Let us be charitable and assume that this is a trial game. That's the only thing I can think of to explain some of the selections.
If Timani starts, we simply have to have a blindside who is a genuine lineout jumper. That rules Dempsey out, for one.
Just quickly - I don't think anyone that has watched Dempsey play through highschool, club footy at Gordon, at NRC level or at Super Rugby level would agree with you. In essence, no one that has actually watched him play would agree with you.
He's a pretty fantastic lineout exponent with the agility and build to be incredible. At six that'd be a factor in his selection.
Moving on.
I'm 99% sure Cheika has said something to the effect that these games are simply to provide clarity around selections for the RC and that the team / squad chosen doesn't reflect the full strength squad moving forward.
I firmly believe that for the first RC test we'll see Higgers / Hooper / Timani, but for now Cheika is simply trying to find or develop a long-term solution for the Wallabies at 6.
For all the talk of Scott Fardy, he had a pretty shonky season last year where he fell out of the XV for
form and (on-field) discipline. Yes he's had a decent season this year, but I don't think his form has warranted automatic selection, ESPECIALLY given Cheika's rationale, ESPECIALLY given the fact that Fardy is
32 years old two years out of a RWC.
Yes Moore's inclusion is somewhat paradoxical at age 34 now (especially because he looks like a machine that hasn't been oiled in some years), but he is the squad captain. I expect that he'll be phased out in the next 12-18 months, but his leadership is clearly valued. Fardy's, on the other hand, isn't. Having seen his interaction with Brumbies teammates throughout this season (particularly Sam Carter, his captain) I can understand why.
Moving to Higgenbotham. Yes he's been left out of the 23 but at age 30 and with 34 caps he's hardly an unknown. On the other hand, Hanigan, Dempsey and Hardwick all are. In the case of the latter bunch, a gold jersey or two will also motivate them far more than an extra test to Higgers will.
On Timani, he's missed most of the Super season through injury or suspension. Cheika made the comment that when he entered the camp he wasn't match-fit, yet he believes that he is now. This weekend will be a good opportunity for him to build that match fitness and really stake a claim for his position in the Gold backrow (as I believe he did last season).
Finally, on Horne, this is a bit trickier. From the franchises the options were:
1. Kuridrani - experienced campaigner at age 26 years old with 73 Brumbies caps and 30+ Wallabies caps.
2. Horne - experienced campaigner at 27 years old with 101 Waratahs caps and 30+ Wallabies caps. Wallabies vice captain last season.
3. Kerevi - injured, but frontrunner for selection due to form.
4. English - spent most of his professional career on the wing, untried at Wallaby level and with defensive problems.
5. Rona - first year in Rugby Union.
From that very shallow analysis, Horne and Kuridrani seem to be the only two options. Kuridrani, whilst having a good start to the season, tapered off in form towards the latter end of Super and, as I noted in my initial reactions to last weekends game, I thought he had an
ugly evening against Scotland. In comparison, Hornes had a pretty steady season in a pretty poor Waratahs team.
Based upon that I can semi-understand his dropping, and Horne provides a bit of leadership in the backline. Perhaps Cheika also wants to get a bit of game time under Hornes belt, given the discrepancy in the time the two have played over the last 18 months due to injury etc.
Either way, I'm pretty happy with the team. Stoked to see Smith on the bench - he can provide some real go-forward with his ballrunning. Our two front rows are pretty promising.
Likewise keen to see Arnold get a starting berth, and I'd like to see Cooper, Hodge and Powell get some more game time this weekend.
With this and the Lions test, bring on the weekend!