Drew Mitchell tips Wallabies to take a gamble with Nic White and Bernard Foley in the halves
Nic White and Bernard Foley are in line to form an unlikely halves pairing for the Wallabies’ opening World Cup match. Ex-Wallaby Drew Mitchell explains why.
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Forthright former Wallaby Drew Mitchell is convinced Nic White and Bernard Foley will get first crack at forming a winning halves pairing at the Rugby World Cup.
It will be a typical hunch from coach Michael Cheika if they do win the nod against the dangerous Fijians in the opener under the roof in Japan’s Sapporo Dome on Saturday.
The duo played just 64 minutes together during the five lead-in Tests this season.
They are the least-grooved pairing of the three partnerships that Cheika assessed, although the coach will always give overblown importance to training time together in 15-on-15 skirmishes.
White and former Brumbies teammate Christian Lealiifano started three Tests together for 160 minutes, while the old firm of Will Genia and Foley played 83 minutes in tandem across two Tests.
Pouring that extra game time into White and Lealiifano was in part because they had been out of the Wallabies picture and needed to catch-up quickly.
It doesn’t lessen the biggest backline mystery of the Cup countdown … just who runs the show at flyhalf and halfback?
Mitchell’s gut feeling on the “Whiley” partnership launching rugby’s showpiece event is based on both performance and seeing Cheika’s mind at work for years.
“I think Cheik will go Nic White and Bernard,” Test winger-turned-Fox Sports commentator Mitchell said.
“Whitey has come back from England and taken every opportunity at halfback.
“He’s looked threatening and the real spark he brings to the attack around the ruck is a big plus.”
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Mitchell’s views on the World Cup will be broadcast through multi-sports streaming service Kayo (kayosports.com.au), delivering live and on-demand coverage of all 48 games.
Mitchell said Cheika’s trust in Foley as his general with NSW Waratahs and Wallabies sides since 2013 was too strong to back off now.
“Bernard has got more runs on the board in terms of his relationship with Cheik,” Mitchell said.
“He’s got Cheik’s trust in terms of the number of times he’s produced for him in the gold jersey and that will win him the spot for the first match at least.
“Temperament is really key at the World Cup because there are always times when things are not going right and going through it all at the 2015 tournament weighs in Bernard’s favour.
“I’m almost contradicting myself here because Will has the same status but I think Nic will start.”
Foley said in Japan yesterday that the competition throughout the squad had kept players guessing on starting spots.
“It’s great competition with Christian,” Foley said.