England v Wallabies, Twickenham, Sun 10th Nov 2:10AEDT / 1:10AEST

[Thalium]

I think moving Lenny in is so they can also use his left boot more to get JS into the air a bit too. Lenny likely to be happy as he will actually get the ball a bit more often. Definitely worried about Noah back pedaling under pressure.

I believe this team list would feel much better if they started Donaldson. I recon his play style is a bit better suited here, but then again im not the coach

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

My thoughts exactly. Donaldson would be a good fit at 10 for that backline.

 

[duckbill]

The RFU is going to sell out 82,000 tickets at a stadium they own at 100gbp+ a ticket.

I doubt they even spare a though for broadcast here

They would still sell out a 7pm game and then everyone is happy?

 

[Sully]

 

[stillmissit]

I tend to agree with this, but im worried his selection could have a bit of Vunivalu about it, because you know, they dont want to waste that money they're spending.

This could be a factor and understandable from several positionbs. What concerns me is how the pack will go. Love to be proven wrong but if Dru puts a couple of hundred on Aus win, I hope he wins big but pretty sure his money is gone.. I am very positive on all Wallaby games but this little aside has me wondering where we are going as it seems it ain't the South African version.

 

[KOB1987]

Stewart a ‘second grader’ ? Garbage.

Bad wording on my part - I meant 2nd grade by international standards, not club level. He's good player, like most of the players in the A team, but he is not international standard. He was tried out and found out. Maybe JAS will be also, but I can see the logic behind selecting him, at least in the absence of Paisami.

I'm happy for Joseph but I reckon he should be at 12 and not 13. It does answer the centre sizing question though. All season we've been saying that our midfield is too small, so now we have our solution. I'm hoping that they absolutely kill it out there.

I would agree going forward but I think the plan for this game is to have him at 13 in attack and 12 in defense - I know there is no rule around it but the numbering seems to be based on the attacking lineups historically. e.g. the Pooper and Cheika barnyard dance days. I actually like the idea of seeing Ikitau - and probably Wright - playing the role of second playmaker, particularly with his left boot offering a genuine point of difference. Having JAS defend at 12 makes perfect sense, I can't see the dodgers formulating an effective game plan that involves running at him there, and with Lenny at 13.

 

[stillmissit]

have him at 13 in attack and 12 in defense

We've done this with Foley and it didn't work out so great.

 

[KOB1987]

We've done this with Foley and it didn't work out so great.

That was a bit different, Bernard defended at 15 off scrums and in the 5m channel on lineouts, plus there were a multitude of other movements that had to be facilitated around that. Also the rationale, wasn't as clear as it seemed - the general view was that it was to hide him in defense, but I have heard that the lineout setup was to keep him from getting taken out in the first phase, and that the scrum setup was because his kick return boot was more accurate than the fullbacks at the time. This is literally the 2 centres switching around.

 

[stillmissit]

That was a bit different, Bernard defended at 15 off scrums and in the 5m channel on lineouts, plus there were a multitude of other movements that had to be facilitated around that. This is literally the 2 centres switching around.

Yeah, but there ain't a lot of time to switch centres the rush D cancels a lot of time. I am looking forward to seeing how it goes and if it all works well then I will acknowledge your support for it, as an old fwd I shouldn't have a dog in this fight but it strikes me as odd if the switching is a thing.

With Foley they wanted to hide him as his D was average. Same thing with Cooper in his early days. Q? when was the wings swapping thing with Koro running massive K's?

 

[KOB1987]

Yeah, but there ain't a lot of time to switch centres the rush D cancels a lot of time. I am looking forward to seeing how it goes and if it all works well then I will acknowledge your support for it, as an old fwd I shouldn't have a dog in this fight but it strikes me as odd if the switching is a thing.

With Foley they wanted to hide him as his D was average. Same thing with Cooper in his early days. Q? when was the wings swapping thing with Koro running massive K's?

Similarly, I'm sure there is a more complex structure to it than what was reported.

 

[Derpus]

We've done this with Foley and it didn't work out so great.

Foley defended the 13 channel?

 

[KentwellCup>ShuteShield]

What type of 13 do we think Joe Aukuso will play as? I'm thinking a mortlock type player.

 

[Joe Blow]

I will be interested to see how we counter the poms defensive speed

Yes, they were crazy fast and really cramped the ABs attack, particularly early. I’m not sure we have the attacking nous of BB and McKenzie to go over and/or around to counter.

 

[Joe Blow]

Kerevi even getting picked for the Wallabies off the back of very little rugby and mediocre form in the Japanese 2nd division is the problem here. He has no rights to have the shits about anything

He has his history and good genes. There is every chance he can get close to the player he was previously and if there is a chance of that, it is worth the risk. Which other 12 would you have in his place?

 

[TSR]

Foley defended the 13 channel?

Foley defended?

 

[stillmissit]

Foley defended?

I'm sure Derpus saw it once.

 

[Tomthumb]

He has his history and good genes. There is every chance he can get close to the player he was previously and if there is a chance of that, it is worth the risk. Which other 12 would you have in his place?

Any one that could actually stand out playing 2nd division Japanese rugby

 

[stillmissit]

Any one that could actually stand out playing 2nd division Japanese rugby

So we are totally stupid bringing him into the squad. Thanks for that TT pity you aren't running the show.

 

[Tomthumb]

So we are totally stupid bringing him into the squad. Thanks for that TT pity you aren't running the show.

When was the last time he played a good game of Rugby? 2021? Should we recall Tim Horan too?

 

[stillmissit]

When was the last time he played a good game of Rugby? 2021? Should we recall Tim Horan too?

Oh! good idea - now your thinking TT. Schmidt should have called you before he put him in the squad.