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

[PhilClinton]

One of these days poms will learn to count to 23. Not this year though

Seriously - in a world where social media and digital marketing is a full-time job, who the fark is signing off on that lineup formatting. England should start at 0-14 as punishment.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Panda has it that Sua'ali'i will be on the bench this weekend, but as a reserve centre, not winger.

Makes sense to me.

 

[PhilClinton]

Based on some socials photos, Kerevi looks to be running around with the team I would generally consider the starters.

Agree with a lot of what has already been said, assuming our forwards are able to recycle clean ball, we need to be getting fast pill to Kerevi and I reckon he'll be back to basics just getting us over the gain line consistently with crash ball. I am confident enough in the form of Ikitau and to a lesser extent the back three that they'll be able to make significant attacking raids if they get more space.

 

[KOB1987]

If the mail is correct you would assume JAS will go on for Kerevi, but which of him or Ikitau will be 12?

 

[Wilson]

Why Skelton and Kerevi will start

If we simply pick our RC side, we will get eaten alive by England. So what's to lose by playing some who might/will enhance some aspects of our performances. I expect both of Skelton and Kerevi to come into the starting lineup.

Kerevi is almost certain to start here, there are no other 12s in the squad right now and he's had some good time to prep with them. Skelton I'm not so sure about, while I think he'll probably be starting by the end of the tour I have a feeling they might try and ease him in given he's joined the squad later and will have a lot more to get up to speed with around lineout/set piece. I'd be looking for good minutes off the bench though, with him used in a bomb squad style. Could work particularly well to bolster our size/carry in the second half if we're starting Bell and Tupou.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Seriously - in a world where social media and digital marketing is a full-time job, who the fark is signing off on that lineup formatting. England should start at 0-14 as punishment.

They've been formatting it that way for 100+ years, they aren't going to let small things like consecutive numbers upset them now

 

[wamberal99]

We are going to make some really tough trade-offs. England has wonderful line-out strength. Skelton will start, I am sure. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at 6 for me.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Kerevi is almost certain to start here, there are no other 12s in the squad right now and he's had some good time to prep with them. Skelton I'm not so sure about, while I think he'll probably be starting by the end of the tour I have a feeling they might try and ease him in given he's joined the squad later and will have a lot more to get up to speed with around lineout/set piece. I'd be looking for good minutes off the bench though, with him used in a bomb squad style. Could work particularly well to bolster our size/carry in the second half if we're starting Bell and Tupou.

Skelton won't be playing against Ireland (probably) as it's outside the window. So if you don't start him now, he only gets a couple of games.

Of course we may want to have our starting locks ready for Ireland, so bomb squad isn't the worst idea

 

[Strewthcobber]

We are going to make some really tough trade-offs. England has wonderful line-out strength. Skelton will start, I am sure. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at 6 for me.

I still have nightmares about All Blacks wingers skinning LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) in defence the last time he played 6 for the Wobs

 

[Dctarget]

I still have nightmares about All Blacks wingers skinning LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) in defence the last time he played 6 for the Wobs

Did you see Genge get badly exploited for two tries last weekend? Sometimes it ain't the player's fault and more the system

 

[Wilson]

Skelton won't be playing against Ireland (probably) as it's outside the window. So if you don't start him now, he only gets a couple of games.

Of course we may want to have our starting locks ready for Ireland, so bomb squad isn't the worst idea

To be honest I'm not sure he gets a hell of a lot more time starting vs a bench bomb squad role and I think you want to set him (and the team) up to succeed as much as possible while he's there. This game off the bench to start vs Wales and Scotland (the must win games of the tour) feels like the right path to me.

We are going to make some really tough trade-offs. England has wonderful line-out strength. Skelton will start, I am sure. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at 6 for me.

I'd go Williams at 6 before Salakaia-Loto there. That said, Harry Wilson has done a hell of a lot more work in the lineout for the Wallabies this year than I think anyone expected.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Did you see Genge get badly exploited for two tries last weekend? Sometimes it ain't the player's fault and more the system

36-0 against NZ in 2019 (?). It was indeed a problem with the system. The problem being LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) was nowhere near quick enough to defend where he was being asked to defend

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) ain't a 6. You could have him be a lumbering 8 at most.

He may have been able to cover it a few years ago but he's different physical body now and the lateral movement isn't there but his ability to shift guys in the middle has developed.

