Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has backed 18-year-old rookie Jordan Petaia to successfully make the transition to Test rugby.
The Queensland Reds flyer has been named on the wing for Saturday’s (0100 Sunday AEDT) clash with Italy in Padua – one of six changes to the side that lost 9-6 in Cardiff to Wales last week.
Cheika said he was initially being tipped off about Petaia by Reds coach Brad Thorne last year and had shown in training in Europe this month that he is comfortable playing alongside international players.
“He’s a very skilful young player,” Cheika said.
“When he came on the tour, I wasn’t sure if he’d play or not but he’s shown me, the other players and the other coaches that he’s up for it.
“Thorny said to me way back, ‘This kid will be playing on the spring tour’
“I probably didn’t pay much attention at the time because he’s a second rower, what does he know!
“But he’s obviously a quality judge of players because Jordan’s made all the right moves during the season … it was the time to give him an opportunity.”
Free-running NSW Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon will also make his debut alongside Matt Toomua who starts at five-eighth with Bernard Foley moving to inside centre.
“He’s got a bit more running around the fringes and he’s been competing with Nick (Phipps) strongly at the Waratahs,” Cheika said of Gordon.
“He’s performed really well at training … he’s linked well with the forwards and I just think it was a great chance for him to get a run.”
Cheika said the decision to move Foley from 10 to 12 was to give Toomua the chance to stake his claim for a regular spot in the side in his favoured position.
“I wanted to give them all an opportunity to play there and Beale’s had his opportunity and Foley’s had his,” he said.
“Now Toomua will get his opportunity to play there. It was just a question of what I decided to do – whether I went with Beale alongside him or Foley or whether we decided to go with this combo initially.
“With Beale on the bench, he’ll get his opportunity out there as well.”
Tolu Latu has somewhat surprisingly been left out after doing well against Wales with Folau Fainga’a restored to the starting line-up.
Taniela Tupou is named at prop ahead of Allan Alaalatoa.
Israel Folau moves from the wing to fullback with Dane Haylett-Petty dropped to the bench.
Veteran utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper will win his 117th cap to leapfrog Nathan Sharpe as the third most-capped Wallabies player.
Wallabies: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Samu Kerevi, Bernard Foley, Jordan Petaia, Matt Toomua, Jake Gordon, David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Jack Dempsey, Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda, Scott Sio, Folau Fainga’a, Taniel Tupou. Res: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Jermaine Ainsley, Sekope Kepu, Rory Arnold, Pete Samu, Will Genia, Kurtley Beale, Dane Haylett-Petty.
Keilidh
Roar Rookie
Love it!
Keilidh
Roar Rookie
I think you've cracked the plan....
Dyskolos
Roar Rookie
Agree, but we haven't had a proper 12 playing there for some time. Foley plays much better football when he's got someone outside him who can run straight and take on the defensive line. I would have liked to see Hodge back at 12 had it not been for his ankle. Failing that how about Kerevi at 12. Or is it time to give someone like Billy Meakes or Tom English a run. Oh well, it's much too late now.
Stu
Roar Rookie
Omg. Petaia at wing? Why bring so many players in and put them all except one in bizarre positions?! Cheika is nuts. He deserves to lose. He deserves the sack. And he deserves the appalling record he has created for himself.
Adsa
Roar Rookie
That's Gold Jez, Wylie E Coyote and his box of tricks from Acme Corporation. ACME back line moves ACME defence strategies ACME select a team
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
I disagree James, B.Foley and K.Beale will never ever be good international IC as neither of them can tackle front on. Bernie goes for the shins but at an angle or he will mostly miss, while Kurtley waves arms hoping to strip the ball or possibly slow the ball carrier down as a speed bump does. For mine both of them stand too far back in attack, too often against opposition rush defence our attack ends behind the gainline. I'm constantly amazed that one of the forwards (who have just grunted for 15 phases to make 10m) doesn't give both of them a good clip over the ears when the 1st backline move loses most of that 10m gain.
Dave_S
Roar Rookie
My only concern for Petaia at 13 is experience in defending there - only a handful of SR games at 13. That said, Petaia at 13 and Kerevi at 12 makes more sense than Foley at 12
Machooka
Roar Guru
And thankfully, unlike some, I haven't been neutered eh!
Scotty
Guest
Thorn must be ropable that a spud coach like Chuckles Cheika is getting his grubby mitts on Jordy Petaia. Chuckles will ruin this kid.
Marto
Guest
Good to see you are still the " Alley Cat " Machooka. ( always sits on the fence )
Cole
Roar Rookie
Thank you for posting this! The tweaks to the laws will be interesting to watch!
James Boags
Guest
He did the same thing with Cooper a couple of years ago. He wants to justify picking Bernard by making sure no one shows him up. When ever Bernard plays 12 he gets in the way of the 10. I actually think Foley could be a good 12, but he needs to play the role of a 12.
Jim
Guest
True Jeznez , as fullback DHP is locked in at 14 , the following of Maddocks Toomua Banks Kerevi Kurindrani Korobiete Naiuvalu Hodge Petaia Quade and Hunt will be fighting for 2 bench spots and one wing spot.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Yup, I just said the same thing before I hit comments to read them... We all see it...
Hoy
Roar Guru
What irks me about Cheika is sure, he's given Toomua a long awaited start at 10... with Foley at 12 for goodness sake!!! What is the point of that? Toomua doesn't need Foley getting in the way like he did with Cooper at 10. Would have been better to have Toomua, Kerevi, Petaia... Give Toomua the backline to run as his own. Cheika always makes concession selections... then he makes selections that aren't completely right due to combinations, then it give him the ability to back out quick, back to status quo. Really frustrating... So Toomua/Foley doesn't work, it must be Toomua's fault, back to Foley at 10. I can see it already. Really irks me.
Aiden
Guest
The sad thing is, I don't think he is that calculated, or that petty. If he meant to be setting people up to fail, it would be giving him too much credit for being cunning. He's shown no guile as a Coach, so I doubt it extends to his people management. Rather he is the terrible combination of someone who is tactically deficient, and yet supremely confident. He swaps people around the way a top chef mixes together flavors from different national dishes. He thinks he is getting sushi with a bit of smoked truffle delicately resting on top, when the real outcome is pizza with a bowl of sweet and sour chicken dumped on it
jeznez
Roar Guru
Come on Paul - when Hodge and Beale had their shots at 10 it was with a capable 12 outside them. Maybe the criticism on the Hodge opportunity was that it was with Kerevi and Kuridrani outside and we had a bit too much crash and bash in the midfield. This is a straight hark back to what he did to Cooper, who got dropped for not enjoying his rugby enough. Then ommitted from the current tour because he wasn't playing in a comp up to Super Standard - which wasn't based on ability but due to a personality difference with his coach. Apparently AAC can get selected from a similar standard comp to the NRC though. The coach has lost his marbles.
MitchO
Guest
Silly isn't it. We know Foley is an experienced 10 and Toomua an experienced 12 so surely we need to see that more so than Foley playing 12 again. Silly and playing Toomua at 12 is a good way to introduce Petaia at 13. Does the young bloke actually know how to play wing? I don't know him but if he is such a prodigy he has probly played very little wing in his life. this question is rhetorical. What is the point of giving a start to the hundred test veteran AAC and not having a proper look at Banks? Gordon starting is the right move though. He's a tough kid and will enjoy the run.
jameswm
Roar Guru
It is. Toomua gets his chance at 10, but without a proper 12 next to him. Thanks a lot, Cheik.
jameswm
Roar Guru
So from those quotes the possibility of putting Kerevi at 12 hadn't occurred to the Wallaby staff.