Michael Cheika has named his Wallabies team for their important Pool D clash against reigning Six Nations champions Wales, making some massive changes in the backline.
Veteran flyhalf Bernard Foley comes into the side for the crucial match, replacing Christan Lealiifano in the no.10 jersey. He’s joined in an all-new halves pairing by Will Genia, who has taken Nic White’s starting position at scrumhalf after impressing from the bench in Australia’s World Cup opener.
That 9-10 partnership of Foley and Genia is the same combination the Wallabies used against Wales in their last World Cup clash back in 2015, when Foley scored all of Australia’s points in a 15-9 win.
White will start from the bench, while Lealiifano has been omitted from the side entirely. Both halves struggled in last week’s win over Fiji, their benchings coinciding with Australia’s second-half dominance – although they were given little assistance early on from their forward pack.
There’s also a number of significant changes to the back three, and not just because of Reece Hodge’s suspension.
Dane Haylett-Petty, who had been touted to be a straight swap for Hodge on the right wing, has replaced Kurtley Beale at fullback, with Adam Ashley-Cooper coming into the side out wide to appear in his fourth straight World Cup. Marika Koroibete has kept his place on the left wing.
With Wales expected to pepper the Wallabies with the high ball, Haylett-Petty has evidently been preferred to Beale thanks to his better aerial skills, although many would argue Beale is better suited to coming off the bench regardless.
The rest of the team is otherwise unchanged, Cheika opting to stick with the same forwards and reserves from the 39-21 win over Fiji.
There’s still no sign of Taniela Tupou on the bench, with James Slipper and Sekope Kepu backing up starting props Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa, while the back row of Isi Naisarani, David Pocock and captain Michael Hooper will have the chance to build on their first match together last weekend.
In the backs,
1. Scott Sio
2. Tolu Latu
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Izack Rodda
5. Rory Arnold
6. David Pocock
7. Michael Hooper (c)
8. Isi Naisarani
9. Will Genia
10. Bernard Foley
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Samu Kerevi
13. James O’Connor
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Dane Haylett-Petty
Reserves
16. Jordan Uelese
17. James Slipper
18. Sekope Kepu
19. Adam Coleman
20. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
21. Nic White
22. Matt To’omua
23. Kurtley Beale
riddler
Roar Rookie
he played well. dhp was solid. dropped a sitter though. people are glossing over the basic errors by various players though.
QED
Roar Rookie
As an addendum, Toomua looked pretty sharp when he came on. DHP played well as did AAC. The less said about Foley the better. Cheers
TRhing-me
Roar Rookie
Dan Biggar! Very clever fly-half to have looked up a book on the arts of drop kicking by Phil Hawthorne.
Samlaurence26
Roar Rookie
Well Genia was great. Foley was rubbish
Scott
Guest
MC's plan A- reset Wallabies with Foley as play maker. Plan B - hook Foley if Plan A isn't working. Totally wrong on so many levels.
TRhing-me
Roar Rookie
Wales to win! No Hodge, no Folau, no Rod Davies, no Quade Cooper, no Beale at fly half, the quagmire continues. It will be another year of that great global game played in South Auckland, NSW, Queensland and Northern England, thugby league. Along with more lob-sided VFL.
Blinky Bill
Roar Rookie
IMHO both have something to offer coming off the bench and I hope Cheika has made the right call against the Welsh. I think he wants White, who has improved out of sight from his time os, to bring energy and his kicking game. Starting Will G must be to get an old head on there to get the team playing their game plan and not fall into doing what they did initially against Fiji.
Simoc
Guest
Cheika sounds like the dumbest dude on the planet trying to create his us vs them mentality and making up drivel for Hodges incompetence. He sounds like a complete loser but I expect the Wallabies to beat Wales despite the feeble coach interview. The players respond to him mostly so if it works, good. There will be no surprises from Wales under the most boring defensive coach in history. Seems like we're expecting a penalty shootout.
1eye
Roar Rookie
AAC & DHP will be targeted for runners and kicks
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Yes, clearly you have not watched the last couple of seasons. This year his play more decisive even though he generally had not much front foot ball. The flip side on defense is that he faces a lot more front foot ball in opposition coming down his channel. CLL has a lot more front foot opportunity at the Brumbies and similarly looked a million dollars in Perth. We can all see how he goes tonight.
numpty
Roar Rookie
Not wrong and I've already tasted my hat re a couple of selections so we should always temper our thoughts. First and foremost, up the wallabies and hopefully the selectors are right and I'm wrong!
Double Agent
Guest
Faith you must not be familiar with how the Roar works. Criticism of selections - in fact all criticism of any kind - is a 24 hour 7 days a week perpetual prerogative of all Roar posters.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Yes Rhys, I agree that Toomua is good 10/12 cover, so the more ideal bench player. And given that the more mercurial Kurtley will share his game time, it makes sense to have a ‘safer’ inside back.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Yes numpty I almost agree I’d have CLL, with QC waiting like Foley has, with To’omua on each bench for his versatility. Foley left at home. But that is not the cards dealt this cup. If the wild thing happens and the Wallaby roars with Foley at the spearhead many of us will be left chewing on our hats.
Footy Franks
Guest
Great to see Foley back after CLL went to water . This is the best side we have.
4moryrs
Guest
It's a predictable side. Foley's in there to kick the ball in general play and (try to) convert penalties to points. Shame our Aussie U 21 rugby players were signed to NRL clubs prior to the world cup. Wales will outclass the Wallabies.
QED
Roar Rookie
Morahan played for the Reds. Not saying there is a correlation, no scratch that , yes I am.
Gloria
Roar Rookie
Except his kicking has been poor and he has not presented any threat around the ruck since the Perth Test where the Nuns decided to let him run (and their half back was subsequently dropped).
Gloria
Roar Rookie
If you didn’t see any impact from Genia against Fiji you did not really watch the game. Or you only see what you want to see, which is consistent with your posts.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
Yes, you’re right, he does ...... my bad.