Sanzaar teams’ flyhalf selections point to World Cup considerations

COACH Michael Cheika says a desire to “shake it up” was behind his decision to name Kurtley Beale at flyhalf for the Wallabies’ mustwin clash with the Springboks in Brisbane tomorrow.

The radical switch will result in the regular pivot Bernard Foley dropping down to the bench.

The removal of Foley was the biggest talking point at yesterday’s announcement

“I suppose I just wanted to shake it up a little bit,” Cheika said. “I think we’ve had some good things that have happened in the (recent) games,

“I know that hasn’t been brought out but there have been some good things and I think that Toomua’s return, he’s shown a lot of good things as well around the place and he’s brought some of that on-field as well.

“I just thought I’d try a different combination and give them an opportunity together.”

It’s a move which signals a tactical shake-up of sorts, though Toomua’s game does fit the two-playmaker attacking model the Wallabies have run for the entirety of Cheika’s tenure.

Cheika said Foley had responded to his demotion well.

“We sat down and had a good talk about it. I think he’s showed he’s certainly no dummy-spitter by the way he trained today,” Cheika said.

“He was still up for it, still going to have a big part to play in the game – finishing the game without a doubt. He took it hard but he showed the quality of the person that he is the way he got back on the training paddock today and led the way.”

Asked what he’d conveyed to Foley about the things he’s doing wrong in his game, Cheika said: “It’s not as much doing things wrong as opposed to fulfilling the potential you have.

“He’s not doing anything wrong in particular, but I feel he could be playing better because he’s a quality player and he has shown that for us on many occasions.

“It’s one of the rare times this has happened if not the first time. This is an opportunity for him to get back to focusing a little bit more on himself and not as much on the team and bringing his performance up.” THE SURPRISE picks made at flyhalf by the Springboks, Wallabies and All Blacks serve as a clear indicator of the World Cup planning that is well under way.

To focus first on the Springboks, Elton Jantjies will start at flyhalf ahead of Handré Pollard for this Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash in Brisbane.

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has repeatedly highlighted the importance of expanding the team’s flyhalf depth to ensure they have more than one option in this crucial position when they head to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Although Pollard has battled with form and confidence in the two recent Tests against Argentina, Erasmus explained yesterday that the plan had always been for Jantjies to receive an opportunity against the Wallabies.

While there is certainly an element of experimentation to the Boks’ selection, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has also made a bold move by opting to shift regular inside centre Kurtley Beale into the flyhalf berth.

Bernard Foley has been the automatic selection for some time, but he hasn’t been in his best form recently, with Cheika now seeing the need to see what other options are available.

Similarly, the All Blacks have now taken the opportunity to afford firstchoice flyhalf Beauden Barrett a rest, and to hand Crusaders pivot Richie Mo’unga his first start in tomorrow’s encounter against Argentina.

Although Damian McKenzie has been widely recognised as the back-up to Barrett, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen clearly wants to have a closer look at Mo’unga, who enjoyed a stand-out Super Rugby season this year.

The World Cup is just over a year away, and the onus now falls on the likes of Jantjies, Beale and Mo’unga to prove that they have what it takes to slot in at flyhalf should the need arise at that global showpiece. ANA