Accomplished Wallabies David Pocock and James O’Connor concede there are in-form rivals pushing hard for their starting spots ahead of the final Rugby World Cup pool match against Georgia.
Coach Michael Cheika must decide whether to run what he regards as his full-strength team against the eastern Europeans at Shizuoka Stadium on Friday or make further tweaks to ensure none of his big guns are burned out heading into a likely quarter-final against England.
Either way, O’Connor faces twin threats for his outside centre berth.
Powerhouse Tevita Kuridrani was arguably Australia’s best against Uruguay, while there may yet be a chance for Jordan Petaia to get a crack there after a starring debut on the wing. Outside centre is the teenager’s favoured position.
“That’s put a bit of pressure on me but I see my role in the team that I’m a distributor,” O’Connor said.
“As much as I have a running game, I look to shift to those sort of players (Kuridrani and Petaia) first and foremost.
“Tevita carried very strongly, very well. So it will depend on the game plan and how we want to change things up.”
While most of the starting pack for the knockout games picks itself, there remains a question over whether Pocock’s ball-pinching strengths are suited for the tournament given how much leeway is being given to attacking teams at the breakdown.
The all-purpose performance from Jack Dempsey in last weekend’s win over Uruguay has thrust the Waratahs back-rower into contention.
Dempsey’s form didn’t go unnoticed from Pocock himself.
“He’s such a solid player. He’s showed what he can do, he’s hard to tackle,” Pocock said.
“He comes in hard at training and in games, what you see is what you get with Demo. I certainly have a lot of faith in what he can do when given opportunities.”
Cheika may choose to demote the three players who have started all three games to date, including captain Michael Hooper, potentially handing the captaincy to Pocock.
Outside back Dane Haylett-Petty and prop Allan Alaalatoa could also be benched or left out altogether.
In-form utility back Matt Toomua may be handed his anticipated start at five-eighth, while any resting of Haylett-Petty may leave a right wing vacancy for Petaia.
Possible Wallabies XV
Kurtley Beale, Jordan Petaia, James O’Connor, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Isi Naisarani, David Pocock (capt), Jack Dempsey, Rory Arnold, Izack Rodda, Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu, Scott Sio.
OJ
Roar Rookie
The Wallabies have changed and we are losing more
Boomeranga
Roar Rookie
We needed it against Wales.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ JOC will ensure that Kurindrani and Petiaia are brought into the game.” Agree with that Terry. JOC may be the tackling and playmaking 12 that Cheika (and the rest of us) wanted Kurtley to be. But with regards to your thoughts on the forwards “. Drop Pocock entirely and bring either Simmons or Coleman onto the bench. Pocock is not offering enough to earn a place.” I have to say no, no and no.
Olly
Roar Rookie
He does not have their ability to break tackles and is not as good under the high ball. But he is a good distributing 13. I would put him at 13 between 12. Kerevi and 14. TK.
piru
Roar Rookie
Hasn't changed to the point a massively strong man able to withstand multiple clearouts while over the ball is no longer valuable.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
"people around Australia who think Hooper is a poor captain (no matter how good he is as a player) " Yes, I'm an enthusiastic member of that group, Fionn.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Ah yes, Terry, I do agree re JP offering more......just hope we can get 10 plus uninjured years from him.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Yeah, Look, I hoped Kerevi would be a superstar this cup, but he isn't having as huger impact as I hoped... not struggling, but far from on fire... I think last game, and this, should have looked at JOC at his true spot at 12, and then see how he rolls with either TK or Kerevi outside him... hell, even JP at 13 for one game would be worth a look. See what two dynamic centres can do.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Agree with the first part, not the second.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Kerevi makes dumb decisions Or he drops the pill. Devastating runner at times but a lot of negatives as well. He hasn't improved his game or MO in years. Soapies will belt him out of the game. Best used as an impact benchie
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Pococks best is way behind him. Game has changed, he hasn't
MitchO
Guest
TK in form is TK in form. No passing game but by far our strongest defender at 13 and a very powerful running game of his own. The two tries to win test matches at the death buy him a lot of cred with me and he's still quite a young bloke. Kerevi's a better attacker at 13 but no where near as good in D. Really JOC should play 12 and TK play 13. The All Blacks, albeit spoiled for choice, did leave Laumpai at home and took Crotty and SBW (okay, ALB is a pretty fine 12 as well).
MitchO
Guest
I think KK will work better with CLL at 10. the Brumbies don't seem to have a problem getting the ball to TK. TK got the ball okay against Uruguay too. The problem seems to be around only using Kerevi as the ball runner when he plays 12 and only using TK as a decoy. JOC and Kerevi are very different 12s but JOC can run the ball at 12. JOC is good in traffic. He is a slippery bugger and will make ground and will get the ball away. Kerevi is more powerful and it is hard to argue with his Super Rugby run metres - but I prefer JOC. He has all the skills required. Pass, run, tackle, defend and THINK. He's a real footballer and the Wallabies don't have too many.
MitchO
Guest
Our best 12/13 pair is JOC and TK. JOC is good at making ground. It's not like he's useless. I reckon start JOC at 12 and once the game develops sub Kerevi on for either of JOC or TK. Both DHP and KB can do enough fullback style play making. Hodge isn't back yet so Petaia has to get another start on the wing. His balance etc (try scoring ability) out there are really impressive. I don't care that it was uruguay. JP clearly has the intelligence/instincts to play top footy. He is much more than an athlete. When Hodge is back then we have a selection dilema but Petaia looked the goods for 40 minutes. Be nice to give him another 40 to 80. They should rest Hooper but I don't know if they will. Obviously Hooper never wants a rest. He wants to play every minute of every game. Good on him. But Pocock needs a run and so does Dempsey. Dempsey's doing alright but I'd still be disinclined to pick him over Pocock or Hooper. Picking him to play 6 or 8 instead of LSL is still the go - especially against a fast team like the ABs. Arnold starts at lock. Probably with Rodda but Coleman is getting back to form.
Markus
Roar Rookie
Surely he can't be slower than Haylett-Petty or AAC?
Markus
Roar Rookie
"How they failed to click is nothing to do with the people around them and is everything to do with their skill sets, or lack thereof." I would have to disagree with that. For example one of the main comments on Kuridrani in the KK centre pairing was he was having trouble injecting himself into the attack, instead being used primarily as a dummy runner. That is a problem far deeper than just who his centre partner is, it goes back to the attack strategies being deployed by the backline, which ties in the starting playmakers as well the attack coach.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
No, I didn’t say that. The fact you had to paraphrase me rather than quote me shows how you’re trying to create a straw man. As I said, I prefer JOC. However, I think Kerevi/TK is stronger defensively than JOC/Kerevi. If JOC was to be injured I wouldn’t mind going back to Kerevi/TK. True. Yet he still probably displayed better form than Foley.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
So... You would have non passing centres and rely on QC throwing long spiraling cutout balls as the primary method of engaging the outside backs, in a tournament played in extreme humidity where holding onto passes has already proven difficult on many occasions? Not a plan I would put a tremendous amount of faith in, even if Cooper was in good form and didn't lose all confidence at the end of the Super Rugby season.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Jameswn Kerevi's "punch" is being pulled. Yes, he can break a tackle but he has made very few full clean breaks and those few have led nowhere because he will not pass to his supports. Plus having Kerevi at 12 is seriously restricting the rest of the backline because unless they cut him out the ball is never getting past Kerevi.
OJ
Roar Rookie
He’s well aware of it. Just needs the space and time. Now is not the time be trialing JOC and Kuridrani. It’s two minutes to midnight.