Australia v England: Match III, SCG, Sat 16th July 7.55pm AEST

[KOB1987]

No time like the present.

So we are potentially looking at something like this:

1. Bell
2. Porecki
3. Tupou
4. Philip
5. Frost
6. Leota
7. Hooper
8. Valetini
9. White
10. Lolesio
11. Koroibete
12. Kerevi
13. Ikitau
14. Wright
15. Hodge

16. Fainga'a
17. Slipper
18. Alaalaatoa
19. Holloway/LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
20. Samu
21. Gordon
22. O'Connor (break glass in case of emergency)
23. Paisami/Vunivalu

They will target the back 3 again, both aerially and physically

 

[Dctarget]

Think it’s been confirmed Jed is still out.

 

[drewprint]

No time like the present.

So we are potentially looking at something like this:

1. Bell
2. Porecki
3. Tupou
4. Philip
5. Frost
6. Leota
7. Hooper
8. Valetini
9. White
10. Lolesio
11. Koroibete
12. Kerevi
13. Ikitau
14. Wright
15. Hodge

16. Fainga'a
17. Slipper
18. Alaalaatoa
19. Holloway/LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
20. Samu
21. Gordon
22. O'Connor (break glass in case of emergency)
23. Paisami/Vunivalu

They will target the back 3 again, both aerially and physically

Drop Samu for Ryan Smith, and Gordon for Jock Campbell. Gotta plan for these seemingly inevitable multiple lock and fullback injuries…

Joking of course. Geez I hope LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) can slot in. Could really use his physicality. This team still has it in them to knock the Poms off

 

[Pfitzy]

England by 15

 

[Slim 293]

Drafting LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) straight onto the bench would be ideal based on who is left in the squad... otherwise another option would be moving Leota to the bench to cover lock/backrow, and start with Wilson...

 

[Rugby Head]

Not sure how he is going with his shoulder injury. I would really like to see Swinton back in the fold. Our pack was absolutely bullied on Saturday.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Not sure how he is going with his shoulder injury. I would really like to see Swinton back in the fold. Our pack was absolutely bullied on Saturday.

Don't think he would have love tapped Johnny Hill like Swain did.

Rae Rae

 

[Brumby Runner]

Drafting LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) straight onto the bench would be ideal based on who is left in the squad... otherwise another option would be moving Leota to the bench to cover lock/backrow, and start with Wilson...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I didn't think LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) was even in the squad. If not, no way he comes into a test match under-prepared.

Front row needs to be beefed up in the first half. Back row could be stronger, physically too.

I'd go with :

Slipper,
Fainga'a,
Ala'alatoa,
Philip,
Holloway/Frost,
Leota,
Samu,
Valetini,
White,
Lolesio,
Koroebete,
Kerevi (pass the ball mate),
Ikitau,
Wright,
Hodge,

Porecki,
Bell,
Tupou,
Frost/Hanigan,
Wilson,
McDermott (for something different late in the game),
Paisami,
Vunivalu.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Wallabies need a team that will hit the ground running. We saw how Genge came out flying and the entire English intensity took 25 mins for the wallabies to turn it back to even. (game can and was almost gone)

I'd keep Bell and Tupou starting.

I like starting Samu as his leg speed is fantastic and could be huge with Valetini who has been going great in my opinion. McDermott has that game winning X factor we need in a decider. I'd have Frost in the 2nd Row for his height in Line outs. Phillip was awesome on the Defensive lineouts but if it was Phillip and Holloway we lack that true target.

Rae Rae

 

[Slim 293]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I didn't think LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) was even in the squad. If not, no way he comes into a test match under-prepared.

Front row needs to be beefed up in the first half. Back row could be stronger, physically too.

I'd go with :

Slipper,
Fainga'a,
Ala'alatoa,
Philip,
Holloway/Frost,
Leota,
Samu,
Valetini,
White,
Lolesio,
Koroebete,
Kerevi (pass the ball mate),
Ikitau,
Wright,
Hodge,

Porecki,
Bell,
Tupou,
Frost/Hanigan,
Wilson,
McDermott (for something different late in the game),
Paisami,
Vunivalu.

Holloway and Hanigan are both unavailable through injury…

But I wouldn’t want Hanigan covering lock in a test match against England.

I also don’t think benching the in form Bell and Porecki and replacing them with smaller players is going to beef up our front row.

 

[eastman]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I didn't think LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) was even in the squad. If not, no way he comes into a test match under-prepared.

Front row needs to be beefed up in the first half. Back row could be stronger, physically too.

I'd go with :

Slipper,
Fainga'a,
Ala'alatoa,
Philip,
Holloway/Frost,
Leota,
Samu,
Valetini,
White,
Lolesio,
Koroebete,
Kerevi (pass the ball mate),
Ikitau,
Wright,
Hodge,

Porecki,
Bell,
Tupou,
Frost/Hanigan,
Wilson,
McDermott (for something different late in the game),
Paisami,
Vunivalu.

I generally agree with most of your views on rugby BR but the call to completely drop Hooper just seems unnecessarily contrarian.

You know he’s not going to be dropped and I think you know he doesn’t deserve to either. He’s not the biggest guy on the field but how many international teams have openside flankers who are big dominant ball runners? It’s hardly in the job description.

The lack of go forward was because our tight five generally lost the collision and our second row especially ineffective with the hall.

Also I like TT but it would be good to see him occasionally run onto the ball with a little speed.

 

[Tah Man]

Drafting LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) straight onto the bench would be ideal based on who is left in the squad... otherwise another option would be moving Leota to the bench to cover lock/backrow, and start with Wilson...

I think Leota as the back up second rower off the pine might be the play. He's probably just a little too short to start in the 2 row, but injecting him for Frost with 30 mins to play could work.

Having said that you'd think Itoje is no chance this week after the head knock and with Ewels already ruled out it could be a depleted English second row

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I think Leota as the back up second rower off the pine might be the play. He's probably just a little too short to start in the 2 row, but injecting him for Frost with 30 mins to play could work.

Having said that you'd think Itoje is no chance this week after the head knock and with Ewels already ruled out it could be a depleted English second row

If they had to Lawes can slot into the 2nd Row as they have lot of Backrow talent in the squad even with Curry gone.

Rae Rae

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Apparently Underhill is in doubt

 

[drewprint]

And LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) confirmed to be joining the squad.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Apparently Underhill is in doubt

That's potentially huge. I rate him highly.

Rae Rae

 

[Dctarget]

And LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) confirmed to be joining the squad.

Crazy for Mark N (Nawaqanitawase)

 

[Dctarget]

Is Itoje also meant to be out? Didn’t he go off injured?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Is Itoje also meant to be out? Didn’t he go off injured?

Yes with a Concussion. Will be a tight turnaround to make it.

Rae Rae

 

[qwerty51]

Crazy for Mark N (Nawaqanitawase)

Pietsch has been playing much better than Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) who was even on the bench for Aus A. This is weird.