eight, eleven and fifteen jerseys, with Cottrell injured.
The players have clearly spoken twice of the Pooper experiment.
They voted Pocock the best seven, and the runaway John Eales Medal winner with 262 votes from eight games to Hooper’s 80 from 12.
Pocock has had to play eight because Hooper can’t play anywhere but seven, yet Pocock won the medal out of position.
Clearly, the only place left for Hooper is the bench at best with Pocock as captain, but Cheika just won’t budge to the detriment of the side in winning only three of nine internationals this campaign.
By next year, Cheika won’t have an option when Fijian number eight runaway train Isi Naisarani – all 195 cms and 110 kgs of him – becomes eligible for Wallabies selection – so why not recognise the obvious now?
The number 11 jumper belonged to Naiyaravoro when he set a new Waratah season try-scoring record of 15 tries in 16 games, but he lost Cheika’s support as quickly as he earned it with Koriobete taking over.
Then the vital 15 jersey with Folau the players choice, but because Haylett-Petty isn’t fast enough to play anywhere else, Cheika has Folau playing positional musical chairs – six Tests this campaign at fullback, three on the wing, and tomorrow he’ll be wearing 13 for the first time with Reece Hodge, and Kuridrani injured, and Samu Kerevi on the comeback trail after being out injured since June.
Of the Players Choice selections, prop Tupou, and lock Arnold, are on tomorrow’s bench, but Maddocks has missed out altogether.
So there’s a huge difference in what the players think of their peers as compared to Michael Cheika.
It’s little wonder Cheika differs.
Throughout his life as player and coach he’s been tough and strong-willed, even pig-headed, and it took him to seven Randwick premierships as a player, and the only coach to win major titles in both hemispheres – the 2009 Heineken with Leinster, and the 2014 Super Rugby with the Waratahs, ending a 19-year drought.
But the pig-headed bit hasn’t worked in 2018 and unless he takes more notice of what’s going on around him, the Wallabies will keep losing.
(Photo by Jason O’Brien/Getty Images)
Having said that, the Wallabies are equally to blame for constantly ignoring rugby basics of pass, catch, support, retain possession, and tackle.
A switched-on Cheika would deal with the constant basic failures by showing the culprits the exit door.
Let’s see how the Wallabies go tomorrow with All Black changes of TJ Perenara, Damian McKenzie, and Sonny Bill Williams earning his 50th cap in the starting lineup – and with Aaron Smith, Brodie Retallick, and Matt Todd on the bench.
Scotty
Guest
The selection of Pocock at 8 so Hooper can play 7 is by no means the biggest issue with this team. The selection of Hooper as captain, while I don't agree with it, is also not the biggest concern. The selection issue that stands out for me the most, and the one that goes against the criteria you require to have a successful international rugby side, is that of Kurtley Beale. Despite all evidence to the contary, Beale not only as been selected for every test match, but has also been 'elevated' to 10 on occasion. Beale is a great spark in attack on occasion, and a real weapon off the bench, but negatives outweigh the positives in regards to him starting (and particularly at 10): - the poorest defender in the side (the whole defense has to be re-aligned around him to make up for this deficiency - sound familar?). His 'effort' on Squires was appaling - he had no reason whatsoever to come of his man, as SBW was clearly well marked on the inside. It was almost like he didn't really want to attempt the tackle. - propensity to make mistakes in attack due to overplaying his hand. This is less of an issue at 12, but certainly cause a lot of problems at 10 - a tendency to run jink and run sideways, therefore limiting the space of his outside men These are three no nos if you want to win test matches, and he is doing them game after game. How he keeps getting rewarded with selection is beyond me. I'd personally like to see him go back to the bench, and come on in the last 15 with a roving role from fullback or wing. Now Kerevi is back, Cheika should look at the option of having our two biggest attacking threats as the centres - Kerevi and Folau. We will have straighter, harder running, more offloads, and less aimless wandering across the field. Beale would come on at fullback late in the game to add width after the defences have tired!
Paul Jones
Guest
Sorry, that’s it, crucial basic skill & discipline errors at critical times & we self destruct yet again. Heavens knows what he has presented to the people who preside over our game though surely someone has to have the courage or accept responsibility for the fact that the coach & the team are not competitive. I don’t pretend to have the answers though if we don’t change some big parts of this side( coach / skipper) we will slip away as a force in the game!!!
Noodles
Roar Rookie
DHP is clearly the best fullback we have. The only other real issue in this is availability and the evidence to date suggests Cheika is in line with the player choices. Pooper comes into question when nasaraini is available. Dempsey is the six of first choice. My only real beef with Cheika is Simmons, who should be first picked most times. We desperately need to settle the lineout and he is it.
Frank
Guest
I think the game plan and structures are to blame when it comes to the players not performing the basics properly. The previous article, regarding the Wallaby's defensive structure, clearly articulated how ineffective and inefficient the structure is and that just adds to the pressure leading to elementary mistakes. I also think the defensive structure is created to compensate for the skill deficiencies of players selected, particularly for the players selected out of position.
Kane
Roar Guru
So it wasn't McKenzie that picked him as Captain? Did Gill ever perform well at test level? He certainly never performed as well as Hooper has at test level.
