RWC: AUS v URU (Villa Park, Birmingham): POOL A; 9pm (AEST) Sunday 27 September

[Mr Doug]

From the bench?

He said today in a TV interview, that he wanted to start in this test!

 

[qwerty51]

1. Scott Sio (11 Tests)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (55 Tests)
3. Toby Smith (1 Test)
4. Dean Mumm (c) (38 Tests)
5. Will Skelton (12 Tests)
6. Ben McCalman (vc) (41 Tests)
7. Sean McMahon (4 Tests)
8. Wycliff Palu (57 Tests)
9. Nick Phipps (33 Tests)
10. Quade Cooper (57 Tests)
11. Drew Mitchell (vc) (65 Tests)
12. Matt To'omua (26 Tests)
13. Henry Speight (4 Tests)
14. Joe Tomane (16 Tests)
15. Kurtley Beale (53 Tests)

Reserves

16. Stephen Moore (97 Tests)
17. Sekope Kepu (57 Tests)
18. Greg Holmes (19 Tests)
19. Kane Douglas (17 Tests)
20. Rob Simmons (54 Tests)
21. Will Genia (61 Tests)
22. Bernard Foley (22 Tests)
23. Tevita Kuridrani (25 Tests)

 

[qwerty51]

Props only talking point and I don't understand what Cheika is doing. Does he not trust Smith to backup at LH if Slipper isn't ok?

Strange call to start Sio and Smith at TH. Logic would've been to start Smith at LH to prepare him for the bench LH against England.. Now Sio will be fatigued for a big scrum battle against England or is Slipper totally fine and rested to start?

 

[swingpass]

interesting why not smith and holmes to start and sio and kepu to finish if necessary.
otherwise much as expected, back row to play 80

 

[qwerty51]

It'll be interesting to see if Cheika continues with 4 locks beyond this match too. Whilst it may impact the line out it probably helps a lot in the scrums later on having two fresh locks.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Strange call to start Sio and Smith at TH. Logic would've been to start Smith at LH to prepare him for the bench LH against England.. Now Sio will be fatigued for a big scrum battle against England or is Slipper totally fine and rested to start?

very strange Sio played most of the game against Fiji as well

 

[Omar Comin']

Just gotta hope none of the props pick up a knock that would rule them out of the England game. Gotta think it's possible Slipper won't be right for that one. It'd be a disaster to have say both Slipper and Sio out for the England game and one of them having to be replaced in the squad - even if both would be alright for Wales.

 

[kiap]

Well let's get this going then

1.
2.
3.
4. McDuling
5. McMeniman
6. McMahon
7. McCutcheon
8. McCalman
9. McKibbin
10. McGregor
12. McDougall

Coach: McKenzie

Current Aus players only.

10 Jordan McGregor (Stars)
12 Michael McDougal (Rams)

there must be a McDonald or two playing somewhere

2. Connal McInerney (Vikings)

14. Jarome McKenzie (NSWC)
11. Taqele McNaiyavroro

Asst. coach: Tai McIsaac

 

[kiap]

Just gotta hope none of the props pick up a knock that would rule them out of the England game.

Or a hooker...

 

[Pedrolicus]

They should only be photographed at McDonald's, not hungry jacks.

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[Slim 293]

So much for two separate XV's...........

 

[Slim 293]

It's an odd decision to start Sio with Smith..........

How is the bench going to work?

Is Smith going to play 80 minutes and swap sides at some point?

 

[galumay]

Thats a team that could put a lot of points on Uruguay. I am not a fan of QC (Quade Cooper), but pairing him with Phipps may be the best combination actually for his style. Speight at 13 will be interesting too, and with Tomane and Mitchell on the wings it could be exciting! I think that backline will suit KB (Kurtley Beale) too. Cheika's blessed with a depth we havent seen in many years, and I think its more apparent how he plans to use the 31 now across the tournament. I agree that the one odd thing is starting Sio & Smith.

Unfortunately I will be on a ferry between Ios and Athens on Sunday arvo so its one game i will have to catch on replay. Forgot to check the schedule before booking that one!!

 

[qwerty51]

It's arguably a better attacking backline than the best XV.. but it will concede some points and make more errors.

 

[Groucho]

Props only talking point and I don't understand what Cheika is doing. Does he not trust Smith to backup at LH if Slipper isn't ok?

Strange call to start Sio and Smith at TH. Logic would've been to start Smith at LH to prepare him for the bench LH against England.. Now Sio will be fatigued for a big scrum battle against England or is Slipper totally fine and rested to start?

Whether he's fatigued depends on how many minutes he plays. He can always be pulled early.

 

[Hawko]

interesting why not smith and holmes to start and sio and kepu to finish if necessary.
otherwise much as expected, back row to play 80

Maybe Mumm will drop back to 8 after 60 to give Palu a rest. He doesn't often play 80 these days, and even more so if he's going to be on the bench for the England game.

 

[Groucho]

Maybe Mumm will drop back to 8 after 60 to give Palu a rest. He doesn't often play 80 these days, and even more so if he's going to be on the bench for the England game.

More likely McMahon 8 and Mumm 6. Both are reasonably experienced in those positions.

 

[Groucho]

He said today in a TV interview, that he wanted to start in this test!

Yeah but that's what all the players were saying. Simmons said he needed to recover in the post-game interview, even though Cheika already said he'd play a different XV, and the teams have been traiing seperately. It's just games.

 

[KOB1987]

Dean mumm announced wallabies captain and the birth of his baby all on the same day!


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[KOB1987]

The prop set up is weird but no doubt there is a reason for it that nobody has told us about. I'm sure it will either be revealed in due course or come to light as we watch the game.