Pool Matches - Week 3: Australia v Italy preview
It is the selection debate dominating headlines and on Sunday, Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga may finally have a definitive answer to it.
In opting to rest Cameron Munster from Australia's final round pool match against Italy, Meninga has given both Nathan Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans one last chance to impress.
It will be challenging to judge who the halfback is on this game alone given the fact one is likely to take the backseat to the other but nonetheless, this is Cleary's chance in particular to make one final statement.
Cleary already did that against Scotland, scoring 28 points in his international debut as Australia showed its ruthless side in a 84-0 win.
Despite external calls to give Cleary the job in the long term, Meninga has always seemed to be leaning towards Cherry-Evans given his familiarity with the other members of the first-choice spine.
But the eye test backs up that Cleary is the more in-form halfback at the moment and he can make that even clearer on Sunday, even if he takes on fewer responsibilities.
Winger Josh Addo-Carr, who put on a show on the wing with four tries against Scotland, has also been rested and is replaced by Murray Taulagi.
Other changes see Harry Grant also rested, with his spot in the side taken by Reuben Cotter while Latrell Mitchell and Jeremiah Nanai return as Angus Crichton and Jake Trbojevic drop out.
As it stands, Australia looks set to play Eels halfback Mitchell Moses and Lebanon in the quarterfinals.
Italy was thoroughly outclassed in its last game, falling 60-4 to a Fiji side brimming with NRL talent.
The Azzurri won't be going back home empty-handed though, having stunned a highly-fancied Scotland team 28-4 in their World Cup opener.
It is hard to see Italy keeping it close against the defending champions though, who have made light work of both Fiji and most recently Scotland in their first two games of the tournament.
Last meeting: It's been a while. These two teams have met twice before in January 1960 as the Kangaroos toured Europe.
The Aussies won both matches, first a 37-15 victory in Padua with Keith Barnes wearing the captains armband and a halves pairing of Johnny Raper & Johnny Muir; then in Treviso they ran riot, recording a 67-22 win with legendary tryscorer Ken Irvine bagging six in what would be the 37th and final match of a four-month tour. The two nations have not faced each other since then.
Who to watch: The halfback debate may be tiring but it is absolutely an important one to have and takes on particular relevance this Sunday in a likely shootout of sorts for the top job. While everyone is singing the praises of Cleary, Daly Cherry-Evans is about to line up for his 17th Test match for Australia and has over a decade of experience playing in the green and gold. That in itself is a key advantage working in Cherry-Evans' favour ahead of the finals, where it will be even more crucial to make the right decisions under pressure. Cherry-Evans understands the subtle differences between the NRL, domestic and international football and gets another chance on Sunday to prove why he is not just going to hand over the keys to Cleary. Of course, both will play with the team in mind first but the better Cherry-Evans performs, the better the Kangaroos look as a whole.
He scored a hat-trick in the opener against Scotland and Jake Maizen did well to get on the scoreboard once again in an otherwise disappointing showing against Fiji. The 25-year-old care worker played six games in the Queensland Cup this season, signed by the Sunshine Coast Falcons from the Central Queensland Capras. Italy is not going to challenge Australia for the win on Sunday but if they are to provide a highlight or two look for the speedy Maizen to feature heavily.
The favourite: You won't be making any profit off this game, with Australia sitting at $1.00 with the bookies and Italy at $101.00.
My tip: Like last week, this is all about attitude for Australia. The Kangaroos disposed of Scotland with ease and should do the same to Italy. Australia by 70.