I don't think we really have issues covering the backrow with guys like Uru and Gleeson waiting in the wings and Williams more versatile IMO anyway.

 

[Yoda]

Kerevi is almost certain to start here, there are no other 12s in the squad right now and he's had some good time to prep with them. Skelton I'm not so sure about, while I think he'll probably be starting by the end of the tour I have a feeling they might try and ease him in given he's joined the squad later and will have a lot more to get up to speed with around lineout/set piece. I'd be looking for good minutes off the bench though, with him used in a bomb squad style. Could work particularly well to bolster our size/carry in the second half if we're starting Bell and Tupou.

I would say Skelton is more likely to start as he has been playing. He also isn’t available for the Irish Test. Get him in there to boost our pack. Kerevi on the other hand hasn’t been playing. Is he fit enough? Sua'ali'i is definitely fit enough. Will Joe start the million dollar man straight up is the question and where? Ikitau could play 12 possibly and Sua'ali'i start at 13? My guess though is he will be starting on the wing. We have to use him and he could be a game breaker straight up.

Team Joe most likely will pick:

1. Bell
2. BPA
3. Tupou
4. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. McReight
8. Wilson
9. Gordon
10. Lolesio
11. Sua'ali'i
12. Kerevi
13. Ikitau
14. Kellaway
15. Wright
16. Faessler
17. Kailea
18. Alaatoa
19. Frost
20. Williams
21. McDermott
22. Donaldson
23. Pietsch.

I’d have Donaldson starting and Lolesio on the bench. Backs have looked their most attacking with him at 10, despite his inconsistency. We have to score tries. He is 20 starts less at 10 than Noah and will improve with more opportunities.

If Kerevi not fit, Ikitau to 12, Sua'ali'i to 13… zero chance of that obviously….. then Pietsch to wing and Jorgo on the bench.

I may be optimistic but I think we can definitely win, as England will be under pressure after losing that game last week. We are the massive underdogs obviously.

 

[fatprop]

It is a bit early, I thought Kellaway would have been centre cover with Sua'ali'i covering wing, at best, for this test

 

[stillmissit]

Kerevi is almost certain to start here, there are no other 12s in the squad right now and he's had some good time to prep with them. Skelton I'm not so sure about, while I think he'll probably be starting by the end of the tour I have a feeling they might try and ease him in given he's joined the squad later and will have a lot more to get up to speed with around lineout/set piece. I'd be looking for good minutes off the bench though, with him used in a bomb squad style. Could work particularly well to bolster our size/carry in the second half if we're starting Bell and Tupou.

I don't think so, Skelton is too important against a solid pommie pack. Tomorrow with any luck will show who's right here.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

We'll see, but I think everyone knows what Kellaway is and can offer and while I like him he isn't a world beater. Clock is ticking on getting JS as much footy as possible before the Lions.

I'd like to see him get a start on the Wing and get him as involved as possible while keeping it simple. He's still getting to know the guys and coaches and game plan.

 

[stillmissit]

We'll see, but I think everyone knows what Kellaway is and can offer and while I like him he isn't a world beater. Clock is ticking on getting JS as much footy as possible before the Lions.

I'd like to see him get a start on the Wing and get him as involved as possible while keeping it simple. He's still getting to know the guys and coaches and game plan.

I don't buy the idea that he has forgotten all about union. The guy is young and talented, he will go fine and get better. I understand gettting to know the moves, etc., will take time to become autonomic.

 

[Homer]

Sua'ali'i may get a start as the poms kicked 30 times last week with many being contestable. JAS is significantly taller than any other winger we have have and an aerial specialist.
However, having him come on at OC with 30 to go and a tiring pom forward pack would be great.

Having Skelton start would help to take pressure off the scrum, ensuring the poms dont get dominance up front, boosting their confidence. As the kiwis commentators said last week, the poms like to move from set piece to set piece, resting in between and try to strangle you through set piece dominance. Defensively he will also be better than WIlliams in preventing gainline advantage. The poms had the kiwis on the backfoot regularly.
The biggest concern is Lolesio handling the rush defence and actually kicking into space.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I'm not implying he's forgotten but he's gone into a completely new environment and his first exposure to the work could be a Test at Twiks. We haven't even been able to get him into a Club game.

It would be the sensible thing to try and accommodate the transition wouldn't it? Seems a normal thing for most people even though athletic pursuits are different I think it's still relevant.