Australia, runners-up at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, face England in a three-test home international series in June. With players such as Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Drew Mitchell out of consideration, there should be some fresh faces in Michael Cheika’s Wallaby squad and matchday 23.
Here, Bleacher Report analyses the three players most likely to move from the fringes of the Australian team in 2015 to a leading role in 2016, starting with the Test series against England.
Sean McMahon, the six-cap Melbourne Rebel who caught the eye at the Junior World Cup in 2014, has a great opportunity to earn a Wallaby call after some fine form in Super Rugby.
Despite the Australian back row's excellence at the 2015 World Cup, Cheika has implied he would consider selecting McMahon, as per Fox Sports' Iain Payten: “He has been outstanding. When I watch him play, I always find myself with a smile on my face…it is enjoyable to watch his style of play.”
To include McMahon will mean a tough decision for Cheika. David Pocock remains the first forward on his teamsheet, while Michael Hooper and Scott Fardy were both key players for the Wallabies at the World Cup.
Indeed, Spiro Zavos, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald argued there has to be a place for Fardy in the Australian pack, even if he needs to be relocated to lock.
In McMahon’s favour is that he can operate either on the openside or the blind side. As for where McMahon could feature, Cheika added:
I don’t know about three sevens rotating. I’d think more about three sevens playing together. Why not?
I understand the lineout and that but I probably wouldn’t have thought about two sevens once upon a time but their form forced me to do that.
Form can force something and then it is about making sure that works, and making sure the combination works. But Seanny is a bit of a hybrid. He can play in both roles (six and seven).
The Wallaby coach is clearly a fan, so expect McMahon to either start for Australia or make a big impression from the bench.
Rebels scrum-half Nic Stirzaker was appointed captain of his Super Rugby team earlier this year, and injury permitting, a Wallaby call-up should follow against England in June.
As per the Sydney Morning Herald's Roy Ward, Rebels coach Tony McGahan noted last month: “We are still a little unclear on his return”.
Born in London to South African parents, Stirzaker has lived the majority of his life down under and has committed to Australia. According to McGahan, via Planet Rugby: “Nic has a maturity beyond his years, with the ability to stay calm in high-pressure situations, adapt to constantly changing scenarios and lead from the front."
Stirzaker may lack the effortless grace of previous Australian No. 9s such as George Gregan or Will Genia at his best, but the rangy halfback is a swift passer, pacey runner and quick thinker.
Nick Phipps, however, is probably still ahead of Stirzaker in Cheika’s thinking given his international experience at a key decision-making position. But Stirzaker has a good chance of making the Wallaby matchday 23 for the Test matches against England and is ready to make a big impact as a substitute.
New Zealand-born winger Joe Tomane only featured in one match at the 2015 Rugby World Cup—the pool game against Uruguay, when Cheika gave run-outs to many of his reserve players.
But his Super Rugby form means the 17-cap flyer has a very good chance of an Australia call-up.
And despite many rumours that Tomane was going to quit Australia and move to the south of France with Montpellier at the end of the 2016 season, Tomane insists the notion is merely speculation.
As per Emma Greenwood of the Gold Coast Bulletin, the winger maintains: “I haven’t really had any time to think about what I’m going to do after this year.”
Australia will hope that he is focusing on England in June.
