Wallabies’ strongest side still work in progress for Michael Cheika

With Ireland on the way, Michael Cheika will still not have many elements of his strongest Wallabies side locked in.

If Michael Cheika is like every other Wallabies coach who ever lived, he would be constantly picking and revising his Australian side after each round of Super Rugby and by now it would have dawned on him that he has problems. Serious problems.

Some parts of the Australian side have improved dramatically — the front row, for instance — but in others, there is a need to mix and match players to cover deficiencies. In the halves, it continues to be a case of dropping to his knees every night before bed and praying that nothing happens to Will Genia and Bernard Foley.

As it is, something has happened to Israel Folau but thankfully the early verdict is that his hamstring issue is no more than a three- or four-week injury. So he will ready for the Wallabies to use him against Ireland in June, but where to select him?

The move to pick Folau on the right wing solves a whole lot of problems and finally allows Australia to use his aerial skills in an offensive capacity, not simply to defuse bombs. Besides, with his left-foot step and right-arm carry, he is tailor-made to create space on the right-hand side of the field. So that solves the wing positions — Marika Koroibete will be the other, although he has to learn how to involve himself in the game when the ball is not getting to him.

Unfortunately, that then creates difficulties in filling the 15 ­jersey.

Once upon a time it would have been a no-brainer, but then Dane Haylett-Petty was concussed. Yet even before then, the Melbourne fullback had begun the season a little hesitantly. Certainly his form wasn’t shouting “Pick me!”

Aidan Toua of the Queensland Reds is flashy, though certainly playing more convincingly than in the past, while neither of the Brumbies fullbacks, Adam Muirhead or Tom Banks, has staked a claim for shock selection.

The interesting one is Bryce Hegarty, who has started at fullback twice this season for the Waratahs.

He rarely does anything that steals the show but he is dependable, if unobtrusive. He threw several wonderful passes as he made his entry into the NSW backline against the Brumbies but was so anonymous that I’m not even certain if he was mentioned in the call. And when Taqele Naiyaravoro scored his second try, Hegarty was trailing Alex Newsome all the way on his David Campese-like diagonal run to the corner without being used.

It’s a starring position, fullback, and Hegarty does his best work on the quiet.

Still, maybe Cheika will be tempted to do away with the intrigue and simply deploy Folau at fullback while taking the easy option of playing the likes of Sefa Naivalu, Reece Hodge or Chris Feauai-Sautia on the wing in his place.

Or maybe he is waiting for Izaia Perese, who was taken on the spring tour last year, even though his only appearances for the Reds have been in the pre-season.

Kurtley Beale solves the ­inside-centre position but simultaneously creates a problem because Samu Kerevi is probably the best of the other centres — but only at 12, where defence has far fewer variables than at 13.

Let’s not forget that Kerevi played at inside centre in Australia’s most recent Test, with Beale at fullback — in the absence of Folau — and Hodge on the wing. Let’s also not forget, sigh, that Australia lost that Test 53-24, to Scotland.

Hodge has his critics but he is generally dependable and his ability to kick goals from inside his own half keeps sides honest — All Blacks, I’m looking at you here. Still, when Ben Lam is able to score four tries against the Rebels and spooked Koroibete to the point where he didn’t feel he had the time to line up his tackle from behind — and he hasn’t even played for the All Blacks yet — it does show the limitations of ­playing Hodge or anyone else out of position.

Genia and Foley will be the halves, which probably leaves Jake Gordon and Jono Lance as back-ups, unless Steve Larkham is convinced he can do something with the Rebels’ Jack Debreczeni. There is no question he has talent and the vision to see opportunities. The question is whether his skills are up to the task of exploiting them.

Back row. Problem. At the ­moment, there is only one certain selection, Michael Hooper. David Pocock needs a few more runs but the reality is that he and Hooper are fighting for the openside-flanker position. Anything else limits the side. The Wallabies need an explosive ballrunner at No 8. The Brumbies’ Isi Naisarani could be the answer but he doesn’t become eligible for Australia until March next year. Caleb Timu, ­perhaps.

And they need a legitimate impact player who doubles as an adequate lineout jumper at six. NSW has a bunch of them — Ned Hanigan, Jed Holloway, Michael Wells. Other possibilities are Lopeti Timani of the Rebels and clubmate Angus Cottrell, who is trying hard to shake the “journeyman” tag. A third Rebel in Ross Haylett-Petty could well fellow his brother into the gold jersey if given reasonable time at six.

Adam Coleman and Izack Rodda loom as the Test locks, with NSW’s Rob Simmons and the Rebels’ Matt Phillip as back-up, though Tom Staniforth certainly caught the eye on Saturday in Canberra.

Lately the Arnold brothers are spoiling their prospects by conceding way too many penalties while Lukhan Tui hasn’t had a chance to show Cheika anything yet because of suspension.

Two clear front rows are emerging: first, the established Test trio of Scott Sio, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Sekope Kepu; then the Reds unit of James Slipper, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Taniela Tupou.

There are, of course, any number of other worthy hookers about: Jordan Uelese, Anaru Rangi, Damien Fitzpatrick and Folau Fainga’a.

But Paenga-Amosa is the leading Australian lineout thrower, hitting the mark 33 times out of 36. His defence is outstanding and, most importantly, he is developing an excellent combination with Slipper and Tupou in the front row.

How he performs over the next fortnight against the Brumbies and Waratahs will pretty much determine his fate.

There is, unquestionably, a Wallabies side buried in among all of these names that is capable of beating Ireland in June but certainly there is not much room for error in selection.

And even if Cheika gets the selection of the side right, his work is only just beginning.

Convincing them that they can beat the No 2 side in the world will be his first challenge.

Beating No 1? We’ll worry about that later.