Is it 1985? No. It’s 2022, and Kate Bush is No. 1 in most countries worldwide with her single Running Up That Hill thanks to the popular 80s-themed TV series Stranger Things.
But Ms Bush might have a point. Are the Wallabies actually beginning to start running up that road? Are they running up that hill? With the World Cup a mere 15 months away, we need to start asking those questions.
And it’s no coincidence – just look at the title of this article – that the English will help determine this. We’ve seen for years how the English have dismantled our teams since 2016. We’ve been burnt time and again by eager, eagle-eyed Eddie Jones and his English ensemble. Now we get to see what our current troops have to offer. Can they arrest this 0-8 slide?
Well, it all begins with the squad – a squad most would have picked outside one injury and one convert. But the squad must become a team before we start running up that road.
So, how does this team start running up that hill?
Front row
1. Angus Bell
2. Folau Fainga’a
3. Allan Alaalatoa
Young Bell needs to start over the old buck James Slipper after his efforts this year outpointed the elder statesman (tip tackle excluded, Jacko). Fainga’a does enough for me with his previous international experience and Brumbies performances to edge out Dave Porecki, who I’d like to ease in off the bench – baptism of fire and all that. Alaalatoa will maintain that Brumbies combination for the early parts of the game until we unleash the Taniela Tupou.
Locks
4. Darcy Swain
5. Matt Philip
The injury to Izack Rodda is a big blow. The next-best lineout caller, and someone Dave Rennie prefers, is Philip. I just like Swain. Sue me. He’s a disrupter in mauls and seems to steal more lineouts than any other lock I’ve seen this year. If anyone has the stats to back up this biased opinion, I’d love to see them.
(Photo by Getty Images)
Back row
6. Rob Leota
7. Michael Hooper
8. Rob Valetini
I mean, this back row just picks itself. The Red in me wants Harry ‘Where’s My’ Wilson in there somewhere, but I can’t do it. This one is locked.
Halves
9. Nic White
10. Quade Cooper
The biggest pest and the biggest (used-to-be) maverick. Old ‘Arthur Shelby’ White and the new, calm and composed Cooper are my picks. Niggle, box kicks and a steady, old Bok-busting hand to run the game.
Wings
11. Marika Koroibete
14. Andrew Kellaway
Magic Marika and his never-ending efforts on and off the ball on one wing with the breakthrough player of the year contender Kellaway on the other. Safe as houses here.
Centres
12. Samu Kerevi
13. Len Ikitau
One was nominated for world player of the year and the other was a defensive powerhouse that hits the holes Kerevi creates. I love the combination these two provided in their five tests last year.
Fullback
15. Jordan Petaia
It would be Tom Banks if he were sticking around, but I don’t see him becoming one of the three overseas picks next year as it stands right now. Therefore we must find out what else is out there. With no Jock Campbell, it’s the high-flying Jordie for me.
Bench
16. Dave Porecki
17. James Slipper
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Jed Holloway
20. Pete Samu
21. Tate McDermott
22. James O’Connor
23. Izaia Perese
Porecki is a deserved selection in a position we have struggled with for years. Slipper comes on for his stability and Tupou for his explosive runs. Holloway is my switch-hitting No. 4/6 and Samu can do everything between Nos. 6 and 8. I’ve picked McDermott because of the mullet and high-octane runs around a tiring ruck, O’Connor for his versatility and experience and Perese for a potentially game-changing, tackle-busting substitution.
But the selections what-ifs and chat matter for naught if the team doesn’t start running up that road or running up that hill. Time is ticking fast.
Then again, if we only could make a deal with God and get them to swap our places. We’d be holding up that Bledisloe, be holding up that Bill. But no promises.
Stu
Roar Rookie
IMO, great sides capable of winning a World Cup MUST have a dominant ruck disruptor, ideally in the 7 position. All game, the 7 has to be a constant pest at the ruck, undermining everything the opposition does. Hooper is a great player, even grabbing a couple of ruck turnovers in a game usually, but a constant ruck disruptor and pest he isn’t. He has highlight reel moments pulling off a few busy tackles here & there, but for me.. he’s not the 7 that salivates for destroying opposition ruck ball. Fraser McReight shows incredible promise as a major annoyance at ruck time.. the pest we need! He could be the Nic White of ruck disruption! He could rapidly become the acid we need to dissolve opposition game plans right at the source of their inception. Give Hoops a rest and give McReight a full series fully supported, so we’ve tested our alternative options by World Cup time.
