Australia will become one of the last teams to get their World Cup campaign up and running on Wednesday afternoon when they face a feisty looking Fiji side at The Millennium Stadium. After a tumultuous 2014 that saw serious doubts about this team’s chemistry realised both on and off the field, Michael Cheika has steadied the ship so far this season. Having convinced the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) to widen its selection criteria to allow the likes of Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell to return to the fold, he guided the Wallabies to a Rugby Championship crown which featured a particularly impressive victory over New Zealand on home soil (of course, they were then ruthlessly dispatched just a week later at Eden Park, but you can’t have everything…).
Confident Australia Not Underestimating Fiji
As such, the air of cynicism that has hung over the national team ever since its meek exit from the World Cup four years ago appears to have cleared somewhat and; buoyed by a seemingly harmonious squad and a rapidly improving scrum, hints of a more widespread optimism are becoming increasingly evident.
Given that they don’t face fellow contenders England and Wales until the 3rd and 10th October respectively, the side picked to face Fiji (listed below) looks to at least very closely resemble his strongest possible line-up. Of the forwards picked to start, only Kane Douglas I seems under significant pressure from Will Skelton and Dean Mumm behind him (in fact both may be preferred in bigger games). The backs are slightly less set in stone, with only Tevita Kuridrani, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Israel Folau certainties to retain their spots in the games that will likely determine the winner of the World Cup’s most competitive group.
Out of the places that are still up for grabs, none are more uncertain than the two halfbacks, with the two playmaking spots by far the most concerning for any Wallabies fan coming into the tournament. In other contentious areas, such as winger or inside centre, Australia has an abundance of attractive options; with the likes of Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale, Henry Speight and the aforementioned Mitchell waiting in the wings. At scrum half and fly half those appealing alternatives simply don’t exist, with the underwhelming Nic Phipps and Mr Mercurial himself Quade Cooper backing up Will Genia, who hasn’t looked himself in almost 18 months now, and Bernard Foley; who has also looked out of sorts this season, with his goal kicking a particular area of concern.
While it may not be do or die for the pair against Fiji, Cheika has been more than willing to change his halfback combinations when they haven’t working in the past. As for the game itself, while it would be ignorant to guarantee an Australia win given what Japan achieved as huge underdogs less than a week ago, Fiji’s fast paced attack and helter-skelter approach that unsettled England should suit Australia far more. They will look to fight fire with fire with the likes of Folau, Kuridrani, Horne and Hooper all adept at that style of play.
In addition, with a new look front row that has performed far better over the past few months, a typically dangerous backline can expect consistent, high quality service that hasn’t always been there in the past. This should allow them to expose a Fiji defence that was only properly challenge in the final 10 minutes against England, a period in which they conceded two tries and appeared chaotic at times. In addition, with all the other main contenders looking at least slightly underwhelming in their opening games, this is an opportunity for Australia to lay down a significant marker against one of rugby’s improving middleclass.
Australia: Israel Falou; Rob Horne, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy; Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons; Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio.
Replacements: James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Will Skelton, Dean Mumm, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale.
“Main Photo”
