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Petaia has opportunity to put down Wallabies marker
By Alex Shaw
When Jordan Petaia takes to the field against Uruguay in Oita on Saturday, he will become the youngest starter at the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the youngest Wallabies player at any Rugby World Cup.
Georgia's Vano Karkadze has the honour of being the youngest player at this tournament, although the 19-year-old has only appeared from the bench so far for the Lelos. The hooker is just over three months Petaia's junior.
Furthermore, the game against Uruguay will be Petaia's international debut, with injury having denied him the opportunity to make his Test bow earlier this season. Any international debut offers opportunity, though a strong performance from the Queensland Reds star this weekend could herald the beginning of a changing of the guard in the Australian back line.
The Wallabies have already lost one of their stalwarts in Israel Folau for his off-field conduct, whilst long-serving scrum-half Will Genia has announced he will retire from international rugby after the Rugby World Cup. The likes of Bernard Foley, Christian Lealiifano, Kurtley Beale and Dane Haylett-Petty are also in their 30's and the effervescent Adam Ashley-Cooper is set to turn 36 next season.
Australia and Michael Cheika are unlikely to discard players en masse, especially given the challenges the nation faces in retaining players and talent at its Super Rugby franchises, but there will undoubtedly be a youth movement following the conclusion of the tournament. Isaac Lucas, Noah Lolesio, Will Harrison and Semisi Tupou are among the young guns who will be hoping to force their way in over the coming years, although it's Petaia who has been given first crack at embedding himself into Cheika's thinking.
The Brisbane State High School product is even still eligible for Australia's U20 team next year, though a strong performance against Uruguay followed up by a good campaign with the Reds next year can help ensure that he is playing senior international rugby, rather than the age-grade in 2020. His versatility across the back three and as an outside centre is only going to help him in that goal.
As a ball-carrier, he already offers plenty of ability and though the game against Uruguay will not be the most challenging he'll face in his burgeoning international career, it will be an examination of how he copes defensively and aerially in what, initially at least, should be a tighter game and game plan than the one he is used to with the Reds and in age-grade rugby. It's a shame that injury denied him the opportunity to truly breakout in Super Rugby this season, although his potential - and skill already - is such that Cheika has had no hesitations in taking him to Japan.
Saturday should provide the first glimpse into the international career of a player that could become one of the foundation pieces of the Australian back line heading into the 2023 and 2027 Rugby World Cups. With a large turnover likely coming in playing personnel, there is no better time for Petaia to announce himself at the senior level.
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Latest Comments
We beat Wales. Oh wow.
Go to commentsAs has been the way all year, and for all England's play I can remember. I missed a lot of the better years under Eddie though.
Lets have a look at the LQB for the last few games... 41% under 3 sec compared to 56% last week, 47% in the game you felt England best in against NZ, and 56 against Ireland.
That was my impression as well. Dunno if that is a lack of good counterattack ball from the D, forward dominance (Post Contact Meters stats reversed yesterday compared to that fast Ireland game), or some Borthwick scheme, but I think that has been highlighted as Englands best point of difference this year with their attack, more particularly how they target using it in certain areas. So depending on how you look at it, not necessarily the individual players.
You seem to be falling into the same trap as NZs supporters when it comes to Damien McKenzie. That play you highlight Slade in wasn't one of those LQB situations from memory, that was all on the brilliance of Smith. Sure, Slade did his job in that situation, but Smith far exceeded his (though I understand it was a move Sleightholme was calling for). But yeah, it's not always going to be on a platter from your 10 and NZ have been missing that Slade line, in your example, more often than not too. When you go back to Furbank and Feyi-Waboso returns you'll have that threat again. Just need to generate that ball, wait for some of these next Gen forwards to come through etc, the props and injured 6 coming back to the bench. I don't think you can put Earl back to 7, unless he spends the next two years speeding up (which might be good for him because he's getting beat by speed like he's not used to not having his own speed to react anymore).
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