To avoid being accused of 20/20 hindsight, before this game I suggested that it was an even money bet because of the very small backrow and the poor selections on the bench. IMO those were the main reasons the game panned out as it did. And I would add that really the final score flattered the Wallabies as they played poorly for most of the game.
FWIW the improvements that I would suggest for next week include :
- strengthen the backrow by including Jones. McMahon moves to the bench in place of Hodgson;
- remove Skelton from the bench. If Sam Carter is still not available, move McCalman to lock when one of the starters has done his job and bring Schatz on from the bench;
- Nic White to the bench in place of Will Genia. White outplayed Will in the Baa Baas game in what was supposed to be a shootout between them for the bench spot, and Will has done very little in his two games;
- I would bring Cooper into the starting 10 spot as he offers a whole lot more in attack than Foley and can kick goals with almost as much accuracy;
- To'omua at 12 to reignite the Cooper/To'omua combination we all raved about at the end of last year;
- Henry Speight at 14.
I would then go with a bench of Hanson, Faulkner, Alexander, Horwill (assuming Carter starts), McMahon (or McMahon and Schatz if Carter isn't fit), White, Lealiifano and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).
I will be especially disappointed if Cheika persists with Skelton, the current combination in the backrow, Hodgson on the bench (if he is to be used should only be at 7), Genia on the bench and not selecting Speight. If he keeps the same team or heaven forbid he brings Beale in, then we should be bracing for a 1/4 winning record on the EOYT.