Wallabies go for broke

SIO CONFIDENT AUSSIES CAN MATCH ENGLISH UP FRONT

FOUR weeks of cat and mouse end when Michael Cheika delivers the Wallabies team he believes can topple England at the Rugby World Cup.

Cheika has rotated his troops through the pool phase, not endearing himself to those who believe a rock-solid XV should have been already established heading into Saturday’s quarter-final in Oita.

Instead there are question marks, something the coach has encouraged, believing he has the player depth to create a sense of competition.

Cheika’s 68th, and possibly final, Australian team announcement today will finalise who he rates as his premier outside back along with his forward mix.

The identity of his first choice five-eighth has also been uncertain in Japan, having changed in every game. combination, desired loose

However, Cheika’s comments on Monday that he has deliberately rested Christian Lealiifano to keep him physically sharp suggests the Brumbies veteran will wear No.10. Out wide, Reece Hodge’s return from suspension gives Cheika access to a player he’s trusted on the right wing all year.

But there are options galore there, including the in-form Dane Haylett-Petty, rookie Jordan Petaia and veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Haylett-Petty could well be the fullback, given Kurtley Beale’s patchy form and reduced training minutes this week while he recovers from a head knock. The big stage may not prevent Cheika from taking a punt on 19-year-old Petaia, who was quiet against Georgia last week but showed enormous promise on debut against Uruguay.

Hodge himself conceded nothing was guaranteed and that Petaia had all the weapons to be a Test star.

“He’s a pretty special player so to see him score a try on debut and have some pretty special touches was pretty cool,” Hodge said.