Wallabies: State of the campaign

Wallabies: State of the Campaign

Survival in the pool of death

Having Australia and England and Wales all in one World Cup pool was always going make it the proverbial pool of death, with the pool clashes between each of the three approached like finals. The England vs Wales game on Saturday was no let-down; indeed it was the best match of RWC 2015 so far by some way. With England having managed, nigh incredibly, to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against Wales, Saturday’s England vs Australia Twickenham clash is now a desperate battle for World Cup survival for the hosts. This could be one of the all-time most memorable RWC matches.

Spy cameras?

Badly hidden English espionage agents secretly filming Wallaby closed training sessions sounds like part of weak movie plot, but despite it drawing some media excitement, Michael Cheika laughing it off was the right response. With the Wallabies making 14 changes in their starting 15 from game one to two and Cheika saying that since the Wallabies didn’t “know what we’re doing, so how is anyone watching us going to know what we’re doing?” this is, happily, a non-issue in the Wallaby camp.

Palu and Skelton

The loss to injury of Wycliff Palu and Will Skelton disrupts Australia’s plans because the loss of any players is detrimental to campaign strategy, but their replacements are no slouches. Sam Carter is over his knee injury and in James Hansen they have a third specialist hooker, which perhaps they should have had all along.

Drew Mitchell

Recalled from Toulon and granted a second chance at a Test career he thought long gone, Drew Mitchell showed in the Rugby Championship and against Uruguay that he is not easily to be overlooked by Cheika for starting big-game selection. His last appearance at Twickenham saw him score a decisive try for Toulon in the European Champions’ Cup final from wonderfully elusive ball-carrying skill, and he may be a key player for Australia on Saturday, especially with England having magnificent attacking players on each wing.