England v Australia, Sunday 19 November 2:00am AEDT

[Lindommer]

Australia have been around the world a coupla times the last eight weeks while the Poms have had their feet up in Blighty. The Wallabies win over Wales looked slightly more competent than the Poms over Argentina but, it was the Soap Dodgers first hitout since, what, the 6 Nations? Anyways, Cheika and the brains trust have a bit of fine-tuning to do with this team, especially in the back row and centres. My team:

1. Sio
2. TPN
3. Kepu
4. Simmons (last chance to pull your finger out, Rob, and I don't mean on the penalty score sheet!)
5. Coleman
6. McMahon
7. Hooper
8. McCalman
9. Genia
10. Foley
11. Koroibete
12. Hunt
13. Kuridrani
14. Hodge
15. Beale
16. Moore
17. Ala'alatoa
18. Robertson
19. Philip
20. Hanigan
21. Phipps
22. Kerevi
23. Meakes

The scrums are one area we absolutely must get right during training this week. And, if we give away penalties like we did against Wales we'll get slaughtered. Something else to fix up on the training paddock.

 

[Slim 293]

I don't think we need two centres on the bench, and Meakes was lousy against the Baa Baas.

 

[Lindommer]

Who else is there?

 

[KOB1987]

Who else is there?

Speight. Rona.

 

[RugbyReg]

I believe the expectations is that Lukhan Tui will be fit for this game and may find himself on the bench. Perhaps a 6-2 split

 

[Up the Guts]

I believe the expectations is that Lukhan Tui will be fit for this game and may find himself on the bench. Perhaps a 6-2 split

This is great news. We could really use him whacking blokes in the last 20 especially on the cleanout where we'll need to be accurate to stop the likes of Itoje.

 

[Viking]

Probs put Beale back at 12 and Hunt at 15, Hunt better under the high ball and Beale/Foley worked well in the Rugby Championship. Either way not a big deal though.

I just pray McCalman is in for Hanigan.

 

[Joe Blow]

I thought Hanigan was OK again. He was busy but still struggled in the physicality stakes. Against England maybe starting with McCalman is a better go but our lineout could suffer.
Either way is fine.
Having Tui available is a big bonus and I reckon we will see a 6-2 bench.

 

[barbarian]

Hanigan is the lightning rod, because god knows Wallaby fans always need one. But he doesn't do a lot wrong, he's just a bit ineffectual with ball in hand.

His defence is accurate and quite physical. His work in the lineout is good, and our work at that set piece has been one of the low-key successes of the season. He rarely makes errors, or gives away silly penalties.

As a stop-gap, future prospect kind of selection it's not the worst. I'd like McCalman to start ahead of him, but with England so strong at the lineout I could understand why he might get the nod again.
..

 

[Derpus]

Hanigan is the lightning rod, because god knows Wallaby fans always need one. But he doesn't do a lot wrong, he's just a bit ineffectual with ball in hand.

His defence is accurate and quite physical. His work in the lineout is good, and our work at that set piece has been one of the low-key successes of the season. He rarely makes errors, or gives away silly penalties.

As a stop-gap, future prospect kind of selection it's not the worst. I'd like McCalman to start ahead of him, but with England so strong at the lineout I could understand why he might get the nod again.
..

His ball in hand is average but i don't that's what draws such ire. It's his clean-out work. Which is shockers.

 

[wamberal]

Hanigan did a helluva lot better than I expected him to against the Leekeaters.


But I hope he is not in the 23 against the Soap Dodgers, he would get blown away.

 

[cyclopath]

His ball in hand is average but i don't that's what draws such ire. It's his clean-out work. Which is shockers.

It is. But overall, our cleaning out was effective in retaining our own ball. It can always be better. It probably will need to be against England. As Baa Baa said, it's probably about the balance of things. If they feel McCalman will do set piece / lineout / defence at the same or better level then he probably should play.

 

[Braveheart81]

His ball in hand is average but i don't that's what draws such ire. It's his clean-out work. Which is shockers.

He had a couple of shockers in that regard in the Rugby Championship but I think his game against Wales was pretty solid in that regard. His defence in particular was strong against Wales. I tend to think he'll start again against England. I expect Hunt will come into the starting side for Kerevi and Tui will come onto the bench either instead of Philip or as a 6th forward reserve. Otherwise I think we'll go with the same side.

 

[dru]

Hanigan gives it 110% and does not let up. At International level though more muscle would be good over the bustle.

I remain to be convinced, but tbh if he is our weakest point we have a good chance at Twickenham.

Let’s not front Eddie with an underdone line out.

 

[Braveheart81]

We really need to sharpen up our scrum and discipline to be competitive against England.

England weren't great against Argentina (although I suspect they will make a couple of key changes).

It will be interesting to see whether Farrell comes in at 10 or 12. Slade's distribution at 12 struggled a bit but he also did some good things.

 

[Viking]

Hanigan is the lightning rod, because god knows Wallaby fans always need one. But he doesn't do a lot wrong, he's just a bit ineffectual with ball in hand.

His defence is accurate and quite physical. His work in the lineout is good, and our work at that set piece has been one of the low-key successes of the season. He rarely makes errors, or gives away silly penalties.

As a stop-gap, future prospect kind of selection it's not the worst. I'd like McCalman to start ahead of him, but with England so strong at the lineout I could understand why he might get the nod again.
..

You summed it up. He does the right things just lacks impact. A lot of impact. Struggles to given get metres against backs. I think he'd be better with a full-preseason under his belt in the gym.

 

[Braveheart81]

His running game is certainly the least important aspect of what he is being selected to do.

Certainly if that was the primary need from him (or even an important aspect of why he was selected) then McCalman (or someone else) would be starting in his place.

 

[Derpus]

His running game is certainly the least important aspect of what he is being selected to do.

Certainly if that was the primary need from him (or even an important aspect of why he was selected) then McCalman (or someone else) would be starting in his place.

I agree with this, although it was Dempsey's running game that made him stand out so much and leapfrog Hanigan.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Our scrum will be targeted.

Thought Sio was a bit lucky last week not to get pinged a few more times. Other than that he had a good game.

We better play our best against the Dodgers.

Tough venue, tough opposition, the Eddie factor as well (AND no Folau)

Scary scenario

 

[Braveheart81]

I agree with this, although it was Dempsey's running game that made him stand out so much and leapfrog Hanigan.

Absolutely. Dempsey would be there if he was healthy.