Coach Tim Sheens of Australia asserts that he has ‘covered every scenario’ with his team selection for Saturday’s Rugby League World Cup opener versus England.
With a robust squad available, Sheens had a lot to deliberate. He has opted for Brent Tate over Michael Jennings to step in for the injured Justin Hodges, while Robbie Farah will begin the match on the bench, being preferred to Daly Cherry-Evans.
Sheens aims for the Wests Tigers captain to exploit fatigue among the English players in the later phases of the game at the Millennium Stadium.
“I like the thought of Farah’s dummy-half running against the English forwards, particularly when they get tired,” he commented to NRL.com.
The 62-year-old also noted that with Farah’s entrance, captain Cameron Smith would transition to the lock position. The player made an impression on fans placing rugby league bets during the Kangaroos’ victory over New Zealand 18-10 last October in Townsville.
Additionally, Farah offers half-back backup for Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston, while Luke Lewis has the versatility to play in various positions. He played on the wing when Billy Slater suffered a collarbone injury at Wembley in 2011. Andrew Fifita is set to potentially make his debut for Australia off the bench.
Sheens expressed satisfaction with the overall balance of his team for the opening match in Cardiff.
“You must cover every base. We weren’t expecting to lose Billy for the whole tournament two years back, so it’s essential to cover those possibilities, and I believe we have managed to cover every scenario in this match,” he remarked.
Australia is considered a strong favorite on numerous rugby league tips websites to start their tournament with a victory. The primary challenge they face seems to be a lack of match rhythm.
Australia team: Billy Slater, Brett Morris, Brent Tate, Greg Inglis, Darius Boyd, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matthew Scott, Cameron Smith (capt), James Tamou, Greg Bird, Sam Thaiday, Paul Gallen.
Interchange: (from) Robbie Farah, Andrew Fifita, Luke Lewis, Corey Parker, Jarryd Hayne, Nate Myles.