Australia v Scotland, 3:00pm 17 June Sydney Football Stadium

[drewprint]

I like Hanigan and see him as a real prospect but I think he needs to put on another 5-10kgs to be international level. I only saw the first half but I thought he got folded a bit. Great experience for the kid however.

For this match I'd be going all guns blazing and have:
Sio
Polota-Nau
AAA
Coleman
Arnold
Timani
Hooper
Higgenbotham

 

[Braveheart81]

Unless Moore being on the bench was something of a rotation thing and all three hookers are going to get decent game time in this series, it's hard to see him coming into the starting team after his performance off the bench against Fiji.

I'd bring in Sio if he's fit but apart from that I'd leave everything else pretty similar.

Timani could get a run instead of Hanigan and maybe Korobeite gets a run somewhere but both Speight and DHP were solid.

 

[A mutterer]

i'd definitely keep khunt at 12, i liked a lot of what he did particularly that tackle in the 2nd half that put the fijian down. i can't remember fiji running down his channel again after that.

thought Hanigan did well on debut, kept busy, didnt mess up and was constantly willing to leg drive an extra metre. i think he will be better for the blooding but timani will probably come in for him.

thought moore was very soft, but will probably keep the pine spot given latu has a reputation for penalties and we will be looking to avoid gifting three points.

 

[Mr Doug]

If the 'right' team is picked, I see Australia winning by 13 plus!

 

[Scrubber2050]

Mr Doug

The first part of your sentence won't happen, se the second part is doomed to failure.

 

[barbarian]

The lack of discussion/speculation/argument on here is a really good indicator as to how low interest is in these games from the general rugby public. Wins are vital to get people paying attention again.......

 

[KOB1987]

^^^^Most of the pre-game focus is usually centred on Hooper v Pocock v Hooper+Pocock, Mumm v Fardy and Foley v Cooper.

The first 2 are obsolete for this series and the last is so clear cut that even the Quade brigade aren't saying anything.

In fact, there is almost universal agreement on what the team should be.

 

[Froggy]

My only comment is 3pm Saturday arvo at Moore Park, as good as it gets!! Me and a whole bunch of mates from all over the bush are coming down, lunch at a pub in Paddo then walk down, back to Paddo after the game, now THAT'S what test rugby is all about!!

 

[KOB1987]

Looking at the Ticketek seat map there don't appear to be a lot of seats left at the ends or on the eastern stand. The western side is blocked out so it depends how many Tahs/Wallabies members are going or gave away their tickets to people who are. The stadium members upstairs bit is usually pretty light on for rugby matches.

 

[dru]

The lack of discussion/speculation/argument on here is a really good indicator as to how low interest is in these games from the general rugby public. Wins are vital to get people paying attention again...

I get to be convinced that the Coach team is taking Scotland seriously. We'll see with the team announcements.

Backs are close to settled. Don't agree that the forwards are though, even with limited choice.

 

[Braveheart81]

Is Cheika taking Scotland more or less seriously if he puts Moore back into the starting team?

Is he not taking Scotland seriously if Hanigan stays in the side instead of recalling Timani? Timani's form has hardly been great.

I definitely think Scott Sio comes in as soon as healthy but I don't see a lot of other shuffling required in the forward pack.

 

[KOB1987]

I think he's taking this game 100% seriously. I think the primary objective of the Fiji selections were to finalise a few starting and bench positions, particularly in the forwards.

 

[dru]

Is Cheika taking Scotland more or less seriously if he puts Moore back into the starting team?

Is he not taking Scotland seriously if Hanigan stays in the side instead of recalling Timani? Timani's form has hardly been great.

I definitely think Scott Sio comes in as soon as healthy but I don't see a lot of other shuffling required in the forward pack.

Hmm. For me we did not put out our best 6 front rowers last weekend. I think it's too early for Robertson and I agree with Sio. If fit. Moore is a conundrum. Experience and leadership is important, unlike others I think he has this, but no he's not imo one of our two best hookers on form.

Neither Hanigan nor Hardwich, for me, add to a balanced back row. Usual issue of what to do once Hooper is chosen (not complaining, just thinking what then). I'd probably look to Fardy at 6, or yes Higgers to 6. Timani on bench.

But its missing my point. I'm not Cheika. I'm a fan. Commenting on an opinion forum that I dont think 1-3; 16-18; and 6-8; from last week - is being serious enough this week agin the Scots.

I'm quite comfortable that you dont agree.

 

[Joe Blow]

We will see some changes in this line up without question.
It will be interesting to see where Stephen Moore stands after the weekend and how Cheiks sees his strongest front and back rows.

 

[Braveheart81]

 

[upthereds#!]

great 10-12-13 combo

 

[Highlander35]

Surprised a little at no Visser in the 23, and Tonks in the line up at all, but Toonie clearly wants most players to get a run, and will probably be rotating the rest through in Fiji.

Very good lineout though. Centers too (although I'd have swapped em around).

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[barbarian]

Went back and watched the highlights of the Scotland game on the EOYT. Easy to forget we dominated the scrums completely, so it will be interesting to see the set piece battle this time and if we can make the same inroads.

The Scotland team does look a step down from what we faced last year, especially in the back three. They will still be a huge challenge though.
.

 

[dru]

The Scotland team does look a step down from what we faced last year, especially in the back three. They will still be a huge challenge though.
.

I thought the player sheet might show that we are stepped-down too - at least front and back row. But no. Not the case.

The front row (6 players)is the same barring Sio's injury - and start v benched were swapped for Fiji.

The back row misses Pocock of course, and I'd find room for Timani and drop Hanigan, but if anything the current back row is better balanced than the "double 7". Still think we could use a fetcher though.

For the record, comparinf EOYT Scots game to last week:

1: 2016 Sio. 2017 Robertson
2: 2016 Moore 2017 Polatu Nau
3: 2016 Kepu. 2017 7A
16: 2016 Latu. 2017 Moore
17: 2016 Robertson 2017 Smith
18: 2016 7A 2017 Kepu

So other than injury, pretty much the same swapping bench for starters

6: 2016 Pocock. 2017 Hanigan
7: Hooper
8: 2016 Timani. 2017 Higgers
21/22 2016 Mumm. 2017 Hardwick

So reassessing my thought that we weren't playing our A team in these two rows - Cheika showing some consistency, injuries/not available the big issue, along with one experiment - starting the bench front row against Fiji.

Think our back line is better. Foley, who has a habit of breaking Scot hearts, was on song last week.

Wallabies by 10.

 

[A mutterer]

most important question is still to be asked -

will chieka be bringing back the barking dog motivational poster?