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The youngsters who could salvage Australia's World Cup campaign
The Wallabies are in danger of making the same mistake that cost them their World Cup crown in 1995, according to one of Australia’s leading rugby scribes.
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The Sydney Morning Herald‘s Greg Growden has revealed he believes that head coach Michael Cheika is set to pick too many old players who are past their prime for this year’s World Cup in Japan.
Many of Australia’s frontline players are in their 30’s, with Growden labelling Cheika’s potential World Cup squad as a “Dad’s Army”.
Growden said that an increase of age wouldn’t be detrimental to a team’s chances of World Cup success if the players are experienced at winning at test level, but this isn’t the case with the Wallabies under Cheika’s tenure.
Since taking over the national side from Ewen McKenzie in November 2014, the former Waratahs coach has guided Australia to just 28 wins from 58 matches, equating to a lowly 48.3 win percentage.
A large proportion of Cheika’s key players have been involved in his side since he took control four-and-a-half years ago, and with a well-maintained track record of underperformance under the stewardship of the 52-year-old – particularly since 2016, with just 17 wins from 42 outings – the Wallabies could be set for a dismal World Cup campaign.
Growden suspects the situation is comparable to that of 1995, when the Wallabies were knocked out of the World Cup in South Africa at the quarter-final stage – their equal-worst showing at the tournament – as a result of selecting too many old heads past their peak from their title-winning 1991 campaign.
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His suggestion: inject the fresh, young faces that have stood out in Super Rugby’s opening five rounds into the national squad.
Queensland halves duo Tate McDermott and Isaac Lucas have been noted as the picks of the bunch by Growden, with 20-year-old halfback McDermott particularly eye-catching.
He has had to bide his time behind current Reds incumbent Moses Sorovi, but appearances from off the bench have illustrated his pace, unpredictability, and crisp passing ability, the latter a quality that Growden believes is vital for any successful World Cup halfback.
McDermott will have to contend with veteran Wallabies centurion Will Genia, Brumbies star Joe Powell, and Waratahs duo Jake Gordon and Nick Phipps for a place in Japan, but after being named to start against the Brumbies this weekend, it provides the youngster a chance to prove his worth to Cheika and the Wallabies selectors.
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Dad’s Army (Wallabies 30 or older when the World Cup kicks-off in September): Kurtley Beale 30, Israel Folau 30, Bernard Foley 30, Will Genia 31, Dane Haylett-Petty 30, Sekope Kepu 33, Nick Phipps 30, Tatafu Polota-Nau 34, Rob Simmons 30, Henry Speight 31, Quade Cooper 31, Adam Ashley-Cooper 35, David Pocock 31, Sam Carter 30, Karmichael Hunt 32, Damien Fitzpatrick 30, Scott Higginbotham 33, Christian Lealiifano 31, James Slipper 30
Watch – Isaac Lucas ahead of Brumbies clash:
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments