Cheika will stand by rookie Hanigan
THE big question mark hanging over the Wallabies is their back row but Michael Cheika has leapt to the defence of rookie Ned Hanigan amid criticism against the NSW blindside.
Hanigan, 22, has received mixed reviews from commentators and punters since the first Bledisloe Cup hammering at the hands of the All Blacks but Cheika has continually selected him in the starting side since, including for the Test against Argentina in Canberra tomorrow.
The primary complaint is that he has not been highly visible in the two defeats to New Zealand and draw against South Africa so far in The Rugby Championship, but Cheika said Hanigan’s role was to play tight to allow flankers Michael Hooper and Sean McMahon free rein.
“I don’t think he had his best game last week but this is a guy who wasn’t even starting in his Super Rugby team, he’s now played five or six Tests in a row and he’s got something about him that complements those other two back-rowers,” Cheika said.
“In particular his workrate. He plays as that half-tighter player, that’s what you need when you want guys like Sean and Hooper to be looser. In a different combination of back-rowers we might look at different things.
“Everyone comes in for criticism at different times. I think he’s done an outstanding job since he’s come into the Test team.”
The All Blacks and Boks dominated the breakdown areas, which is largely the responsibility of the back row, and Argentina will certainly target that as well as Australia’s shaky set-piece.
The Wallabies are desperate for their first TRC win of the year against the Pumas, and Cheika has dumped lock Rory Arnold entirely from the squad because he was unhappy with his workrate against the Boks.
Rob Simmons will start alongside Adam Coleman in the second row while Izack Rodda gets his second Test off the bench.
Rugby league recruit Marika Koroibete is likely to make his Test debut after being chosen on the bench for the Wallabies.