Australia vs British and Irish Lions - 1st Test (Brisbane)

[Grandmaster Flash]

When are the Wallabies named?

 

[Scoey]

I think I read somewhere that our team will be named on Thurs Grandmaster Flash

 

[Cassius88]

I might be the biggest McCabe supporter in the world, but if Deans insists on playing O'Connor at 10 then he definitely needs to pick Lilo at 12. JOC (James O'Connor) just doesn't have the passing game to not play a ball-playing 12.

 

[Zander]

I think the only things the named team on Thursday is going to reveal are McCabe or Lealiifano at 12, Ioane fit or not and Barnes or Beale at fullback.

The rest is pretty much known.

 

[Tex]

I think the only things the named team on Thursday is going to reveal are McCabe or Lealiifano at 12, Ioane fit or not and Barnes or Beale at fullback.

The rest is pretty much known.

What's the consensus about 8? Is Palu fit, and if not who's front-runner to step in?

 

[Zander]

Ben McCalman would be the 8.

 

[biggsy]

Scott Allen gets it, Ewin showed us, cheika got it and I'm sure White is all over it.
The 9 and 10 combo will be the key of getting quick ball from the forwards and spreading it wide quickly. We have the 9, but who ever plays 10 need to have there passing game on if this were a options in these test matches

BUT being a test match and deans job on the line. I can't see any risk tacking, the forwards will truck it all game and get belted. And the backs will kick the ball away and at safe rugby. Deans won't substitute until late in the game and our forwards will be bugger and lazy around the ruck and halfpenny will kick penalties all day long.

I hope I'm wrong,

Good read Scott Allan.

 

[JSRF10]

SOB coming off after 50 minutes today, coupled with another anonymous Lydiate display, that said SOB didn't hit his earlier standards but was one of the better of a poor bunch, seals his test bench spot I think. Dingo will be delighted the form back row of the tour won't be starting

 

[Zander]

Tipuric and Faletau were pretty anonymous today. Croft was good against the Waratahs. He got a well needed breakdown penalty and used his wide pace to score. Went well in the mauls and hit a couple rucks.

 

[Richo]

Ben McCalman would be the 8.

God no. Mowen at 8. He's very good there for the Brumbies.

 

[Brumbieman]

After tonight, i'd be rushing Kimlin into the 6 jersey and playing Mowen at 8. Lineout will certainly benefit, as will our counter-rucking, and we still get to bring Madness off the bench for 25mins of carnage.

 

[Scotty]

Not likely, he just had 4 odd days away from the team and the test is in 4 days time!

 

[gold heart]

Looks like the backs have been chosen, yesterday at Ballymore they were running

9 Genia
10 JOC (James O'Connor)
11 Digby
12 Lilo
13 ACC
14 Izzy
15 Barnes

Beale was not training with the main group but would probably be on the bench.

Good balanced attacking back line, only worry is JOC (James O'Connor) but we have known this for a long time....go the wallabies!

 

[fatprop]

If Palu isn't ready then I would guess Mowen to 8 and either MMM or Dennis to 6, as they didn't play last night . With MMM more likely as we will need more go forward and physical confrontation

But the argument continues as to underdone units

 

[fatprop]

Tipuric and Faletau were pretty anonymous today. Croft was good against the Waratahs. He got a well needed breakdown penalty and used his wide pace to score. Went well in the mauls and hit a couple rucks.

I thought Faletau was alright, he does the job in every game in getting over the gain line consistently and works his arse off

 

[BDA]

9 Genia
10 JOC (James O'Connor)
11 Digby
12 Lilo
13 ACC
14 Izzy
15 Barnes

There is aspects of this backline that I like. Two strong ball-running wingers who we'll want to make use of should see us spread it wide on occasions. A steady hand at 15 is fine with me.

JOC (James O'Connor) seems like a weird, unnecessary gamble at 10, but I'm crossing my fingers that he rises to the occasion. I do like the fact that our 10/12 is JOC (James O'Connor)/Lilo. I think it was always a given that if we were going to play O'Connor at 10 we needed another playmaker outside him. Both guys can play 10 and 12. Hopefully Lilo has been encouraged to join in directing the team around.

I'm sort of expecting JOC (James O'Connor) to be moved to the wing in the second half, with Beale or Barnes taking over at 10. I think that would be the better way to go.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Looks like the backs have been chosen, yesterday at Ballymore they were running

9 Genia
10 JOC (James O'Connor)
11 Digby
12 Lilo
13 ACC
14 Izzy
15 Barnes

Beale was not training with the main group but would probably be on the bench.

Good balanced attacking back line, only worry is JOC (James O'Connor) but we have known this for a long time..go the wallabies!

I'd be happy enough with that. They'll be good in defence, have at least one passer in the midfield, plenty of gas out wide and be secure under the high ball. JOC (James O'Connor) worries me at 10, but he's a super talent and they could always swap around during the game.

 

[Zander]

God no. Mowen at 8. He's very good there for the Brumbies.

Mowen would be the 6. McCalman would the 8.

 

[BDA]

Out of interest, I watched Rod Kafer name his side last night on the Sky telecast

1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4. Horwill
5. Simo
6. Mowen
7. Hooper
8. Palu
9. Genia
10. Beale
11. Cummins (Ioane if fit)
12. Lilo
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. JOC (James O'Connor)
15. Folau

The backline is probably better than Robbie's backline, but probably doesn't suit Robbie's conservative game plan.

Kafer thinks Kepu should be chosen as he is the strongest TH. I do think he is the strongest TH but I'm not so sure that Alexander wont be able to handle Vunipola and Alexander offers so much more in attack and defense. What more I think the Lions will probably try to push their advantage in the scrums in the second half. With MMM potentially moving to lock in the second half I think Kepu's strong scrummaging will be needed more late in the game. Plus I think he is more suited to playing 20-30 minutes. He gets very lazy after 30 minutes.

 

[BDA]

Mowen would be the 6. McCalman would the 8.

If Palu is injured I'd like to see Kimlin come into the 23, perhaps on the bench.