Everyone is wondering what team the Wallaby coach’s will trot out after the disaster that was Bledisloe one. In rugby forums and on blogs punters have been spewing forth team after team of their own particular favourites and the next big things.
I, of course, know much more than all of them put together and have a team I’d like to see run out as well. Usually I accept that I haven’t been in camp for weeks and seen the games that the players have played and leave it to the experts with all the inside knowledge. So what would I like to see? Lets start from the big guys.
1. I’d start James slipper in front of Scott Sio. I think the world has figured out if you go in a little softly on the hit in the scrum Sio over extends and ends up in a bad position. It’s a pretty easy thing to fix but no one has done it since it became apparent against the English.
2. I’d bring Scott Fardy back at blindside flanker. I’ve seen Ben McCalman play test rugby before and last week was exactly what I remember. Great effort but no effect. Fardy is a genuine lineout target and McCalman just isn’t. My only instruction to Fardy would be work your guts out and keep your mouth shut.
3. I’d dismantle the Pooper. Yes it worked. Now it doesn’t One of them has to go. It’s a hard choice but I’d move Hooper to the bench and bring in… well I don’t know who to bring in… I want a lineout target with a little grunt at the ruck. I want a? I can’t tell you the name of the player I want because everyone I think of has a short coming. I’m going to say Lopeti Timani but he’s not the guy I want. Frankly I’d Rather Leroy Houston but he’s not in the squad. Or that Waratahs guy that Cheika doesn’t like but is injured.
4. Foley gone! Quade Cooper starting. No explanation needed
5. Samu Kerevi at 12 to fill the injuries spot. No Foley so no need for a second five. Although Kerevi is a descent distributor.
6. Dane Haylett-Petty. I’d give him a stern talking to about wing defence and staying on your man but I wouldn’t dump him.
But what about the predictions I hear you say?
The Predictions
Here they are:
1. Very shortly an article will appear saying ‘we’ve reviewed the game and identified some problems that we’re working on at training.’
2. Cheika will make a statement along the lines of keeping faith with the players.
3. Someone will say ‘We won’t be making wholesale changes’
4. A team will be announced that is almost identical to last weeks.
The Team
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Predicted Team
1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Kane Douglas
5. Dean Mumm
6. Scott Fardy
7. Michael Hooper
8. David Pocock
9. Will Genia
10. Bernard foley
11. Adam Ashley-Cooper
12. Samu Kerevi
13 Tevita Kuridrani
14. Dane Haylett-Petty
15. Israel Folau
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Sully’s Team
1. James Slipper
2. Stephen Moore
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Kane Douglas
5. Rob Simmons
6. Scott Fardy
7. David Pocock
8. Lopetti Timani
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Adam Ashley-Cooper
12. Samu Kerevi
13 Tevita Kuridrani
14. Dane Haylett-Petty
15. Israel Folau
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Yeah I know. It’s not radically different. But it improves the scrum, improves the lineout, more in tight grunt and there is no need for a second playmaker. Tell us the team you would pick in the comments below.
