6pm tonightI was referring to the team announcement, assuming they did it 48 hours before the game. Couldnt find the sarcasm emoji.
Don’t mind it near full strength starting side bar foketi and Suli, good to see Gleeson, Leota, Phillip etc. getting some game timeWallabies team to play France at Stade de France, Paris on Sunday 27 August, 5:45pm CET/1:45am AEST
1 Angus Bell (23 Tests)
2. David Porecki (14 Tests)
3. Taniela Tupou (48 Tests)
4. Richie Arnold (4 Tests)
5. Will Skelton (c) (28 Tests)
6. Tom Hooper (3 Tests)
7. Fraser McReight (12 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (34 Tests)
9. Tate McDermott (vc) (25 Tests)
10. Carter Gordon (4 Tests)
11. Suliasi Vunivalu (2 Tests)
12. Lalakai Foketi (5 Tests)
13. Jordan Petaia (27 Tests)
14. Mark Nawaqanitawase (6 Tests)
15. Andrew Kellaway (23 Tests)
Finishers
16. Matt Faessler (1 Test)
17. Blake Schoupp*
18. Zane Nonggorr (3 Tests)
19. Matt Philip (28 Tests)
20. Rob Leota (16 Tests)
21. Langi Gleeson (3 Tests)
22. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa*
23. Ben Donaldson (2 Tests)
*denotes uncapped
I’m optimistic about our bench, Schoupp is a gun. Congrats on the debut. Philip & Leota will provide some hard shoulders in the last quarter.I would’ve started Gleeson (surprise) but I feel like this is the first team from Eddie that really makes sense. It’s got the first choice element sort of but also giving minutes to guys who haven’t seen it yet.
Their bench is insane, ours is poor. We will get slaughtered late.
Mauvaka is brilliant but their reserve props are average.Schoupp is a gun? Eh? Guy was a hooker playing 3rd grade just a few years ago, extremely inexperienced in his position, going up against a beast front row with Faessler and Nonggor. The scrum will be destroyed when the benches come on.
Your man Matt gibbon has been pushed back to 5th LH - 6th if Robertson was availableSchoupp is a gun? Eh? Guy was a hooker playing 3rd grade just a few years ago, extremely inexperienced in his position, going up against a beast front row with Faessler and Nonggor. The scrum will be destroyed when the benches come on.
So all the more reason to play them?Surprisingly pleased with the team, I don't doubt that we will likely get slaughtered but good to see that Eddie is clearly trying to get the combinations correct. Only thing I would change is White on for Issak, purely because i don't think Donaldson and Issak have ever played together before.
You're telling me you would rather have Issak on the bench as opposed to White for the world cup games? We can afford to have an 'inexperienced' 9/10 combo for some of the pool stage matches but we can't for the Quarters or Semi'sSo all the more reason to play them?
Portugal? Fiji? Literally any other match. This game is still extremely helpful and developing Donaldson + White's 9/10 combo against a quality side is a better option.Yeah when better to play them than in a game Iike this and not a potential knockout stage clash