Robbie Deans’ backline dilemma hasn’t been made any easier by Quade Cooper’s knee injury with a tough choice pending between Berrick Barnes and Kurtley Beale as Wallabies five-eighth.
Both Barnes and Beale are certain to line up against South Africa on Sunday week (AEST) in Pretoria now Cooper is sidelined, but coach Deans is considering starting each away from their regular positions.
Building the intrigue, the playmaking selection is expected to reflect the style of play Australia aim to use to continue their recent dominance over the Springboks, winning seven of their past eight contests.
Renowned for his reliability, Barnes has better kicking skills more suited for a conservative field-position game while Beale is an explosive ball-running No.10.
Barnes has often lined up at five-eighth for either the Waratahs or Wallabies with Beale his go-to man at fullback.
However his solid performance in his first Test at fullback, particularly his safety under the high ball, in Saturday’s 23-19 win over Argentina could see Barnes stay at No.15.
Beale, dropped twice as starting fullback in the past month, has played his best rugby at five-eighth this year when he lined up as playmaker midway through the Super Rugby season for the Melbourne Rebels.
His combination with new Wallabies halfback and Rebels No.9 Nick Phipps is also another argument for the 23-year-old to start his first Test in the halves.
Former Wallabies centre Tim Horan believes Deans should move Barnes back to No.10 where he performed with distinction in the 3-0 series whitewash of Wales and played beside inside centre Pat McCabe.
The coach will be quizzed on his initial selection thoughts in Sydney on Thursday morning before boarding a flight for South Africa.
He named a 28-man touring squad on Wednesday for matches against the Springboks and Argentina (October 6) but 25 will fly out as lock Rob Simmons and backs Ben Tapuai and Mike Harris are allowed to play in Sunday’s Queensland club grand final.
None have been ruled out of the 22 to play the Springboks but playmaker Harris looms as the most likely to take a bench spot at Loftus Versfeld following news of Cooper’s need for more knee surgery.
Injured trio Stephen Moore, Sitaleki Timani and Dom Shipperley were all cleared to travel while NSW prop Paddy Ryan and Western Force winger Nick Cummins were the only uncapped players named in the squad.
Wallabies squad: Backs – Berrick Barnes, Dom Shipperley, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Nick Phipps, Brett Sheehan, Anthony Faingaa, Kurtley Beale, Mike Harris, Ben Tapuai, Nick Cummins.
Forwards – Radike Samo, Michael Hooper, Dave Dennis, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Kane Douglas, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Scott Higginbotham, Liam Gill, Sitaleki Timani, Rob Simmons, Paddy Ryan.