Petaia part of Australia’s plan for the future

JORDAN Petaia’s form at training and in his first minutes playing for a Wallabies XV so impressed coach Michael Cheika that he enlarged the Bledisloe Cup train-on squad to include the 18-yearold.

Cheika had planned to name 34 players for the start of today’s week-long camp in Cessnock but the performansure ces of boom Reds colt Petaia and Rebels prop Jermaine Ainsley convinced him to extend it to 36.

The exclamation point was Petaia emulating Israel Folau with a wonderful piece of aerial mastery when he leapt for a Will Genia crosskick to score his try against the Australian Super Selection XV in last Friday night’s Wallabies’ trial in Sydney.

Those getting carried away with the idea that Petaia is only one step away from playing the All Blacks in Sydney on August 18 still need to slow down.

Cheika has consistently drafted young guns into his broader squads to tune them up for chances down the track and that is very much the depth-building plan for winger-outside centre Petaia.

Petaia would be the youngest Wallaby since James O’Connor debuted at 18 a decade ago if he plays a Test at any stage this year.

“I just think from Friday night, he had some good touches in his first opportunity at the next level and we want to see how he keeps going training and playing beside players from other teams,” Cheika said.

When Cheika was asked if Petaia may be World Cup material for next year, the coach kept a lid on expectations.

“It’s even a bit further (into the future). One thing about the team is that we want to build some solid foundations for the future,” Cheika said.

The Wallabies will today start training in earnest for the All Blacks with skipper Michael Hooper back for the first time since his hamstring injury against Ireland in June.

Cheika said he was also delighted to have Matt Toomua back in the squad.