RWC 2019: Wallabies v Wales team news, Cheika makes four changes
Michael Cheika has swung the axe following the sluggish victory over Fiji but the Wallabies coach has revealed he was always plotting mass changes for the all important Pool D clash against Wales.
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Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said he was always secretly plotting to bring back his most trusted and experienced players for Sunday’s World Cup blockbuster against Wales long before last weekend’s sloppy opening performance against Fiji.
Refuting the assumption the selectors wielded the axe in the wake of the team’s nervous start against the unpredictable Pacific Islanders, Cheika said the shock changes were all part of his masterplan to keep their opponents guessing.
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“I’m not going to talk about the picture I’m looking to create because I may as well go over to the opposition and give them my notes, not that that makes any difference I suppose,” he said.
“We know that Wales are a very strong team, we’re going to have to be on for 80 to have success against them. We’ve picked a team we think will do that.”
Will Genia, Bernard Foley, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Dane Haylett-Petty were all recalled to the starting side while Kurtley Beale and Nic White were relegated to the bench and Christian Lealiifano left out of the 23-man squad with Matt Toomua preferred as the back-up playmaker.
There were no changes to the forward pack which did perform strongly against Fiji while the backline struggled, pointing to Australia’s intention to play a tighter game this week.
"Not form decisions at all. I just want to make a different picture for this game,” Cheika said.
“It's a different group of players and I've spoken to the players about that.
“They know what their jobs are, with their piece of the puzzle throughout the World Cup.”
In this case, the selectors have got it right with the changes they’ve made because if they repeat the start they made against Fiji last week, Wales will punish them.
Beale was not at his best against Fiji but is always more dangerous anyway when he’s injected into the game while Haylett-Petty is a safer option under the hight ball, and he can expect to be peppered with bombs from Dan Biggar.
Genia was instrumental in turning around the Wallabies last week and while the veteran halfback is unlikely to see out the game, his combination with Foley has been a winner in the past even if Iceman has been off target with his kicking this year.
“I obviously believe in him (Foley) a lot, I’ve got a lot of history with him,” Cheika said.
“At the World Cup you’re not given anything, you’ve got to take everything. Here’s an opportunity, go and take it. I’m sure he’s in that mindset as well.”
Experience was also behind the selection of Ashley-Cooper, Australia’s oldest player, when he was named on the wing to replace Reece Hodge after he was handed a three match ban for his contentious high tackle on Peceli Yato.
“He has a few more grey hairs than he did in the past. He thinks they make him look more distinguished,’ Cheika said.
“Personally I think they just make him look older. He has got that, as they say in French, je ne sais quoi. He has got that something that wants to bring him up to the challenge. Maybe is not going to be able to do it every single week. But when his team needs him, I am sure he will deliver because he is preparing himself very well.”
Originally published as RWC 2019: Wallabies v Wales team news, Cheika makes four changes