There are a few certainties – Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Stephen Moore amoung them – but most of the spots are up for grabs.
Matt Giteau has gone from Test match castaway to useful utility in the space of five weeks, while big question marks still remain over halfback selections and midfield combinations.
There are less contentious decisions to be made up front – in part because of injury.
The ideal balance of the 31-man squad is 13 or 14 backs and 17 or 18 forwards.
There’s no room for players on a learning curve. Now is not the time to be testing out newbies or preparing them for the future.
That being said, here’s our breakdown for the Wallabies’ RWC squad.
Outside backs (4) –
Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell, Henry Speight.
Folau and AAC are certainties, while Mitchell has made a late charge with some impressive Rugby Championship performance. He also has a wealth of experience. Ashley-Cooper and Horne can cover almost any position on a rugby field, while Speight is one of the most dynamic runners in Australian rugby. Rob Horne would miss out on our squad, but Cheika will probably take him.
Inside backs (4) –
Matt Giteau, Kurtley Beale, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua.
Kuridrani is the front-runner for the 13 jersey, while Beale and Giteau are both able to cover three or four positions in the backline. The real decisions here will be who plays where, with Toomua a chance to line up at flyhalf. Joe Tomane might consider himself unlucky but James O'Connor was never going to get a look in.
Playmakers (2) –
Bernard Foley, Quade Cooper
Settle. Cooper is going. He copped the brunt of criticism for the Bledisloe Cup loss, but will be indispensable throughout a long tournament.
Halfbacks (3) –
Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Nic White
Three easy choices, although every Aussie fan will be praying on the fitness of Genia as the standout Test halfback of the trio.
Props (5) –
Sekope Kepu, James Slipper, Scott Sio, Greg Holmes, Tetera Faulkner
Kepu and Slipper are obvious choices while Scott Sio has emerged as one of the best scrummaging props in the world. It was a long time between drinks for Holmes after debuting in 2005, but his resilience and experience should see him go.
Hookers (3) –
Tatafu Polota-Nau, Stephen Moore, James Hanson
Moore is one of the first names jotted down, while Polota-Nau is never far away. Hanson has the runs on the board and has earned a Wallabies RWC call-up.
Locks (5) –
Will Skelton, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm
Pretty easy to select these five blokes. For all his detractors, Simmons was sorely missed at the lineout against the All Blacks last weekend and must play the big games. Former captain Horwill still looks to be struggling but ought to play and Skelton has shown more than enough promise
Back-rowers (5) –
David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, Wycliff Palu, Scott Higginbotham.
The first three need no explanation. Palu was rusty against the ABs and Higginbotham is out of favour but they have big match experience to get the job done. Ben McCalman is an unlucky absentee.