Testy Cheika chops four from the pack
IMPATIENT coach Michael Cheika has axed four forwards because he wants heavy hitting not hugging from a new-look Wallabies pack.
The Test futures of No.8 Scott Higginbotham and lock Sam Carter are back in limbo with Cheika unconvinced they provide the high-impact authority demanded of his pack.
That is the only interpretation that fits Cheika’s decision to leave out the duo to find extra firepower from Lopeti Timani and 208cm pillar Rory Arnold against Italy in Brisbane tomorrow.
Recalling regular starters Stephen Moore, as captain and hooker, and frontline prop Scott Sio were more straightforward calls after the shabby 24-19 crash to Scotland last weekend.
Cheika delivered the same blunt message to the backs by dropping 47-Test Tevita Kuridrani for his passive game.
In comes a short-term centre, Rob Horne, who told Cheika he wanted to treasure every moment of Test time he thought he would never play because he had signed for English club Northampton.
It would be easy to dilute Cheika’s calls as partrotation, as is true with Moore replacing Tatafu Polota-Nau, but this is a universal wake-up call.
The team that runs out tomorrow at Suncorp Stadium is only 80 minutes away from facing the savage skill of the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on August 19.
Cheika indicated it was time to restate exactly what his team needed to stand for after a costly lack of urgency with ball-carries, ruck work and defence against the Scots.
When he said “there are non-negotiables you have to be good at to be in this team”, it seemed a thinly veiled message to Higginbotham and the inconsistent form of others.
“The thing I’ve spoken to Scott about always is impact in the contact zone and it’s something he knows he’s got to work on,” Cheika said.
“Lopeti now gets to show what he’s got ... a bit of chance to compete against each other.
“There have been tight calls, which is a signal we are looking for players to make positions their own.”
The Wallabies will start hot 25-point favourites against the Azzurri but winning ruthlessly not by frivolously tossing the ball around must be the recipe.