Rugby World Cup 2015: England questions legitimacy of Wallabies selecting two hookers

ENGLAND has questioned the legitimacy of Michael Cheika’s World Cup squad, after the Wallabies coach picked just two specialist hookers.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 12: Wallabies captain Stephen Moore poses during an Australian Wallabies press conference at Sydney Cricket Ground on August 12, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

ENGLAND has questioned the legitimacy of Michael Cheika’s World Cup squad, after the Wallabies coach picked just two specialist hookers.

World Rugby is happy enough to endorse the Wallabies squad for the tournament beginning next month, but England is flummoxed after leaving hooker Dylan Hartley out of their squad because he would not be available for the first match against Fiji due to suspension.

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Tatafu Polota-Nau has a history of sustaining injuries and head knocks.

England’s attack coach Mike Catt reacted with surprise after seeing Cheika’s squad to enter the World Cup — England and Australia are in the same pool group and will play each other on October 3.

“I’m not sure how they’ve only picked two hookers but they’ve obviously got that fringe squad who will come into it as well,” Catt said.

“I don’t know what the regulations are or the criteria of the actual tournament, but that was one of the reasons why [we didn’t pick Hartley].”

The question around the hooking position is related to safety in the scrums.

Australia does not have a recognised third hooker in the squad, so if skipper Stephen Moore or back-up hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau were to suffer injury — even it was minor and ruled them out for just one game — they could have to send them home in order to bring in replacement James Hanson, who is part of a wider training squad not travelling with the team.

Dylan Hartley (L) was overlooked by England.

Australia could potentially get around this scenario by sending home an “injured” player in another position, say outside backs, and bring Hanson in for one or two games until either Moore or Polota-Nau recovered.

The tournament rules state that each team must have “sufficient front-row players to play at hooker, tighthead prop and loosehead prop who are suitably trained and experienced to ensure that if a replacement is required in each front-row position, the team can continue to play safely with contested scrums”.

England coach Stuart Lancaster said in May he could not consider Hartley for the World Cup because he would not be available for the first game, and therefore England has to name another hooker in case on their first two choices are injured before the Fiji match.

Originally published as Rugby World Cup 2015: England questions legitimacy of Wallabies selecting two hookers