Would you rather backline A or backline B?
Australia coach Michael Cheika has announced a 31-man squad for his side’s first Rugby Championship game against South Africa and while there is a bit of rugby left to be played before the World Cup, many in Australia think this will be very close to the squad he takes to the tournament.
The Aussie pack has some standout performers – Hooper at 6 and Pocock at 7 is some one-two punch – but it is the backline depth that really separates Australia from some of their rivals.
For instance, these are two possible backlines that Cheika could field from his squad. The training games must be more intense than down in Nolan Park.
9. Nick Phipps
10. Bernard Foley
11. Rob Horne
12. Matt Giteau
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Taqele Naiyaravoro
15. Kurtley Beale
Or
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Drew Mitchell
12. Matt Toomua
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Joe Tomane
15. Israel Folau
You could easily advocate for the devil and say that either backline is better than the other, which says it all really. If Australia can sort out their tight five, they could definitely come close to winning the tournament. First place in their pool, which sees them play England and Wales away, will be rewarded with a quarter-final against Samoa or Scotland.
Second place will see them almost certainly play South Africa.
With attacking talent like that, they might be able to make a run by taking either route.
Wallabies squad: Rory Arnold (Brumbies), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs), Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), Quade Cooper (Reds), Scott Fardy (Brumbies), Israel Folau (Waratahs), Bernard Foley (Waratahs), Will Genia (Reds), Matt Giteau (Toulon), Scott Higginbotham (Rebels), Greg Holmes (Reds), Michael Hooper (Waratahs), Rob Horne (Waratahs), James Horwill (Reds), Sekope Kepu (Waratahs), Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies), Stephen Moore (captain, Brumbies), Drew Mitchell (Toulon), Ben McCalman (Force), Sean McMahon (Rebels), Dean Mumm (Waratahs), Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs), Nick Phipps (Waratahs), David Pocock (Brumbies), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), Scott Sio (Brumbies), Rob Simmons (Reds), Will Skelton (Waratahs), James Slipper (Reds), Matt Toomua (Brumbies), Joe Tomane (Brumbies)
