Dave Rennie is a smart operator, but he’s no miracle worker.
Contrary to what’s been said over the past few weeks, although there may have been much chopping and changing to the Wallabies team throughout the year, you can bet your bottom dollar that Dave Rennie has a very clear idea in his head who would make the line-up in a World Cup knockout match if it were being played next weekend.
There’s a narrative going around that Rennie needs to settle on a first-choice side now but that’s not the approach the Kiwi adopted when he led the Chiefs to back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. Every week, five or six players would shuffle in and out of the run-on XV, bar a few men who simply couldn’t be left out. Come the finals series, however, Rennie picked a team and stuck with it – and it paid massive dividends.
Undoubtedly, Rennie is taking a similar approach to his stint in charge of the Wallabies. A clear selection pattern has emerged in some positions and the vast majority of punters could select the bulk of the starting side that Rennie would opt for if Saturday’s match against Wales were a World Cup final.
James Slipper, Dave Porecki and Allan Alaalatoa have missed just a handful of matches between them and are the clear-cut first-choice front row.
In the loose forwards, Michael Hooper is nailed on at No 7 and Rob Valetini has started all but two Tests this season at the back of the scrum (he was rested against Italy and shifted to the blindside flank in the second Bledisloe Cup clash).
Nic White has been a constant at halfback, a fit Samu Kerevi is world-class and Len Ikitau has made the No 13 jersey his own since debuting last year.
Throw in Tom Wright and Marika Koroibete, and you have a consistent spine of players who Rennie has called upon week after week.
There are a number of strong back-ups across the board too, with Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, Folau Fainga’a, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon and Hunter Paisami regularly featuring in the 23 or stepping into starting roles when injuries have forced Rennie’s hand.
Said injuries have complicated things in a few positions, of course – as well as the unavailability of some players throughout the season.