Wallabies v Lions Game 2 MCG 26 July

[JRugby2]

Thrilled to have both of Eddie Jones World Cup captains back in the run-on team

There are question marks but certainly a better team than game 1. Biggest Wallabies test in forever, they simply can’t let next week be a dead rubber

We have 5/6 in the 23....

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Sione not dropped, tight hamstring. Real shame he can’t play in front of his real home crowd for once either. Ringrose injured too.

IM FEELING OPTIMISTIC.

He shouldn’t even be playing for the lions.
Lol
Interesting changes with bundee in and own a surprise

 

[Braveheart81]

Bomb squad.

Maybe it is trite. Maybe I’m guilty of hyperbole and tepid witticisms. So sue me.

I do, however, think that Tizzano, Bell, Gleeson, Williams and Tate have it in them to figuratively ‘blow’ the game wide open from the bench. We saw a bit of that last week when our run option suddenly started to work.

I support this view. As far as Wallaby bench selections are concerned, this is both a really strong bench and also one with a distinctive aggressive/attacking feel to it.

Clearly a lot of it has come about because we have been able to bring back players to the starting XV but the shape of the bench now has the look of one that could collectively provide some impact.

Skelton and Valetini are short of a run and Bell is the better of the LHPs. All three of those could be essentially scheduled replacements at half time or very close to. If I was Schmidt my game plan would be that those three plus Gordon and Porecki are all going to be off at the 50 minute mark. The guys coming on know it's their job to lift the pace.

It's not the Springboks Bomb Squad because of course it wouldn't be.

 

[Slim 293]

We have 5/6 in the 23....

Yeah, there's actually four of Eddie's captains in the starting lineup, and a fifth on the bench...

 

[wamberal99]

With the right attitude we can win.

 

[Dan54]

Sione dropped is a bit of a shock, as is Owen Farrell > Marcus Smith, though certainly a steadier hand. 5:3 for them against our 6:2.

Has to be Farrell with Sione out, as you need someone to play in centres I think, and Farrell can cover 10/12, not sure who else covers 12. Reasonably conservative I guess. Kinghorn covering 15/wing?

 

[KOB1987]

I think it's clear now that Schmidt decided to stick with the game plan as best as he could in game 1 despite lacking key personnel for it to be effective, rather than change the game plan to suit who was available. I think that is a smart move, he wasn't necessarily conceding the first test by doing this, rather building a foundation for which we can realistically challenge in the deciders. Probably the most significant move is that to a 6:2 bench, he knows we need to win it in the forwards to win it overall.

Wallabies by 6.

 

[The Red Baron]

So based on that, you'd assume that one of Skelton, Williams or Frost would be on the bench? If it's a 6-2 split, then the bench forwards would likely be:

Pollard
Bell
Robertson
Skelton / Frost / Williams
Gleeson
Tizzano

If the backline is unchanged, then the last two would have to be McDermott and Donaldson.

Nailed it.

 

[emuarse]

Good looking team, i hope we've been training all week with balls covered in soap. Handling could kill us on the weekend

Handling thee 'soap dodgers' you mean?

 

[todd4]

I would have had Hooper in place of Tizzano on the bench. He was very good last week.

Don't disagree, but worst case scenario if we had a couple of backs go down injured and things were desperate Tizzano would be more agile fitting into the backline than Hooper.

 

[Derpus]

Don't disagree, but worst case scenario if we had a couple of backs go down injured and things were desperate Tizzano would be more agile fitting into the backline than Hooper.

Thanks, I had repressed that memory.

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Which of the 2 wallabies forwards are playing the full 80? Front row all subbed, Williams for Skelton, leaves Frost as 1, then Tizzano and Gleeson on for Bobby V (assume they wont go him the full 80 after his injury concerns) and.... ? Do the wallabies go Captain Haz for the full 80 and then just the one traditional 7 over the ball alongside Gleeson or sub the skipper and run 2 7s?

 

[rugbyAU]

Why was Pietsch not given a run in the FNP game if they were always going with an unchanged backline

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Why was Pietsch not given a run in the FNP game if they were always going with an unchanged backline

Very fair question, same applies to Paisami.

 

[Joe Blow]

Which of the 2 wallabies forwards are playing the full 80? Front row all subbed, Williams for Skelton, leaves Frost as 1, then Tizzano and Gleeson on for Bobby V (assume they wont go him the full 80 after his injury concerns) and.... ? Do the wallabies go Captain Haz for the full 80 and then just the one traditional 7 over the ball alongside Gleeson or sub the skipper and run 2 7s?

Valetini could go into the row or Wilson for that matter if we just want pace at the back end.

 

[noscrumnolife]

Simplistic way to look at things but I would say the Wallabies on paper have gotten a fair bit better, and the Lions may have gone marginally backwards.

Porter can be close to woeful at scrum time, and I hope AAA is licking his lips at that match up. Ryan has been doing his best Nick Frost impression this tour, and at this stage of their careers you'd much rather have Sione instead of Aki in my opinion. Also think at home Tuipolotu would have been set for a blinder. With the slightly wetter MCG track, colder night than Brisbane, I'd also prefer the 6-2 over the 5-3.

Carn the Wobs.

 

[Derpus]

Simplistic way to look at things but I would say the Wallabies on paper have gotten a fair bit better, and the Lions may have gone marginally backwards.

Porter can be close to woeful at scrum time, and I hope AAA is licking his lips at that match up. Ryan has been doing his best Nick Frost impression this tour, and at this stage of their careers you'd much rather have Sione instead of Aki in my opinion. Also think at home Tuipolotu would have been set for a blinder. With the slightly wetter MCG track, colder night than Brisbane, I'd also prefer the 6-2 over the 5-3.

Carn the Wobs.

AAA with Skelton up his arse should do some damage at scrum.

 

[Backintheolddays]

Getting excited, good team. Hope they give it a crack and we’re not talking about the ref on Sunday.
Do I sound petty if I want us to win at least in part to see the response from the NH media?

 

[Linerunner2023]

Much better side
Skelton and Valetini big in’s for size and contact
Also glad to see a 6-2 bench with Gleeson also there on the bench

tbh not sure porecki gives any more
Also why we don’t at least play ikatau as 13 and Sua'ali'i 12 so at least one is in their best position

also wouldn’t have minded hooper over Williams provides more grunt

feeling a genuine chance here! The forward pack will certainly match if not beat the lions up

 

[Ignoto]

6-2 splits just make me instantly dread having Fraser stuck in the centre after we have Tom get a HIA and then JAS going down injured.