Wallabies rookie Jordan Petaia is set to be named at outside centre in what would be a huge selection call for a Rugby World Cup quarter-final against England.
Michael Cheika is poised to announce one of the biggest gambles of his Wallabies coaching career by fielding teenager Jordan Petaia in the midfield for their World Cup quarter-final against England.
Multiple media sources have reported that Cheika has dumped outside centre James O’Connor and will play 19-year-old Petaia in that position in Oita on Saturday, for the first time in his short Test career.
Petaia became Australia’s youngest World Cup player when he made an excellent Test debut against Uruguay on the left wing two weeks ago.
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He was switched to the right wing for his second appearance, against Georgia last week where he had a quiet outing.
Cheika has attracted criticism for experimenting through the pool stage but this switch will come without any sort of trial run.
A hamstring niggle meant the youngster was unavailable to face Fiji and Wales in the first two pool games.
Queensland Reds back Petaia is regarded as one of the country’s brightest attacking talents but has barely played in 2019 after seriously injuring his foot in the second round of Super Rugby on March 2.
He still wasn’t fit enough for the Rugby Championship program and the hamstring issue sidelined him from last month’s warmup Test against Samoa.
O’Connor impressed in Australia’s win over Fiji in Sapporo a month ago but appears to have paid for two ineffectual outings since.
While Cheika looks set to name a predictable forward pack, other surprising backline changes appear on the cards for the Test which will bring the curtain down on his Wallabies career if they lose.
The coach looks set to field centurion Will Genia at halfback, having favoured Nic White through most of 2019.
Kurtley Beale is poised to start at fullback and Reece Hodge on the wing, leaving no room for the in-form Dane Haylett-Petty.
Beale is believed to have passed his concussion protocol after being forced off against Georgia following a heavy head knock.
kane randle
Guest
We all have different opinions when it comes to the selection for particular matches but when it comes to playing England I'm surprised Kuridrani isn't on the bench. He's big and defends well. Your comments about the centres provides strong opinions on both sides of the selection but what has been noticeable to me in the RWC is the problem we have with the flyhalf. The All Blacks have 2 ball players, England has two ball players, Ireland has two ball players (and all of them can execute a decent kick-off and kick a ball through the sticks). The last time LLO started he kicked out on the full and missed two medium penalties. Foley hasn't returned to form either. Toomua has shown better performances in the Cup so far. Chik likes to play - so why hasn't he tried a different playmaker at 10 - like O'Connor or Beale?
Markus
Roar Rookie
I am of the impression that Kuridrani has one of the lowest mistake rates of the Wallabies backs. Probably the high tackle success rate and a low rate of turning the ball over in contact. Possibly missing opportunities to feed a player outside him, but he was greatly improved in that area for the Brumbies this season. Yeah I was mentioning on another thread yesterday, ruck aggression seems a key feature of Wallabies backs that have played under Laurie Fisher. Toomua, Kuridrani, Speight all go hard at the breakdown in defence with great effect. So too AAC from his years with the Brumbies before heading to the Tahs.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Completely agree Peter. I said it on another article but Beale at fullback will end Cheika's WB career
Mike Hod
Roar Rookie
yes i recall quades 2011 rwc form was sensational... umm no it wasnt'... and really that was the last time he was our genuine 1st choice 10... for anyone to think he should have anything to do with the wallabies has no idea!
Greysy
Roar Rookie
Graymatter, I don't know why Beale has been in the discussion at all the last two years.. and yeah I don't get the lack of love for kuridrani. Was excellent for the Brumbies this year. And the only issue I see with him in the wallabies is that he gets no ball, but that's the fault of kerevi and the halves. I'll be very interested to see what cheika says at the end of the game. If they lose he'll know that's his last one in charge. I wonder if that will make him behave or if he'll completely lose it because he knows there's no consequences.
jeznez
Roar Guru
He’s said he’s re-applying and believes he’ll have earned the right to keep his job if he wins the Cup
Double Agent
Guest
I thought Cheika was out at the end of the RWC anyway?
R J
Guest
Haha love it :) Sign Cheika and Castle for four more years
graymatter
Roar Rookie
Well that settles it. I rest my case. You really have no idea!
Mike Hod
Roar Rookie
Kuridrani does not have a link game. He’s not the player we need at 13. Never has been sadly. He’s a one dimensional winger that wasn’t quite quick enough to play wing. So he was moved to the centres by the brumbies but never developed into a proper 13. Of course he’s a phenomenal ball carrier and he has his moments in defence but that doesn’t quite cut it at test level. End of discussion
jeznez
Roar Guru
Johnson is Cheika’s boss. If the message from Johnson to Cheika is ‘lose this match and you are out of a job’ Then I think it’s pretty rough to the pick the team he has to win with (if they have areas of disagreement)
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
The selection of Petaia by the selectors, and I’m sure / guessing this is not Chieka’s choice, as it is a real gamble. This could be the last game for Chieka as the coach of the Wallabies if the Wallabies don’t beat England. I wonder what he is thinking about the selection panel who look like they overrule him on certain selections, which I’m guessing the selection of Petaia is an example. Chieka may not look and the replays of the next team he is playing, an astonishing admission. Now we can get a feel why the Wallabies only have a plan A and no other plans as Chieka doesn’t have a clue what the other team is going to do. This is a dangerous strategic mistake especially playing a team coached by Eddie Jones who analysis every frame in absolute detail. Chieka’s “don’t spare the torpedoes” Plan A is dry weather rugby - unfortunately it is going to be rainy in Hiroshima (near Oita) on Saturday! Uh oh!
graymatter
Roar Rookie
Ah the soccer skills you mean! Sorry Mike this is Rugby and from what I've seen he's got a pretty good skill set as I have described. Perhaps he needs to look to pass more but other than that I see his game as pretty complete!
hammertime
Roar Rookie
Cheika has wanted Petaia at 13 for over a year. It may shock and annoy people but I'm betting it's the first time he felt he could finally get him in and just in time.
hammertime
Roar Rookie
Nope . Tuilagi is play 12. It's almost as though Cheika knew about Englands team in advance...or Eddie has just responded in kind.
pm
Roar Rookie
Yeah dropped to the bench bothers me less. I had the impression he was out completely.
Double Agent
Guest
Farrari there would be no Roar if everyone just Let It Be.
Mike Hod
Roar Rookie
Quade was one of the most ordinary yet over-rated players to ever have played for the wallabies. sorry it is just so
Mike Hod
Roar Rookie
Kuridrani doesn't have the all-round game we need at 13.
Mike Hod
Roar Rookie
Did you see him carve up a new zealand super rugby franchise earlier this year? Made it look like he was a pro amongst amateurs. He is a once a generation player https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQI_THfkcZM