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Major midfield selection shock on the cards for Wallabies

Wallabies centre James O'Connor playing against Georgia at the 2019 RWC. (Photo by Cameron Spencer / Getty Images)

Michael Cheika is poised to announce one of the biggest gambles of his Wallabies coaching career by fielding teenager Jordan Petaia in the midfield for their World Cup quarter-final against England.

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Multiple media sources have reported that Cheika has dumped outside centre James O’Connor and will play 19-year-old Petaia in that position in Oita on Saturday, for the first time in his short Test career.

Petaia became Australia’s youngest World Cup player when he made an excellent Test debut against Uruguay on the left wing two weeks ago.

He was switched to the right wing for his second appearance, against Georgia last week where he had a quiet outing.

Cheika has attracted criticism for experimenting through the pool stage but this switch will come without any sort of trial run.

Continue reading below…

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A hamstring niggle meant the youngster was unavailable to face Fiji and Wales in the first two pool games.

Queensland Reds back Petaia is regarded as one of the country’s brightest attacking talents but has barely played in 2019 after seriously injuring his foot in the second round of Super Rugby on March 2.

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He still wasn’t fit enough for the Rugby Championship program and the hamstring issue sidelined him from last month’s warmup Test against Samoa.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3QkV9MgoX-/

O’Connor impressed in Australia’s win over Fiji in Sapporo a month ago but appears to have paid for two ineffectual outings since.

While Cheika looks set to name a predictable forward pack, other surprising backline changes appear on the cards for the Test which will bring the curtain down on his Wallabies career if they lose.

The coach looks set to field centurion Will Genia at halfback, having favoured Nic White through most of 2019.

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Kurtley Beale is poised to start at fullback and Reece Hodge on the wing, leaving no room for the in-form Dane Haylett-Petty.

Beale is believed to have passed his concussion protocol after being forced off against Georgia following a heavy head knock.

– AAP

Australia are set to name Christian Lealiifano at 10 for their quarterfinal clash with England – but would he be able to play three games in a row?:

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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LONG READ How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions
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