I want to see McMahon rewarded for his form with a spot on the bench.
For me, hopefully this will see us ending the game with a back five of:
4. Simmons
5. Mumm
6. McMahon
7. Hooper
8. Pocock
Two very solid line out options in Mumm/Simmons, and three 'half-options' in the back row. McMahon did a lot of line out work for the Rebels this year, as did Pocock with the Brumbies and Hooper has been developing that part of his game with at least 2 line out takes in the first ~25 minutes against Uruguay alone.
Then, of course, people will say the pack is too small. But what is size helpful for?
Getting over the advantage line? Dominance in collisions?
Does Scott Fardy at 6 or Kane Douglas at 5 offer more than Sean McMahon in either of the two areas above? Do either offer a better work rate?
Wasn't the Pocock / Hooper back row too small to compete?
In Pocock at 8 we have a strong ball carrier, dominant defender, the best pilferer in the world, high work rate and sometimes line out option
In Hooper at 7 we have a strong ball carrier, dominant defender, decent pilferer, energiser-bunny like work rate and developing line out option.
In McMahon at 6 we have a strong ball carrier, dominant defender, energiser-bunny like work rate and sometimes line out option.
I don't see a downside to it, and I won't until it is tried and fails. Size is not the be all and end all in this game, its what you do with the size that you've got.
Historically, Australia's played running rugby, and Cheika has embraced that. We don't have the biggest pack in the world, nor is a bullying pack our natural strength. We do, however, have an abundance of rabid dogs that will play like their families lives depend on it. It is time to unleash them and let them hunt.
....
....
....
If it works, then we put Liam Gill in at 5 next week. If that is a success, well, Jordy Reid showed some promising form this year.
#OutFlankThemRWC2015