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No-one can be seriously ready to trade off Izzy. That's crazy talk! Beale is not even close. Maybe give Folau a rest or sub him every now and then but he is our best option at fullback. Hopefully Speight gets a run this week with Izzy and Kuridrani on the pitch. That should be interesting.

3. Fainga'a 2. McCalman 1. Simmons

The criticism is a bit harsh. I watched the replay earlier today and it was a pretty good game of rugby. Hats off to the French. Their line speed and commitment were top notch. Unfortunately we caught them on one of those days when they are in the mood. Some of their new players made a real...

There's always next week

If I had to guess I would say that To'omua is under an injury cloud. Must be.

Easy there Tiger. I am all for Jones getting a run as well but I am not contracted by the ARU to train and select the side. I am sure Cheika has his reasons why Jones has not been sighted in Wallaby gold on this tour. Gives me the shits as well that Beale is going because where Jones is...

Why is Jake Shatz going over? If anything they need a big barreling 6 or a TH prop. We also have about a thousand 10s and 12s there already so makes no sense to waste the cash on KBs flight.

Could be more of a rest for Carter and a chance well earned by Kev. The English will demand a bit more size. Hopefully Higgers back in the frame for the Irish. Jones has earned his next shot. I guess he will just have to be patient. Cheika should be applauded for no knee jerk reaction and...

Would have been nice to see Luke Jones in the mix somewhere

Most of our backs are at least proficient at the breakdown. TK, To'omua, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Folau, Foley, Phipps, Lealifano, Horne and Speight are very good and the others are obviously working on it. I'd guess that it has been a focal point at the Brumbies and Tahs this last year or so and is now something...

It's easy to say that we don't need a 3rd back or a second backrower or whatever on the bench but the reality is that the bench needs to be balanced in case of injury and to be able to finish off games the way the coach wants to. Having 2 locks on the bench is very unconventional and I am sure...

Yes. Agree it's all about balance. Hooper is not the traditional Anzac 7 and he plays more like the normal British 7 with the added bonus of his speed and running game. The Welsh, English and Scottish flankers are often interchangeable throughout the back row. I don't know if Palu is the right...

Right you are. Most often might be better.

He might be fresher but invariably the reserve will not match up in technique/strength to the starter. England seem to be able to trot them out when needed but most test sides drop off their scrum performance when the reserves come on. Cowan handled himself well throughout the RC at the back end...

That's true but it probably has a lot to do with the forwards as a whole having improved. Throw Moore or TPN in between Slipper and Kepu and our scrum issues will cease to exist.

It is almost impossible to have bench props that come on and do as good a job as your starters. Ditto for second rowers, otherwise they would be starting. Alexander did a very good job on the weekend. His work rate was high and he scrummaged OK. He has a ton of experience. Very few sides have...

and his defense. Pulled off a couple of big try savers

It could have been lack of concentration. Either way he was disconnected from the front row and the other second rower shortly after the scrum engaged.

It's easy not to as we all expect him to play at that level week in and out, much like Folau.

Also, both Stephen Moore and TPN will improve our scrum immeasurably. Other test sides generally take a step down as well when their bench front rowers enter the fray. We are not that far off and I think that Skelton was fatigued during that scrum marathon and he just couldn't maintain his form...