- Title: Australia gamble on teenager Petaia for England clash
- Date: 17th October 2019
- Summary: OITA, JAPAN, (OCTOBER 17, 2019) (REUTERS) WALLABIES SCRUM HALF NIC WHITE KICKING BALL WALLABIES CENTRE JAMES O'CONNER CATCHING BALL PLAYERS PASSING BALL AT TRAINING JORDAN PETAIA PASSING BALL WITH SAMU KEREVI (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN RUGBY TEAM COACH, MICHAEL CHEIKA, SAYING: "We didn't sit back and earmark this game for him to come and play at 13. We just watched the games and made the assessments of each player as they went along and there were things that we liked and what we seen from Jordan both on the field in games and also at training and felt that this would be a game that would suit him, in there. The guy's been in around the squad for a while now even though he's young, he's more than ready to do this. The way his demeanour is you wouldn't think he was picked, he was just loping around as per normal so it's going to be great. I trust him infinitely and that's why he's been chosen." CAPTAIN MICHAEL HOOPER WALKING WITH WILL GENIA AT TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN RUGBY TEAM COACH, MICHAEL CHEIKA, SAYING: "For me we're pretty lucky in those departments you know, good options, I think it's been so tight the battle. I wasn't in a losing position really, no matter who I picked, I felt." REECE HODGE CATCHING BALL BEHIND MICHAEL HOOPER (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN RUGBY TEAM COACH, MICHAEL CHEIKA, SAYING: "We've been really pleased with the way all of our forwards are performing and there's been a lot of consistency in that selection for what we think is our number one pack going into this game. I don't think we've had any doubts over that at all. We've been very certain about what our selections have been in the forwards and we've done that for a bit of a reason and they've delivered on that front. So the consistency in them will tell me that they'll deliver again on Saturday." KURTLEY BEALE CATCHING BALL OFF PITCH (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN RUGBY TEAM COACH, MICHAEL CHEIKA, SAYING: "What he brings, I think we all know the unpredictability of game that Beale can bring, and that's something I really like. He's primed. He's fresh at least because he went off pretty early. Mate, he's jumping out of his skin to go, you know. I was just watching the training now. I know it was as tough decision but they're the ones you're going to, all of them are when it comes to this stage. I'm a big believer in Beale, I know what he can bring to the game." WALLABIES CAPTAIN RUNNING INTO TACKLE BAG (SOUNDBITE) (French) AUSTRALIAN RUGBY TEAM COACH, MICHAEL CHEIKA, SAYING: "Of course I feel he's ready. We chose him so here he is. He's a young man who's very constant, he knows he's young but he's got the skills, it seems the pressure doesn't affect him at all, he's the same guy every day, and he's physically and tactically well prepared. He counts a lot on his physical power but he can also read the game very well whether it's in attack or in defence and this means that in a game like this where things are going to go fast with be powerful tackles, he's someone who can deal with that, he has the power, the speed but he also has an awareness of the gameplay." WALLABIES TEAM MEMBERS STANDING ON PITCH AFTER TRAINING
- Embargoed: 31st October 2019 11:21
- Keywords: rugby Australia Wallabies Michael Cheika Jordan Petaia World Cup quarter-final England.
- Location: OITA, JAPAN
- City: OITA, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Rugby Union,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001B1HGZEN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said he had no doubts at all about Jordan Petaia's ability to rise to the occasion after selecting the teenager to play his first test at outside centre in Saturday's (October 19) World Cup quarter-final against England.
The 19-year-old, who made his test debut in the pool match against Uruguay, replaces James O'Connor to join Samu Kerevi in a centre partnership which will face off against England's re-worked midfield of Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade.
Reece Hodge will play outside Petaia on the right wing after being recalled following his three-match ban for a high tackle in Australia's opener against Fiji, bringing with him long-range kicking skills that could be crucial in a tight match.
Inside Kerevi for Saturday's game at Oita Stadium will be flyhalf Christian Lealiifano and scrumhalf Will Genia after Cheika tinkered with his halfback partnership for the fifth time in five matches.
There was no tinkering in the back row, however, where the combination of opensides Michael Hooper and David Pocock on the side of the scrum will be complemented by the power of Isi Naisarani at number eight.
That combination can leave Australia short of lineout options but Cheika does have locks Adam Coleman and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto among the five forwards on the bench.
Kurtley Beale will start at fullback having completed the concussion protocols after suffering a head knock in Australia's final pool match against Georgia last Friday.
Cheika has also given youth a chance on the bench with 23-year-old Taniela Tupou favoured over the experienced Sekope Kepu as back-up tighthead.
Scrumhalf Nic White and versatile backs O'Connor and Matt Toomua offer plenty of backline options off the bench.
Team: 15-Kurtley Beale, 14-Reece Hodge, 13-Jordan Petaia, 12-Samu Kerevi, 11-Marika Koroibete, 10-Christian Lealiifano, 9-Will Genia, 8-Isi Naisarani, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 6-David Pocock, 5-Rory Arnold, 4-Izack Rodda, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Tolu Latu, 1-Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16-Jordan Uelese, 17-James Slipper, 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Adam Coleman, 20-Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 21-Nic White, 22-Matt Toomua, 23-James O'Connor.
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