Keilidh
Roar Rookie
David, For the Players Choice Team, the players choose from a short list of players for each position. With Pocock and Hooper both nominated at 7 one of them had to miss out, the players were not asked who the best 7/8 combo was, nor had to consider the team as a whole. It was not a vote for a Wallabies team. If we want to pick the team based on the John Eales Award, DHP was third, Israel Folau didn't make the top ten. Hooper was the top ranked 7. Not conclusive, nor comprehensive
Pete
Guest
Gill outplayed Hooper every time they played against each other. “He lacked a lot of what Hooper could offer..” Cryptic at best. Gill was much better than Hooper. The only reason Hooper was selected is because he played for the Waratahs. Even blind Freddy can see that! The problem with most of the selections is that they are picked because of the Waratahs connection. Cheika inherited a good team from Mackenzie. But since making his own selections they have faded, badly. Hanigan and Hooper have to go. We need an alternative to Foley. Cheika has been the worst coach on record.
Kane
Roar Guru
Do you always use Wikipedia for your sources David? Scrum.com Rugby Australia, and Brumbies Rugby all list Pocock at 1.83cm and 103kg. So if you head to the next RWC with a fat and slow Pocock and those other two, don't book accomodation past the pool stages.
Kane
Roar Guru
Sorry David, I just thought that was about individual performances on a game by game basis. I wasn't aware that it was specifically about who you support? Can you share your source? Isn't it quite ironic that Pocock scored so well while playing 8? For all we know he may not have scored as well if he had played 7.
Kane
Roar Guru
Man crush? I've already told you I'm not a Hooper fan. I was always a fan of Gill when he played in Aus, but I was the first to admit while he played differently to Hooper, he lacked a lot of what Hooper could offer and overall was an inferior player. Is Holloway really your answer? He's a lock who is quite injury prone. He's only managed 38 Super games over six seasons. Higgers should have been picked several times but that's Cheika for you
Keilidh
Roar Rookie
I would agree with 1, 3 and 4, but I wouldn't say he has a good relationship with the refs, better than Hooper's, but not good. Maybe just brought out because of frustration, it must be disheartening not getting the rewards for the huge effort he puts in.
David Lord
Expert
DaveR, when June next year arrives I look forward to this backrow leading into the Rugby World Cup: 6 - Angus Cottrell - 191cms, 105kgs. 7 - David Pocock - 182, 115. 8 - Isi Naisarni - 195, 110. Bench - Jack Dempsey - 191, 108. Michael Hooper - 182, 101 - in the squad.
Wally
Guest
Holloway or Higgenbothom, but that would mean breaking up the Pooper that has worked so well. Kane I get it you have this man crush but move on a little
David Lord
Expert
Kane, Hooper's peers voted twice - Pocock 262 votes for the John Eales Medal from eight games, Hooper 80 votes from 12 - and Pocock as the best seven among the 2018 Australian Super Rugby teams. Conclusive and comprehensive.
Kane
Roar Guru
Yet in 2016 the players picked Hooper as their best player?
Kane
Roar Guru
When did they vote on Hoopers support?
Kane
Roar Guru
You claimed Hooper has hijacked this team. I’ve argued that he won his spot fair and square due to Pocock. It being around. I’ve never advocated for Cheika. He’s out of his depth but he’s not the first to pick Hooper and he won’t be the last. Yes the results are there for all to see. Even when Hooper was out and Pocock was captain. For the record I’m not a Hooper fan. You’ve just not presented anyone who should replace him in the team ie a proper 8.
Kane
Roar Guru
Do you want to suggest an 8 that is eligible?
Reality Cheika
Guest
"Hooper's better than them, and in most cases, by a lot". That is pretty subjective really. And, as I'm sure you know, it depends on the role that you want an openside to play. Obviously, in Cheika's setup, Hooper's unorthodox interpretation of the position fits. But can you really say that has been effective since the last world cup? I would say that most learned Wallaby supporters - I suspect yourself included - long to see a balanced, more traditional backrow employed by the national team. And if that was to come about, I reckon that any of the players mentioned above would be just as effective, if not more so, in that role than Michael Hooper. Maybe Chris Alcock and Jarrad Butler were stretch, but I don't think they have ever been far off. Don't get me wrong. Hooper is a freak with a massive engine and I respect him highly. But that doesn't mean others couldn't be a better fit in the 7 jersey. Particularly with more capable players beside them. At the very least Hooper makes more sense as a "finisher option". I appreciate you calling my suggestion "silly" btw.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Pocock isn't one dimensional, I know he cops that label a bit but it's a false narrative. Hooper is a better all-round defender, capable of playing in front of the advantage line when the other team has the ball and capable of getting to tackles that Pocock won't reach. And if one of the pair were to get the ball in space with the line wide open, then Hooper's superior pace means he is the one you would be hoping would catch it. We know Pocock is the king at the breakdown - both on attack and defence. He's also better at carrying and defending in tight. He is also superior in his running lines and in his draw-and-pass in the wide channels. Have a look at him setting up tries in Salta while Hooper was crowding his outside man and throwing the ball into touch. Both have strengths and weaknesses - to describe either of them as a one dimensional is wrong.