Now here’s something you don’t see every day. The Wallabies will take a virtually unchanged line-up into this year’s Bledisloe Cup decider, announcing the team the same day the All Blacks rung the changes for the Eden Park clash.
Rory Arnold is the only omission from the starting XV which dominated New Zealand in Perth last week, with the lock ruled out of Saturday’s clash with a hand injury.
The Brumbies star has been in immense form lately and there would have been the temptation to play him with the Bledisloe Cup on the line, but with the World Cup approaching, Australia’s selectors evidently weren’t willing to risk one of the side’s most important players.
Adam Coleman will slot into the starting second row in Arnold’s place alongside Izack Rodda, while Rob Simmons returns to the side on the bench after being left out for the Perth match.
There are two further tweaks on the bench, with Liam Wright replacing Luke Jones and veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper taking Tom Banks’ spot as cover for the outside backs. If Wright does make it onto the field, it will be the Reds back-rower’s debut appearance for the Wallabies.
The rest of the side is unchanged, with Christian Lealiifano and Nic White again named in the halves after commanding performances last week, particularly from White. James O’Connor and Samu Kerevi are once more the centre pairing, with Kurtley Beale the fullback and Reece Hodge and Marika Koroibete on the wings.
Allan Alaalatoa, Tolu Latu and Scott Sio have all kept their places in the front row, while Michael Hooper will captain the side from a back row which hasn’t changed this international season, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto at blindside flanker and Isi Naisarani at number 8.
Taniela Tupou, fresh off signing a new contract with Rugby Australia which will keep him with the Wallabies for the next four years, headlines the bench forwards alongside James Slipper, Folau Fainga’a, Simmons and Wright.
The selection panel’s decision to opt for continuity means there’s still no place for David Pocock. The star flanker now only has the Wallabies’ final World Cup warm-up game against Samoa in three weeks to prove his match fitness for Japan 2019, although he is expected to be included in the Australian squad for the tournament.
There’s also no place on the bench for World Cup hopefuls Jordan Petaia and Bernard Foley, with Will Genia, Matt To’omua and Ashley-Cooper the reserve backs. While Foley is still highly likely to be on the plane to Japan, the chances of youngster Petaia now look to rest on whether he can make an impact during the Samoa game on September 7.
Earlier today, the All Blacks named a side full of changes for Bledisloe 2, dropping wingers Ben Smith and Reiko Ioane as well as experienced prop Owen Franks.
Smith has struggled to make an impact on the wing for the All Blacks this year, with Beauden Barrett pushing him out of his preferred fullback position to accommodate Richie Mo’unga in the starting side, and he and Ioane have made way for Crusaders pair Sevu Reece and George Bridge.
Nepo Laulala took Franks’ place in the front row, while Sonny Bill Williams and Patrick Tuipulotu have come into the starting XV for the injured Jack Goodhue and suspended Scott Barrett respectively.
1. Allan Alaalatoa
2. Tolu Latu
3. Scott Sio
4. Izack Rodda
5. Adam Coleman
6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
7. Michael Hooper (c)
8. Isi Naisarani
9. Nic White
10. Christian Lealiifano
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Samu Kerevi
13. James O’Connor
14. Luke Hodge
15. Kurtley Beale
Bench
16. Folau Fainga’a
17. James Slipper
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Rob Simmons
20. Liam Wright
21. Will Genia
22. Matt To’omua
23. Adam Ashley-Cooper
Jonesy
Roar Rookie
Good Evening Fellow Roarers, I have one Question? Who in their right rugby mind thought that AAC should be included on the bench? The guy would have more chance of catching a ham sandwich then go toe to toe Banks or anyone else? Really.. New coach needed soon..
QED
Roar Rookie
>>>>>When he hangs up his boots whilst he will never be considered a Wallaby legend he has been a great servant to Aus rugby and has never shirked or not given it his all.<<<<< I can respect that. Time for me to dial down the anonymous key board warrior rhetoric .
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
Agree. The other two selectors have given cheika the AAC win but got their way in most of the other selections that really matter.
Ringside
Roar Rookie
Doesn't it.
Ringside
Roar Rookie
If he gets to a ton of tests he'll have to go down as one of the weakest centurions ever. In saying that I don't subscribe to the amount of grief he gets on here. Decent defender (but is often slow to get there), very good set piece technician, especially as a scrummager and hits a lot of rucks. Could have always been better at carrying and just winning the collisions in contact but it was apparent early that that element of his game would never really develop. When he hangs up his boots whilst he will never be considered a Wallaby legend he has been a great servant to Aus rugby and has never shirked or not given it his all.
Ringside
Roar Rookie
In theory I like what you say but I wouldn't throw Wright in for his starting debut in Eden Park, just too big of a risk!
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I’m trying to think of another basis for being picked in a side if it’s not to do with injuries and form. And the conspiracy rubbish is old hat now we have a three man selection panel who have clearly shown they’re not beholden to any Tah bias
Stephen Creagh
Guest
Good point, Harrison. I had assumed it was so they could protect Kerevi from injury towards the back end of the game, and not lose a lot in defence. But then fact that AAC an slot in anywhere in the backline directly makes a lot of sense.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Tactical kicking will be a huge part I think Mungo, that and an effective chase - and I ca't say it enough - organised defence is key!
Mr Hollywood
Guest
Whoops. Edit error by Roar. One post is fine
DonWan
Guest
:laughing: :laughing:
DonWan
Guest
Azza, honestly thought, when has being so far below super rugby level ever stopped Michael Cheika from picking Hannigan? Hopefully he has some decent game time and has a blinder because that kid has so much potential!
Phil
Guest
Good to see everyone giving all the credit to the new selectors,but maybe Cheika has also seen the errors of his ways and is making the same calls.Let's face it,in 2016-2018 there did not seem to be so many players in the sort of form they were in this year.That might have something to do with it too.
piru
Roar Rookie
Hodge was brilliant in Perth
Chris
Guest
Johnson and O`Connor are weak if they let Cheika choose AAC for a Bledisloe decider.
Azza
Guest
Liam is only being selected as he had to select him. Not that he wanted to select him.Injuries and Hanigan being so far below test level forced Michael Cheikas hand.
JP
Guest
As i said before being rudely interupted was that Chuckles has zero confidence in Hanigan v the AB`s. Samu Pocock and Dempsey are also not fit. Wright will not go to Tokyo even if he has a blinder. Dempsey Samu LSL and Hanigan are his choices for 6.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
No offence to Ashley-Cooper, because I do think he was an excellent player who always gave his all for the Wallabies, but his past services haven’t seen us lift the Bledisloe. He’s now a far worse player than he was back in his prime, and I think his inclusion weaknes the team and makes it less likely for us to lift the Bled. However, like Kurtley and Latu last week I would love for him to prove me wrong.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Yes but he is just so good defensively. Especially with kerevi inside him he can help hold up the backline. He doesn't have the same linebreaking ability as he did when he first came on the scene, but he makes very few errors
Markus
Roar Rookie
The thing I respect about Simmons is that he has never been given a free ride at Test level. He has been dropped repeatedly to try out other locks who might have potential (or just look big). And every time they have failed to cut it, in particular at their core roles (can't scrum, can't jump), he has come back in to settle things again. He may not be a GOAT. But he scrums well, keeps up a high work rate around the field, and is consistently the best lineout operator Australia has.