With the International season looming upon us, Australia head coach Michael Cheika has seemingly already decided on his Wallaby captain.
There is more than enough leadership ability in the players that are under consideration for the Australian squad. Michael Hooper, Stephen Moore, David Pocock, Will Genia, James Horwill and even veteran George Smith have all lead the team on previous occasions.
Cheika made it clear at the launch of the new Australian World Cup jersey that the two contenders for the captain role are Hooper and Moore.
“We will pick a captain who will go the distance… [there is] no point chopping and changing,” Cheika told the Canberra Times.
Cheika said he would name the captain before the Wallabies take on South Africa in the opening match of the Rugby Championship in Brisbane on July 18.
“I have an idea… it is pretty clear. Hooper was the last captain and Stephen Moore was the captain before.
“Obviously I am going to pick one and then we are going to have a leadership team around those guys.”
Cheika is in no rush to minimize his squad to the 31-strong World Cup outfit and will take the time during the Rugby Championship to eventually settle on that number, but will include a 45-man squad to prepare for the opening Test match against the Springboks.
“I don’t think there is a need to block out 31 right now. It’s not necessary at this stage. We have a fair while yet,” Cheika said.
“I look at a 45 involved in this train-on [squad]. We will cut that down before we get the [first Test against South Africa] to maybe 35 and then we will go from there.”
While many eyes are on the World Cup, Cheika, who took over the Wallabies coaching job from Ewen McKenzie on the eve of last year’s Spring tour to Europe, has not brushed aside the importance of the Rugby Championship and the Bledisloe Cup.
“Every time we are playing for the Bledisloe we want to play for the trophy. There is no doubt about that,” Cheika said.
“That is something we want to grow and enjoy – that battle.
“Part of preparing for a tournament is being in that competitive state against the best teams in the world
“That is where we are going to be playing South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand.”
Cheika said he would trial various combinations in the Rugby Championship with a view to what will work best in the World Cup, but that the style of game the Wallabies would play would remain consistent to the ball running game he began his tenure with.
“We will play our way and try to get really get the maximum out of playing in our style,” Cheika said.
“We are so young in getting together and leaning a new way of playing which we have just brought in on the tour.
“We are going to need that time just sticking to that to build the combinations and understanding in the game we are going to play so we can be ready for the World Cup.”
