Jones should leave World Cup door open for Foley

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The first piece of silverware of the season — the Rugby Championship — is probably already gone for the Wallabies.

The size of their loss to the Springboks last week means they are unlikely to repeat the 2015 success they enjoyed under Michael Cheika.

The Rugby World Cup is the bigger picture and Eddie Jones’ selections for the Test against Los Pumas and Australia A’s game against Tonga on Friday show that he is deep into the process of working out his 33-man squad for France.

Those chosen for the Wallabies’ initial 34-man Rugby Championship cohort have a head start, but this is definitely not a closed shop and there are a number of players who can advance their RWC claims this weekend — including Bernard Foley.

It was never quite clear why Foley missed out on the Rugby Championship squad — did Rugby Australia baulk at picking six overseas players? — but the fact that he is captaining Australia A from No.10 is a statement.

That decision, combined with the deployment of Carter Gordon in a utility role against Argentina and the selection of James O’Connor at No.12 against Tonga, points to Foley being very much alive in World Cup deliberations.

Bernard Foley will captain Australia A against Tonga on Friday.Credit: Getty

If Gordon is seen as a genuine utility option — and going by the Wallabies’ 6-2 split this weekend, he is covering No.10, No.12 and No.15 a la South Africa’s Damian Willemse — the Wallabies could have a spot for a second, experienced No.10 in France.

This column has previously advocated for Gordon to be developed as No.10-12 option — not necessarily to start games but to provide a tactical change-up option off the bench.

That second playmaker at No.12 is something that Jones likes — and that is why O’Connor’s selection there against Tonga should pique so much interest.

It’s a role he played superbly at times for the Reds outside Tom Lynagh, although even O’Connor would probably admit his season was dogged by inconsistency.

Bernard Foley scoring for Kubota in Japan in May. His experience may yet see him contest a third World Cup. Credit: Getty

However, he’s also an option for that No.10/utility role in France: he has certainly been given a carrot against Tonga, after Reece Hodge struggled in Pretoria.

But Foley can be the big winner this weekend. Does Jones want to go to France with Quade Cooper and Gordon, with nothing in between in terms of experience and leadership? He could have easily handed the captain’s armband to Jake Gordon or Brad Wilkin in Tonga, but Foley is a player he clearly respects.

Even if five overseas picks is a hard and fast RA rule, Foley could still make it. It’s clear that this weekend is a big one for Richie Arnold, because with Matt Philip on the bench against Argentina, and Nick Frost omitted completely, the Wallabies are not short of options in the second row.

Meanwhile, Cadeyrn Neville and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto are starting against Tonga. Of the five overseas picks currently in the squad, Arnold looks like the most vulnerable.

Jordan Uelese (left) knows anything less than a dominant performance against Argentina will have him looking over his shoulder.Credit: AP

Wallabies fans should get used to the fluidity in Jones’ thinking. For example, Philip is the third player Jones has already selected from the ‘rehab’ list outside the original 34-man Rugby Championship squad.

With Andrew Kellaway, Langi Gleeson and Jordan Petaia also realistic options from the ‘rehab’ group, Jones’ 34-man squad could effectively turn out to be a 40-man squad.

He is searching for answers, and while he characterised the Wallabies’ year as a “marathon” after the Springboks loss, realistically it’s more like an 800-metre race with every misstep putting him at a disadvantage.

Accordingly, Jones will be ruthless and it would be no surprise if some of the Wallabies who played in Pretoria play very few minutes for the rest of the year.

If certain Wallabies aren’t feeling uncomfortable before the Argentina Test they should be, with someone like Jordan Uelese surely knowing he doesn’t have many chances left to nail his core role.

How this lack of certainty affects performance is anyone’s guess: it really can go either way, with players stepping up or being crushed by the pressure.

Predicting the result of the Argentina Tests is therefore a mug’s game. You are on much safer ground by simply stating that Jones will be very interested in how the men in gold go against Israel Folau and co in Tonga.

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