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Test is a culling field for selectors
Greg Growden, Chief Rugby Correspondent
Friday, July 6, 2007
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Mark Gerrard and Drew Mitchell are fighting for the final World Cup wing spot - with their performances against South Africa at Telstra Stadium tomorrow night shaping as crucial in determining the final pecking order.
Wallabies coach John Connolly last night said selectors were debating whether they would split the 30-man squad 16-14 or 17-13 among the forwards and backs. They are likely to opt for the latter because tournament rules make it important to choose three, not two, hookers.
During the tournament, an injured squad player cannot be replaced for 48 hours. While most positions are covered in a 30-man squad, if a team chooses only two hookers and one gets injured during the captain's run, suddenly there would be no one on the bench who could play that crucial specialist position. With no hooker on the field, uncontested scrums can be enforced.
That is why most countries will select three hookers for the tournament in September-October.
While that would help the chances of Tatafu Polota-Nau and Sean Hardman making the squad as a back-up to Stephen Moore and Adam Freier, it means one back-line spot would be sacrificed - a winger's.
The 13 backs in the squad would comprise two halfbacks, two five-eighths, four centres, three wingers and two fullbacks. The selectors do enjoy certain flexibility because Matt Giteau can play halfback, five-eighth and inside centre.
If Giteau is regarded as the back-up halfback to the anticipated World Cup skipper, George Gregan, this suddenly puts Sam Cordingley in danger of missing out on the tournament. If Giteau is seen as the back-up five-eighth, then Berrick Barnes and Sam Norton-Knight will miss out.
But the biggest selection dilemma is who to choose on the wings. The Wallabies have at least five genuine candidates for the three squad spots. Lote Tuqiri, despite his never ending disciplinary problems, is a certainty to be picked, while Ashley-Cooper is almost assured of a French trip because of his versatility. The selectors put Ashley-Cooper in the same "floater" category as Giteau.
In the end, it may well come down to a final selection decision between Gerrard and Mitchell. Both will be hoping Ashley-Cooper is bracketed as a centre, but if not, one is certain not to go. With Chris Latham and Julian Huxley set to be the fullbacks, Digby Ioane and Cameron Shepherd are in serious danger of missing out. Sadly, NSW speedster Lachlan Turner will not get his chance at Test level until next season.
Connolly described the match against the Springboks as a "crossroads Test" for Gerrard, who was called up after Tuqiri's suspension. Gerrard was sitting pretty before the team went to South Africa. As part of the advance party to Cape Town, it was assumed that Gerrard would play at Newlands. Instead, Mitchell snuck past him. This time, Gerrard is in the starting XV, and Mitchell is on the bench.
Connolly last night warned his players not to fall into the trap of believing they will be confronting a Springbok B team. "On paper, South Africa are not a bad side," Connolly said.
"And with Derick Hougaard there at No.10, they will kick their goals. Really anything could happen if we don't respect them on Saturday night.
"We recognise that Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger are important ingredients in the Springbok team, and they will be missed, but in many other spots the candidates are so close in quality it's a case of six in one hand and half a dozen in the other. You also have to remember we're missing Wycliff Palu and Lote Tuqiri from our side."
Palu is is in serious danger of missing the World Cup through a shoulder injury, boosting David Lyons's hopes of making the cut.
While Stephen Hoiles has been chosen ahead of Lyons as the starting No.8 against the Springboks, Lyons will get ample game time to impress off the bench.
Connolly is a supporter of Lyons, and a constructive second-half performance might be enough for him to make the 30-man squad.
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