If selected, Melbourne Rebels backrower Lopeti Timani is in line to become the eighth Wallabies debutant this year as Cheika looks to rebuild the Australian team.
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A beleaguered Australia side will be desperate for a season-transforming victory over South Africa on Saturday similar to the one they snatched at the death in last year’s Rugby Championship clash against the Springboks. “Set piece will be crucial”, he told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday.
“Maybe a game off will give him the chance to freshen up and get himself fired up to come back”.
“There’s going to be some pressure there but you might have a guy like Sean McMahon saying something different about that, too, so that’s what we want – that competition for spots”.
“At the end of the day, that competition for places is the best driver for performance”.
Australia has now won just 69 percent of the ball from their own throws after two rounds of the Rugby Championship, compared with Argentina (91.67 percent), South Africa (91.3 percent) and the All Blacks, who haven’t lost a throw.
While Cheika said he possessed other good qualities, none was more important this week than his command of the lineout, with Springbok giants Lood de Jager and Eten Eztebeth looming large.
Reece Hodge will earn his first start for Australia after coming off the bench in the 29-9 loss to New Zealand two weeks ago.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has resisted the calls of a host of media pundits and former players to bring an end to the back row combination of David Pocock and Michael Hooper which produced such dividends previous year.
Mumm said lineout work had been a huge focus at training this week.
“It’s obviously an area where we can improve significantly”.
Australia: Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Samu Kerevi, Bernard Foley, Reece Hodge, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Dean Mumm, Adam Coleman, Kane Douglas, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (captain), Scott Sio.
Cheika named four uncapped players in his 33-man squad, with centre Kyle Godwin, prop Tom Robertson, back-rower Lopeti Timani and winger Sefa Naivalu joining returning Rio Games sevens star Henry Speight.
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