There were no surprises when the Wallabies team for the first Test was announced – the Australian newspaper's rugby correspondent and the social media having revealed its contents fully 48 hours in advance.
But it came with a realisation that the side is packed with playmakers and gamebreakers, and no little skill. Featuring three debutants in the Brumbies pair of Ben Mowen and Christian Leali'ifano, alongside the ridiculously gifted rugby league turned Aussie Rules turned rugby union talent that is the Waratahs outside back Israel Folau, it is very much an unknown quantity.
"We've made the most of the time we've had," said Robbie Deans, "and I can assure you that they'll hit the ground running. They know what's coming. We've obviously tapped into the past, we've prepared as best as we can and we can't do any more without playing to be frank.
“There’d be a limited return from anything we could do now other than playing, and we’re looking forward to it.”
The presence of Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander either side of Stephen Moore should ensure they have a good scrum, while Mowen will call the line-outs.
James O'Connor fulfils a childhood dream by not only facing up the to the Lions but wears the number 10 jersey of his formative years. He has wonderful footwork and a jack-in-the-box array of skills, if nothing like the game management skills of Jonny Sexton, but it helps that he has Will Genia inside him and Leali'ifano outside him, not to mention Berrick Barnes to step in as first receiver or, when he is sprung from the bench, Kurtley Beale.
That Folau is still learning the game is most evident in his flawed defence, and he might possibly have had even more of an X factor from fullback, but he is undoubtedly a weapon. “It’s certainly up there with what I’ve achieved in the past in both rugby league and AFL,” he said matter-of-factly when presented to a huge media throng yesterday.
“This is a very exciting time for me and it’s a great achievement and I’m looking forward to getting out there on Saturday night. It’s going to be a pretty challenging game for me personally. We’ve got to be switched on and ready to play because they are going to be a tough outfit to contain so we’ve got to be on our game.”
“This time last year I was playing AFL but things change a lot in a short time. I haven’t regretted anything and it’s been a great journey for me so far.”
Australia: B Barnes (NSW Waratahs); I Folau (NSW Waratahs), A Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs), C Leali'ifano (Brumbies), D Ioane (Queensland Reds); J O'Connor (Melbourne Rebels), W Genia (Queensland Reds); B Robinson (NSW Waratahs), S Moore (Brumbies), B Alexander (Brumbies); K Douglas (NSW Waratahs), J Horwill (Queensland Reds, capt); B Mowen (Brumbies), M Hooper (NSW Waratahs), W Palu (NSW Waratahs).
Replacements: S Fainga'a (Queensland Reds), J Slipper (Queensland Reds), S Kepu (NSW Waratahs), R Simmons (Queensland Reds), L Gill (Queensland Reds), N Phipps (Melbourne Rebels), P McCabe (Brumbies), K Beale (Melbourne Rebels).
