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Who will make the cut for the Wallabies World Cup squad?
The Wallabies squad to travel to the World Cup in Japan will be named on Friday. Head coach Michael Cheika will already be able to pencil in the side that would run out in knockout matches, but it’s the players on the edge of the squad that he may still not be sure about.
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Cheika and his fellow selectors have called upon 33 players to wear the gold jersey this year – and there are some men who haven’t taken the field but are likely to be included in the announcement on Friday.
So, who will be on the plane when it departs for Tokyo in less than a month’s time?
Hookers
Certainties: Tolu Latu, Folau Fainga’a
Possibilities: Jordan Uelese, Tatafu Polota-Nau
Taken to last World Cup: 2
Surprisingly, Michael Cheika will probably be quite happy with what he’s got available to him at hooker. Heading into the international season, the Wallabies had plenty of question marks over the 2 jersey.
Tolu Latu had discipline issues and Folau Fainga’a was still very wet behind the ears. Arguably those problems still exist – but neither of them caused issues during any of the Wallabies’ games to date.
These two are locked in for the World Cup, and it’s hard to see Cheika opting to take a third hooker. The only plausible rationale would be to get some more experience into the mix in the form of Tatafu Polota-Nau – but that scenario seems considerably less likely after the fairly assured performances of Latu and Fainga’a.
Props
Certainties: Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Scott Sio, James Slipper
Possibilities: Tom Robertson, Sekope Kepu
Taken to last World Cup: 5
The easiest way to describe the Wallabies propping stocks is ‘fine’. Don’t let their demolition at the hand of the All Blacks’ over the weekend dissuade you – they’re all decent scrummagers. They may just need to spend a bit more time adjusting to the new axial loading laws (although referees will all have different ideas of how to judge them). Around the field they’re also up to standard – especially perpetual impact player Taniela Tupou.
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Allan Alaatoa, Taniela Tupou, Scott Sio and James Slipper all received ample game time during this year’s internationals and Cheika was quick to talk up Sekope Kepu at the press conference following this past weekend’s match. The only spanner in the works will be the availability of Tom Robertson – but his lack of game time will probably count against him.
Locks
Certainties: Rory Arnold, Izack Rodda
Possibilities: Rob Simmons, Luke Jones, Adam Coleman, Will Skelton
Taken to last World Cup: 3
Izack Rodda has started all four matches for Australia this year and Rory Arnold – who has been compared to Brodie Retallick – would have done the same if it weren’t for a minor injury keeping him out of the final Bledisloe Cup test.
Once Adam Coleman had overcome his own injuries, he slotted straight back into the team, suggesting he’s still very much in Cheika’s plans. Coleman’s inclusion should worry both Rob Simmons and Luke Jones, who each clocked up fewer than 80 minutes of game time over the four fixtures.
Will Skelton has also emerged as a contender for a spot, with Rugby Australia trying to lure him into signing on for an Australian Super Rugby side for next year. Skelton has rejected various approaches over the last 12 months, however, and will probably do the same in the coming days.
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If Cheika opts for just three locks at this year’s World Cup, as he did in 2015, then it’s hard to go past the trio of Arnold, Rodda and Coleman. Luke Jones may come into consideration due to his ability to cover the loose forwards.
Loose Forwards
Certainties: Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Michael Hooper, Isi Naisarani
Possibilities: David Pocock, Liam Wright, Jack Dempsey, Rob Valetini, Pete Samu
Taken to last World Cup: 6
The trio of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Michael Hooper and Isi Naisarani have started all four matches together this year. They’ll all be taken to the World Cup. Salakaia-Loto is incredibly lucky that there aren’t any obvious alternatives for the blindside flank, because his performances have been far from impressive.
David Pocock is an absolute certainty – if he’s fit. There have been various assurances that the breakdown tyro will be available, but there have also been multiple false starts this year for the man who’s managed just 26 appearances in gold over the last four seasons.
Should Pocock not be on the plane to Japan then Liam Wright will likely travel. Wright’s been deemed the third-best openside flanker in Australia by Cheika and made his debut off the bench over the weekend. There’s a chance he could be a part of the squad even if Pocock is fit, due to the expectation that Pocock would slot in at the back of the scrum.
