Problems in the Wallabies camp
AUSTRALIA: CHEIKA’S MEN IN LINE FOR WOODEN SPOON
Wellington
While the other Rugby Championship coaches are already looking ahead to the 2019 World Cup in Japan, Australia’s Michael Cheika is keeping his focus firmly fixed on the next two matches.
The Wallabies head to South Africa for a Port Elizabeth showdown next weekend in disarray, having lost at home to Argentina for the first time since 1983 and battling to avoid a wooden spoon finish.
The 51-year-old’s side, who have lost five of seven tests this year, face a daunting task against a buoyant Springboks side before making a testing trip to Salta to take on the Pumas, who are showing a remarkable turnaround under Mario Ledesma.
The Pumas have already beaten the Springboks in Mendoza and then pushed the All Blacks before they upset the Wallabies at Robina last Saturday, and are playing an up-tempo and controlled game.
The Wallabies’ inconsistency, however, is not the only dilemma confronting Cheika as he looks further ahead to their opening World Cup clash against Fiji in Sapporo next September.
He appears to have lost faith in flyhalf Bernard Foley and has no viable alternative to the 62-Test cap veteran, with Kurtley Beale, who took the pivotal role against the Springboks and Pumas, better suited to inside centre.
The Wallabies are also struggling to find a line-punching centre with Tevita Kuridrani and Samu Kerevi both injured, while rampaging fullback Israel Folau appears to be the only constant threat on attack.
Cheika’s persistence in picking two openside flankers – captain Michael Hooper and the worldclass David Pocock – in his loose forward trio may give him speed and ball-poaching ability but a lack of bulk at the breakdown.
It also reduces the effectiveness of their lineout, which was ruthlessly exposed by the All Blacks earlier in the season.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, however, got exactly what he wanted from his team last Saturday when they upset the All Blacks 36-34 in Wellington.
They harried and harassed the world champions and slowed the game down by kicking the ball deep into touch, preventing them from launching quick counter-attacks.
That performance showed Erasmus that his side can step up on any given day. – Reuters