Super Rugby clubs may deny request to rest key Wallabies ahead of Ireland Test series
WALLABIES coach Michael Cheika has revealed the depth of a spicy club v country selection ruckus as he named the squad to take on Ireland in a three Test series.
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WALLABIES coach Michael Cheika revealed Australian state coaches had knocked back his request to start Super Rugby a week early, and a longer preparation to meet Ireland, as the Test season opened with a spicy club v country selection ruckus.
Cheika named his first Wallabies squad for the year to meet Ireland in a three-Test series, with a relatively settled 32-man group featuring just five uncapped rookies in Jack Maddocks, Tom Banks, Caleb Timu and hookers Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Folau Faingaa.
Aussie Crusader Pete Samu was left off the list due to New Zealand Rugby not yet approving a release.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL WALLABIES SQUAD
But the big talking point was the emergence of news Cheika had requested the Brumbies withdraw star Wallabies trio David Pocock, Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa from their Sunday afternoon clash against the Sunwolves.
Concerned about the tight six-day turnaround, which would likely only see Brumbies players get in two full days training, Cheika asked the Brumbies last week to sit the trio out in the national interest.
The Brumbies said they were still weighing up the request, but with a big push to try and draw 15,000 to their game, the ACT outfit are leaning towards rejecting the request.
“I don’t think a six-day turnaround is the right thing in terms of getting these guys right to play in a Test match against the second-ranked nation in the world. The Grand Slam champions,” Cheika said.
“The Brumbies have been very supportive of the national program all year and we certainly don’t have any complaints about that. If the guys who do play in that game would arrive at 11pm that night, there will be no training for them the next day. Obviously we don’t have seven days of our own to prepare for a team who going to be in camp and ready to go.
“I personally think it is right decision to prioritise players being ready to play for their country.”
Cheika said he’d asked Super team to start their season a week early, like South Africa did, to give two weeks of preparation to meet Ireland.
“Which all the Super Rugby teams clamoured against — they decided they wanted to play the Tens and then have a trial match,” Cheika said.
“I hope we can work it out together. I know the Brumbies have been supportive of the national program and of us being with them all season. I respect those guys a lot and we’re going to try and find a way to get this result.”
The Brumbies are concerned the absence of Pocock, in particular, after rare appearances at home would further damage their precarious attendance figures.
Cheika said he didn’t think a compromise of Pocock playing half a game would work, the Brumbies are in the form to take down the Sunwolves without the Wallabies three, and believes the Canberra supporters “will be out there in force there this weekend, regardless of those lads are playing or not.”
The Brumbies had two of the bigger bolters of the Wallabies squad named in Faingaa, a powerhouse hooker with “swagger”, and outside back Banks, who sizzled into the squad off the back of superb try-scoring form in Africa in the last few weeks.
“He has genuine attacking ability, pace and he backs himself. I like that,” Cheika said.
Cheika said the back three category was the hottest competition, and pointed to the likes of Henry Speight and Izzy Perese as stars who missed out.
Jack Maddocks steps up into his first full Wallabies squad after going on the Spring Tour as an apprentice, and then starring for the Rebels this year.
“Maddocks has had a really good year,” Cheika said.
“He has a lot of good quality and good He is a real talent and Melbourne have done a great job with him and we want to build on that.”
WALLABIES SQUAD
Hookers: Folau Fainga’a, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Jordan Uelese
Props: Sekope Kepu, Tom Robertson, Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou, Allan Alaalatoa
Locks: Izack Rodda, Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons, Rory Arnold
Backrowers: Michael Hooper (c), David Pocock, Caleb Timu, Lukhan Tui, Ned Hanigan
Halfbacks: Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Joe Powell
Five-eighths: Bernard Foley
Centres: Kurtley Beale, Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani, Curtis Rona
Outside backs: Israel Folau, Tom Banks, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Jack Maddocks, Marika Koroibete, Sefa Naivalu
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Originally published as Super Rugby clubs may deny request to rest key Wallabies ahead of Ireland Test series