It’s sink or swim for the Wallabies in the "pool of death"
With the Rugby World Cup starting on Saturday, the world is set for the game that fans say is played in Heaven to make its way down to Earth. SIMON GALLETTA looks at what the Wallabies need to do to get through their pool unbeaten.
By SIMON GALLETTA
Michael Cheika’s Wallabies have been flying under the radar a literal ocean away from the grass-laid grounds in the UK, where they will battle for the Rugby World Cup, which starts on Saturday.
But for a team that has promised so much in the past but delivered so little, the crossing of the Atlantic may the Rubicon for a team that’s craving consistency. There is no turning back now, and no more excuses.
Yet as much as Cheika talks about winning consistently, his selection choices have been anything but. His change of line-up following the Wallabies' defeat of the All Blacks was a mistake.
Like his predecessor before him, he erred in changing a winning formula.
Ewen McKenzie had momentum after his Waratahs took out the Super Rugby title against a heavily stacked All Black Crusader outfit, but instead opted to change his halves pairings to his inevitable trouncing.
But Cheika is not a silly man, so it’s perplexing why he would change a previously formidable loose forward combination and put unwarranted pressure on Quade Cooper to perform in the personal nightmare Eden Park had become for him.
The only logical reason is he’s conditioning his players to play drastically different styles of play against differing opposition.
This year's RWC sees Australia in a pool with England, Wales, Uruguay and Fiji – easily the most competitive of all the pools.
As such, there will be strategic decisions that need to be made.
Cheika has already confessed he will be playing two entirely different teams in the Wallabies’ first two games against Fiji and Uruguay, and this is all to do with the two games that follow.
England are a traditional northern hemisphere team with good set pieces and excellent kicking games, however they seem to spring to southern hemisphere life when taking on the Wallabies.
Cheika should look to the halves pairings of Will Genia and Bernard Foley, both excellent in defence and both able to take to the line with ball in hand if he hopes to halt what could easily become an English wrecking ball.
Meanwhile, a lot of faith has been shown in Genia who is well below his best and, with game-winning Brumby Nic White left out of the squad altogether, there’s pressure to perform.
He needs to avoid the two-steps-sideways movement and look to keep the ball at the base of the ruck for no more than two to three seconds. Quick ball is the key to winning against England.
But against Wales, that key is solely in the hands of Cooper. He played his best-ever game of rugby against Wales in 2013 when they defeated them 30 points to 26 and Cheika should be playing him again if he’s looking for a 11th straight win.
Halved with him should be Nick Phipps, who needs to focus on his game more than his mouth to deliver quick ball from the base of the ruck.
And then there’s Matt Toomua, a player growing in leaps and bounds. He's able to do it all; he can run, kick, pass, take the line on and, with a straight running game that immediately drags the backline back into a straight running position, his role in the Wallabies will be crucial.
Whether he plays at fly half or inside centre, Toomua is class, able to bring a team home but still yet to be given the opportunity to give them a start.
For me, Toomua seems to be champing at the bit to show his wares and this RWC may be the place where he gets his chance.
As usual, Wales will look to pound the Wallabies with their bigger backlines and stronger set pieces, but again it is up to the Wallabies forwards to lay the foundation for quick ball.
But more than quick ball, the forwards need to hold their own at scrum time.
Both Wales and England are excellent scrummagers who pride themselves on demoralising opposing outfits. Just look at the 2003 RWC.
And that is where it will be won or lost for the Wallabies.
The new scrum laws have levelled the playing field for northern hemisphere teams. No longer can traditionally smaller, more mobile packs get away with quick scrums.
Now the likes of Argentina are putting in two, three even four shoves against opposition packs and more often than not receiving penalties taking them 40m upfield.
Australia need not only to hold their own, but start to gain scrum dominance if they are to take advantage of the new scrum laws.
If consistency is what the Wallabies are craving they need to give themselves every possible chance at winning.
Cheika made a mistake changing line ups against the All Blacks, yet his decision to change line ups against Fiji and Uruguay is the right one.
But please, Cheika, no more, okay?
