Cheika will take some convincing
Places up for grabs in cup trial
WALLABIES coach Michael Cheika wants players to change opinions and demand Test selection during Friday night’s Bledisloe Cup trial, which will help settle many selection debates.
Australia, keen to avoid a repeat of their shambolic start to last year’s first Test against New Zealand, have organised the hitout against a Super Rugby Selection side at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval.
The All Blacks scored a record six tries in the first half of last year’s Bledisloe opener, building the platform to extend their 16year run of trans- Tasman dominance.
Cheika hopes Friday’s match will ensure there’s no repeat at ANZ Stadium on August 18, urging every player involved in the trial to show the sort of work ethic and physicality they would produce against New Zealand.
“We’re looking for guys to change opinions and make us say, ‘ Yes, this guys has to play’. From both teams,” Cheika said.
“It’s definitely an opportunity for some players to show how much they want to play on the 18th.
“You can’t warm- up into that game and that’s maybe something we’ve been caught up with over the last couple of years.”
Reece Hodge has been named to start the trial at outside centre, the spot likely to cause Cheika more consternation than any other given the injury- enforced absence of Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani.
Cheika reiterated yesterday his strong preference is to leave Israel Folau, among the many NSW Waratahs who won’t take part in the trial because of their recent semifinal in South Africa, at fullback instead of shifting him to No. 13.
“We’re going to see a few of the ( outside centre) suspects on Friday night. Hodge will get some time there,” Cheika said.
“We might even let Jordan Petaia have a bit of time there. You might even see one of the wingers have a go there.
“Then once we get ( Curtis) Rona and Israel back next week, we’ll have a look and make some decisions.”
Hamish Stewart, the uncapped Queensland 20- year- old, will start at five- eighth but still appears some distance off being Bernard Foley’s back- up in the first Test.
Cheika cautioned Stewart had a “fair way to go around understanding the speed of the game”, while highlighting how Australia wanted Matt Toomua back in the squad as “quickly as we can”.
Toomau, who had been playing in England, signed a deal with Rugby Australia and the Melbourne Rebels this week.