RWC Pool D - Wallabies v Georgia, Friday 11th October, 9.15pm ADST

[Viking]

So could we viably end up with 4 centres on the field in:

10. To'omua
12. Kerevi
13. JOC (James O'Connor)
14. Petaia

Would be interesting to see. I'm not sold on 11. Koro 14. Petaia & 15. DHP.. Only one boot between them.

Can Petaia not kick? Thought he played a bit of fullback in schoolboy rugby, surely he would be alright with the boot?

 

[Try-ranosaurus Rex]

Can Petaia not kick? Thought he played a bit of fullback in schoolboy rugby, surely he would be alright with the boot?

He certainly hasn't used it too much at soup / NRC given he's been mainly used in the centres. Would be a pleasant surprise if he did!

 

[fatprop]

True, but no point risking injury when you got a player like Poey there who also needs some game-time to get into form.

True, he needs to find some form

 

[Jets]

Can Petaia not kick? Thought he played a bit of fullback in schoolboy rugby, surely he would be alright with the boot?

Devastating schoolboy rugby fullback who pretty much ran everything back.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Can Petaia not kick? Thought he played a bit of fullback in schoolboy rugby, surely he would be alright with the boot?

Are his hammys up to kicking?

 

[Jets]

I'd like to see Tupou at 3 against the strong Georgian scrum. Give him 60mins and rest AAA with Kepu off the bench. It will give hims some confidence for the big game/s.

I'd also rest Hooper. He's been outstanding but I want him fresh and firing for the Poms.

Dempsey at 6 to see if he can recapture the form of 2 years ago.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Given his scrum issues this year, not sure Georgia would be my first choice game for TT. Having said that, were the Georgians resting players against Fiji? The Fijian scrum seemed to deal with them relatively easily. Is it still the threat it's perceived as?

 

[gel]

I'd like to see is run out our best team in an effort to get some kind of cohesion happening.

It's our last chance before the quarters.

 

[Try-ranosaurus Rex]

I'd like to see is run out our best team in an effort to get some kind of cohesion happening.

It's our last chance before the quarters.

I think we'll find that this has been the coaching group's plan all along.

We've got to throw everything at the soap dodgers, and we need the combinations firing.

 

[Braveheart81]

 

[Derpus]

Interesting team.

 

[Braveheart81]

Interesting to know whether LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is being rested or whether he's a chance to miss out on the quarter final entirely.

Seems clear that Ala'alatoa is being rested and will start next week.

Hodge would be the only other player outside the 23 likely to come in for the quarter final. It is surely a risk that he will be a bit rusty after not playing for 4 weeks.

 

[barbarian]

I like the fact that we are continually changing our 10. It's a good thing we have played three different people there in four games. I'm sure the selectors have a firm idea of what they want in this crucial position as we head to the elimination games.

Surely. Surely....... surely?

 

[John S]

Interesting to know whether LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is being rested or whether he's a chance to miss out on the quarter final entirely.

Seems clear that Ala'alatoa is being rested and will start next week.

Hodge would be the only other player outside the 23 likely to come in for the quarter final. It is surely a risk that he will be a bit rusty after not playing for 4 weeks.

I think he'll be "ok" - won't be totally match fit, but from I understand he's been training with the squad so surely the rust can't have started to set in yet.

 

[vidiot]

I like the fact that we are continually changing our 10. It's a good thing we have played three different people there in four games. I'm sure the selectors have a firm idea of what they want in this crucial position as we head to the elimination games.

Surely. Surely... surely?

Imagine how hard it is for Eddie Jones! We have him right where we want him - bamboozled by the Cheika rope-a-dope.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think he'll be "ok" - won't be totally match fit, but from I understand he's been training with the squad so surely the rust can't have started to set in yet.

The fact he's not injured and has been able to train fully over that time makes it less of an issue than coming back from an injury.

It's still a long time to go without playing a game to be returning at a really crucial time. If it's a close run thing it could certainly tilt things in Petaia's direction of starting in a quarter final (if he has a strong outing against Georgia).

 

[TSR]

He certainly hasn't used it too much at soup / NRC given he's been mainly used in the centres. Would be a pleasant surprise if he did!

From what I’ve seen he kicks rarely but does have a good boot. I seem to recall him getting a few boomers away in both NRC & Super rugby.

 

[Derpus]

The fact he's not injured and has been able to train fully over that time makes it less of an issue than coming back from an injury.

It's still a long time to go without playing a game to be returning at a really crucial time. If it's a close run thing it could certainly tilt things in Petaia's direction of starting in a quarter final (if he has a strong outing against Georgia).

Probably have to go a little longer than 40.

 

[fatprop]

I like the fact that we are continually changing our 10. It's a good thing we have played three different people there in four games. I'm sure the selectors have a firm idea of what they want in this crucial position as we head to the elimination games.

Surely. Surely... surely?

Our form 10 needs "managing", our back up 10 is out of form so we go for plan "c"

Just be thankful that plan "D" Beale or plan "E" JOC (James O'Connor) haven't been dragged out

 

[KOB1987]

What's the go with naming the team a full day earlier than required? It's way too useful for us in the fantasy comp, maybe Cheik has a team in the comp too?