Stu
Roar Rookie
Also, Lolesio gets steamrolled a lot in defence. Eddie Jones will be all over that. Funny how we Aussies rarely rate professional defence compared to attacking flare.
Check-side for the boundary
Roar Rookie
At the start of the year; the talk was how was Coleman going to split Harrison and Donaldson for the Tahs 5/8 spot and, also, at the beginning of the season how was the up and coming young bolter !!
Check-side for the boundary
Roar Rookie
If Rennie goes 6.2 bench, then that is saying that we don't have Valetini on for the full game !
Check-side for the boundary
Roar Rookie
I only differ on two points: 1. If Petaia is injured early, and this is very likely, then Kellaway has to go to fullback and the backline may have to play the bulk of the game in a disfigured manner; therefore recommend that Banks is employed. 2. Slipper to start otherwise Bell will be absolutely targeted, by Eddie, at scrum-time. Bell is much better off, coming on with Tupou for this reason. Apart from these minor tweaks you have nailed it, IMHO ...
Dean
Roar Rookie
It would be great to see them both start in a couple of tests, brutal combination I reckon.
Broken Shoulder
Roar Rookie
My dream backrow with Wilson and Valetini in there. It hasn't worked in the past but they're my two favourite players at the moment so from a fan's perspective, I want it!
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
What I said is he's not ready yet. He needs more experience and size ideally. Taking that drop kick from 40 out with all the pressure on the blues shows his rugby immaturity.
Markus
Roar Rookie
There were very few Wallabies who can hold their head up after some of those Bledisloe games. 57 points against in Bled 2 was not down to Lolesio. He played in the French series and was one of the best. Kicked 18/19 across 3 tests which won us the series.
Dean
Roar Rookie
Very good selection. However, I’m dropping Leota back to the bench in place of Samu and starting Harry Wilson at 8 and Valetini at 6. Hunter Paisami in place of Perese on the bench.
Broken Shoulder
Roar Rookie
Hey Zachary - I mention below that Tupou would be run on for mine if not for his fairly serious calf injury. I don't want to rush him back straight away but after he's got some minutes under his belt, he'd be in the starting XV in my opinion.
Broken Shoulder
Roar Rookie
Cheers Tim!
Broken Shoulder
Roar Rookie
G'day James - Tupou would be run on for me if not for his recent calf injury. First game back I'm just a bit hesitant with him starting and would prefer he gets eased off the bench.
rugbybloke
Roar Rookie
Great team. But my switches AAA for tupou - It like playing kerevi on the bench. Tupou come off make one or two good plays for 25mins why not get more? We want him to get us head, not to rely on him for helping us win from behind. Holloway for Leota - Leotas big but does use his size as many would like lacks physicality. Goes to ground a little bit too easy for a big body and is slow to get back to rocks to be honest I haven’t seen him run to a rock in defence or attack before. These are all attributes that whole way have so I have them at 6. Plus we could move him into second row if needed.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ England will cruelly target and expose the still very raw JP, imo.” MZ, I get where you’re coming from, and I think I see what you see, but I question now JPs youth and elite inexperience as the cause. I am no psychologist (I’m not a WB coach either but I’m still writing here :silly: ) But I think JPs frailty is born of an inner nervousness, or lack of confidence in his considerable ability. His quest for the miracle play on too many instances suggests too high an expectation on himself. He may well have been creating miracle plays since the Under6’s, but as a WB 15, he has a new job.He needs to learn (and quickly) what a professional/test 15s job is, and do it, every game. Of course part of knowing what the job is, is also knowing what it isn’t. A more limited tram track of options in his imagination would be a step up, imo.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Spot on Shoulder. Quade is the enabler. With Link and the Rennievator he has been given more to enable.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Lolesio is not international standard yet. He's been thrown in the fire before and we saw how that went (vs ABs.....)
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Everything is stagnating at the Reds. If I were CEO I would asking for a please explain for this season but more importantly what Thorne plans to do differently as a result of this season.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
I'd say Kerevi would be dropped for Hamish Stewart probably.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
And then I find myself grasping for a 3rd Tier Peter.