The big news out of the UK overnight is that neither David Pocock nor Israel Folau have passed their fitness tests for the Wallabies team selection. Instead, Ben McCalman will step in at 8 after a brilliant cameo against Wales last week, while the impressive (reborn?) Kurtley Beale heads back to 15, a jersey he last started in for the Wallabies in 2012. Dean Mumm and Rob Simmons trade places, with the lineout general heading back into the starting XV.
Sean McMahon, still finding his way in producing a complete performance in the 15s game, comes in to cover the backrow on the bench. In something of a surprise, Quade Cooper appears to have gotten the nod over Joe Tomane and Henry Speight out wide, though the official list of reserves – in true Cheika style – is yet to be trimmed down.
The Wallabies will look to spread their fetching across each of McCalman, Scott Fardy, and Michael Hooper, while hoping that Kurtley can manage what is likely to be a steady barrage of high balls.
That isn’t to say the replacements won’t bring their own pluses. McCalman brings a recognised bell-cow ball runner, to complement a game heavily dependent upon Michael Hooper. He also adds a genuine fourth option at the lineout and will, presumably, take Hooper’s spot at the front, with the Waratah taking over Pocock’s role either at the back of the 7 man formation, or as the designated ripper of the 6 man maul set-up.
Meanwhile, Beale’s ability to both create space and run through it at pace gives the Wallabies another play-making option out wide. It is also possible he might be called upon for penalty kicks over about 45 metres instead of Matt Giteau.
Wallabies to face Scotland
1. Scott Sio (14 Tests)
2. Stephen Moore (c) (99 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (60 Tests)
4. Kane Douglas (20 Tests)
5. Rob Simmons (57 Tests)
6. Scott Fardy (27 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (vc) (48 Tests)
8. Ben McCalman (44 Tests)
9. Will Genia (63 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (24 Tests)
11. Drew Mitchell (67 Tests)
12. Matt Giteau (99 Tests)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (28 Tests)
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (vc) (111 Tests)
15. Kurtley Beale (57 Tests)
Finishers
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (58 Tests)
17. James Slipper (71 Tests)
18. Greg Holmes (21 Tests)
19. Dean Mumm (40 Tests)
20. Sean McMahon (6 Tests)
21. Nick Phipps (36 Tests)
22. Matt Toomua (29 Tests)
23. Quade Cooper (58 Tests)
Sunday, October 18, 4pm local time (2am Monday, October 19 AEDT)
LIVE on Fox Sports 502 from 1am AEDT and GEM from 1:45am AEDT Monday
