Mission man for Wallabies

FRESH Wallaby Caleb Timu is a man on a new mission after never watching for a minute as his decorated back-row partners dominated at the 2015 World Cup.

A back-row education at fast-forward speed must mesh him with David Pocock and Michael Hooper for tomorrow night’s collision with the Irish at Suncorp Stadium. Timu has played only 13 games of Super Rugby since his code switch from the Brisbane Broncos under-20s in 2016.

In 2015 he was walking the streets of Auckland during a two-year Mormon mission.

“I didn’t watch a minute of the last World Cup because it was part of being fully dedicated to knocking on doors and sharing the gospel of the Lord,” said Timu, 24. “There were a few gangstas who told me to get lost but most often I was warmly greeted.”

No defender has dared ignore the 117kg Timu this sea- son because his high legpumping runs have burst through 28 tackles for the Queensland Reds. That’s why the welcome has been so warm from Wallabies boss Michael Cheika, who hopes he’s found a No.8 for the long term.

Cheika is bending one of the cardinal rules of rugby to back Timu because he’s gambling with no genuine backrow lineout jumper. Timu has barely been used as a target by the Reds all season.

Cheika rewarded form with the selection of Timu, rookie Reds hooker Brandon PaengaAmosa and Samu Kerevi at outside centre ahead of regular Tevita Kuridrani.

Picking six burly forwards on the bench, including 117kg back-row wildcard Lukhan Tui, 120kg prop Allan Alaalatoa, 134kg hammer Taniela Tupou and reactivated hooker Tolu Latu is a measure of the artillery Cheika wants to win a brutal pack battle. He has also granted a dizzying elevation to back-rower Pete Samu.

Cheika warned of Ireland: “It’s the best team they have had in their history, with outand-out gun players that many people here don’t even know.”