Other options include Pete Samu and Rob Valetini. Samu missed out on the Bledisloe Cup squad but that may well have been due to the injury that kept him out of the earlier Rugby Championship games. Valetini was given no opportunities during this year’s internationals and it would be a bit of a surprise if he gets the nod.
Jack Dempsey, who was part of the initial Rugby Championship squad but missed out on the refined Bledisloe team, would also be a somewhat shock selection. It’s one that Cheika is evidently still considering making, given that the flanker was namedropped upon the Wallabies’ return to Sydney after the thumping at Eden Park.
Perhaps the versatile Luke Jones will be called upon during the pool stages of the tournament.
Halfbacks
Certainties: Will Genia, Nic White
Possibilities: Joe Powell
Taken to last World Cup: 2
Will Genia and Nic White have shared time on the park this year, with Joe Powell not taking the field at all, despite being in the squad for all four matches.
It’s hard to imagine a situation where Cheika opts for more than two halfbacks at the World Cup – and Genia and White have their spots locked down.
First Fives
Certainties: Christian Lealiifano, Matt To’omua
Possibilities: Bernard Foley
Taken to last World Cup: 2
It would be an absolutely huge call for the Wallabies to not take Bernard Foley to the World Cup.
Foley has been a major player for the side since his debut in the latter stages of 2014 and Cheika, his former Waratahs coach, has been a big fan. Even when the Wallabies have trialled other players at 10, Foley has sometimes been wedged into the team at second five.
With Scott Johnson coming on board as a selector, it looks like Foley has lost favour and Christian Lealiifano has seemingly eclipsed him as the side’s best first five. Matt To’omu has been preferred for the bench spot, too, which make Foley the third-best option in the squad.
If the Wallabies opt for just a pair of 10s, then it’s likely Foley will be the unlucky man.
Centres
Certainties: Samu Kerevi, James O’Connor, Tevita Kuridrani
Possibilities: Jordan Petaia
Taken to last World Cup: 4
The biggest concern that Cheika will have in the midfield is finding the right balance. Samu Kerevi has been one of the Wallabies’ best performers this year and will be the go-to second five for the World Cup. Tevita Kuridrani offers a similar playstyle but from the 13 jersey. Their combo has been tried a number of times without ever really clicking.
James O’Connor’s return to Australia has allowed him to slot in alongside Kerevi against the All Blacks and he looked like one of the most assured players on the park in both outings.
That leaves perhaps one midfield berth remaining – and that gives Cheika the opportunity to try out wunderkind Jordan Petaia, who is still yet to make his debut for the Wallabies. There’s a chance that Petaia may be seen as too high a risk, but the pool stages of the tournament are as good a springboard into test rugby as any other occasion.
With the likes of Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale and possibly Adam Ashley-Cooper all likely to be included, there’ll be plenty of cover should things fall through.
Outside Backs
Certainties: Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Kurtley Beale
Possibilities: Dane Haylett-Petty, Tom Banks, Adam Ashley-Cooper
Taken to last World Cup: 6
Only two players have spent all 320 minutes of the Wallabies’ season on the park: captain Michael Hooper and utility Reece Hodge.
Hodge looks like the selectors’ favourite to camp out on the left wing for the World Cup with the right wing likely to be contested between Marika Koroibete and Dane Haylett-Petty. Haylett-Petty was given the first opportunity of the year – courtesy of Koroibete being unavailable due to the birth of his child – but failed to flatter in a weak performance against the Springboks. Haylett-Petty’s 30 caps should ensure he’s on the plane to Japan.
Kurtley Beale will start at fullback in the big matches but Hodge, Haylett-Petty or even Tom Banks could also be used at 15.
There aren’t a whole lot of other options for the Wallabies in the outside backs. Adam Ashley-Cooper could be in the squad due to his experience, but he hasn’t exactly returned to Australia rejuvenated. Jack Maddocks was also in the original squad for this year but was dropped for the Bledisloe series – meaning his chances of making the Wallabies World Cup squad are slim at best.
Comments on RugbyPass
Well where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
2 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
2 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
3 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to comments