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What are the final pieces of the Wallabies' World Cup puzzle?

12th September, 2019
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12th September, 2019
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Mitch Marsh is back in the Australian cricket team, which means it’s a decent time to ponder Bernard Foley’s chances of Wallabies selection for the World Cup.

The mere mention of Marsh’s name as a candidate for the Test team gets plenty of Aussie cricket fans frothing, and Foley similarly seems to have a knack of getting Wallabies fans fired up when talking about the best Test team.

With just over a week until Australia kick off their World Cup campaign with a pool match against Fiji, it’s worth one last dabble at who will run out in the starting side.

The Wallabies have a great draw, in a pool with Wales, Fiji, Uruguay and Georgia. Finish top of Pool D and a likely quarter-final against France or Argentina awaits. Finish second in the pool and England almost certainly awaits.

Unlike the Springboks and All Blacks, who will have to hit top gear straight away when they face each other in their pool match on the opening weekend, the Wallabies will be pushed hard by Fiji and then hopefully be firing in their second pool match against Wales.

It would seem smart to play the same side – or at least the bulk of the same XV – in the Wallabies’ opening two games.

What are the most contentious selection calls?

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Who wears the No.10 jersey – Bernard Foley or Christian Lealiifano? Matt Toomua perhaps as a roughie?

Who gets the nod at halfback? Will Genia or Nic White?

And what about that long-term dilemma: Pooper or not?

Foley was a standout for the Wallabies at the 2015 World Cup, a big reason why Australia stunned most rugby fans to make it to the final against the All Blacks. But he’s been below-par since and despite his many Wallabies chances as one of Michael Cheika’s favourites, he deserves to be nudged out of the starting side by Lealiifano.

Bernard Foley

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Foley had one last opportunity to nail down his World Cup berth against Samoa last weekend, and again he failed to get his back line humming. They were unconvincing and one-dimensional, and Foley has to wear the blame for much of that shortfall in attacking inspiration.

On top of that, his goal-kicking was poor in booting two conversions from six attempts. Memories are still fresh of Lealiifano’s two penalty goal misses in Bledisloe 2 this year, which were deflating given the Wallabies had nothing to show for a decent patch of dominance.

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Optimistically, Cheika said this after the Samoa Test: “I think those guys are great goal-kickers and when the heat’s on at the (World) Cup and goals are at a high demand they’ll be kicking them for sure.”

In Australia’s five Tests so far in 2019, Lealiifano has kicked nine goals from 13 attempts (69.2%) and Foley five from nine (55.6%).

Lealiifano gets the gig. Even though he was poor against New Zealand at Eden Park, a week earlier in Perth he proved he can spark the Wallabies’ back line and formed a solid combination with Samu Kerevi. His kicking in general play is pretty reliable.

Toomua’s versatility makes him an ideal bench option, so Foley’s first bit of action might come against Uruguay in Oita.

At halfback, White has been top-notch since his return from Exeter in England. Even the most ardent Genia fans will concede that White’s kicking game – long and short – and his decisiveness around the rucks means he’s edged past Genia to start at No.9.

Nic White looks on after passing the ball

(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Against Samoa, Genia didn’t get defenders spooked as much as White did during the Rugby Championship. Given they are the only halfbacks in the squad, both will likely get plenty of game time in the pool games but White is deservedly in pole position to start against Fiji and Wales.

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To the back row, and David Pocock finally returned against Samoa – much to the relief of Wallabies fans given his long lay-off with a calf injury. The back row for the opening game should be Michael Hooper at No.7, Isi Naisarani at No.8 and Jack Dempsey at No.6.

Pocock should come off the bench for the last 30 minutes, replacing Dempsey, who can give the Wallabies better mobility and more assured defence than Lukhan Salakaia-Loto. Pockock’s entry would push Naisarani – who has a big engine and regularly plays out the full 80 minutes – to the side of the scrum.

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Pocock spent a bit of time at No.8 against Samoa, and it was where he played at the last World Cup with Hooper at open-side flanker. Salakaia-Loto, who has played every minute of all five Tests this year, is best in a role off the bench.

Is it too risky to bring him on in the second row in place of Izack Rodda? It would weaken the line out, but it’s a risk worth taking to add some aggression for the last 20 minutes – especially when starting hooker Tolu Latu is likely to be off the field having been replaced.

This is my Wallabies side to take on Fiji and Wales: Scott Sio, Tolu Latu, Alan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Izack Rodda, Jack Dempsey, Michael Hooper, Isi Naisarani, Nic White, Christian Lealiifano, Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale. Replacements: Folau Fainga’a, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, David Pocock, Will Genia, Matt Toomua, James O’Connor.

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