RWC Pool D - Wallabies vs Uruguay -Saturday October 5 2019 @ 2:15pm

[Bobby Sands]

This game is the start of our World Cup now. Cheika for some reason has changed all our combinations from pre-tournament (??) now is the time for a mini re-build.

I would like to see;

1. Slipper
2. Fainga'a
3. Thor
4. Rodda
5. Coleman
6. Lukhan
7. Pocock
8. Naisarani
9. White
10. To'omua
11. Marika
12. Kerevi
13. JOC (James O'Connor)
14. Jordy (if fit)
15. DHP

16. Latu
17. Sio
18. AAA
19. Arnold
20. Dempsey
21. Genia
22. Lilo
23. KB (Kurtley Beale)

Notes: From this team, Fainga'a, White, Jordy, To'omua, Lukhan are starters and not rotations.

Slipper, Thor, Coleman are bench players but need game time.

DHP was fantastic on the weekend, an excellent world cup full back. KB (Kurtley Beale) is exceptional off the bench, and if he didn't have that pass called forward he could have been away as he was looping around (killed me).

The maul works better with Fainga'a, I also think he carries better than Latu. I beleive Latu's has been good but his ruck work is overrated.

As another poster said, Arnold is our most important forward we need to keep him fresh. Rodda is going ok, but he needs to be pitted against Coleman for that "grunty" lock spot.

To'omua needs to start now.

Jordy if fit is our second best winger.

Hoops is great but he is not our best 7, and he has played alot of rugby. I think a week off will do him good.

Let eviscerate Uruguay, not limp over the line, and with that get our tournament back on track. Our backs need to be fluent against this rag, tag, bunch of misfits.

 

[VassMan]

Really like that team and your reasonings. Think TK will get a run though

 

[Up the Guts]

I’d like Tolu to have a rest. Two enormous games from him, easily the best of his career, and not one single dumb penalty which is likely down, in part, to his improved fitness. Give him sometime to freshen up.

 

[KOB1987]

Simmons will be there too

 

[Bobby Sands]

Simmons will be there too

I have him down only as a break glass in emergency player.

 

[TSR]

This game is the start of our World Cup now. Cheika for some reason has changed all our combinations from pre-tournament (??) now is how time for a mini re-build.

I would like to see;

1. Slipper
2. Fainga'a
3. Thor
4. Rodda
5. Coleman
6. Lukhan
7. Pocock
8. Naisarani
9. White
10. To'omua
11. Marika
12. Kerevi
13. JOC (James O'Connor)
14. Jordy (if fit)
15. DHP

16. Latu
17. Sio
18. AAA
19. Arnold
20. Dempsey
21. Genia
22. Lilo
23. KB (Kurtley Beale)

Notes: From this team, Fainga'a, White, Jordy, To'omua, Lukhan are starters and not rotations.

Slipper, Thor, Coleman are bench players but need game time.

DHP was fantastic on the weekend, an excellent world cup full back. KB (Kurtley Beale) is exceptional off the bench, and if he didn't have that pass called forward he could have been away as he was looping around (killed me).

The maul works better with Fainga'a, I also think he carries better than Latu. I beleive Latu's has been good but his ruck work is overrated.

As another poster said, Arnold is our most important forward we need to keep him fresh. Rodda is going ok, but he needs to be pitted against Coleman for that "grunty" lock spot.

To'omua needs to start now.

Jordy if fit is our second best winger.

Hoops is great but he is not our best 7, and he has played alot of rugby. I think a week off will do him good.

Let eviscerate Uruguay, not limp over the line, and with that get our tournament back on track. Our backs need to be fluent against this rag, tag, bunch of misfits.

I generally like your team, but don’t agree with everything at the end.

For me Latu has locked down his position as first choice 2 when it counts.

And I am not sold that To'omua’s form off the bench makes him the option at 10. He’s had chances as starting 10 and has failed to nail it down (although, TBF, you could say the same thing about Lealiifano I guess).

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) v Pocock is an interesting one. I was happy at the start of the RC when it appeared we’d moved on from the Pooper, but their are pros/cons to either option. At the end of the day though Hooper will be starting 7 for every game that matters.

 

[Bobby Sands]

I generally like your team, but don’t agree with everything at the end.

For me Latu has locked down his position as first choice 2 when it counts.

And I am not sold that To'omua’s form off the bench makes him the option at 10. He’s had chances as starting 10 and has failed to nail it down (although, TBF, you could say the same thing about Lealiifano I guess).

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) v Pocock is an interesting one. I was happy at the start of the RC when it appeared we’d moved on from the Pooper, but their are pros/cons to either option. At the end of the day though Hooper will be starting 7 for every game that matters.

Yes, I've heard about his contract too.

 

[TSR]

Don’t agree with the gist of your comment Bobby. Hooper is in great form and is the mainstay of our forward pack. If I had to pick between Pocock & Hooper for one jersey I’d pick Pocock 9 times out of 10 - but this is that 10th time.

Of course, Pocock might change my mind with 1 dominant performance - but Hooper deserves his spot.

 

[KOB1987]

I have him down only as a break glass in emergency player.

You might, but he will play in this game to give someone else a break, and in case he's needed at the pointy end.

 

[molman]

So who are you actually resting? Georgia are arguably the stronger team (after the results of the Georgia v Uraguay game) so you'd imagine this game should really be our second run team.

I'd like to see Latu given a rest.. maybe even Hooper. I'd imagine Simmons and Kuridrani will be playing as some have mentioned, otherwise if not this game, when? Fainga'a and Thor are surely givens. Jordan Petaia really has to play this game doesn't he - otherwise there is going to be a lot of questions.

Surprisingly I wouldn't even be surprised to see Foley potentially in the mix, even if it's off the bench. I don't think we can risk totally writing him off, not unless you see Beale as our third 10 in case of emergencies?

 

[Bobby Sands]

I am resting Hooper (" "), Arnold, in essence Latu, AAA, Sio, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) from the last starting side.

Foley is sent to Penrith.

You need to keep your guns on the pine in case you get an Ireland situation.

We also need to win, and win handsomely (for momentum for than points).

 

[Bobby Sands]

So who are you actually resting? Georgia are arguably the stronger team (after the results of the Georgia v Uraguay game) so you'd imagine this game should really be our second run team.

I'd like to see Latu given a rest.. maybe even Hooper. I'd imagine Simmons and Kuridrani will be playing as some have mentioned, otherwise if not this game, when? Fainga'a and Thor are surely givens. Jordan Petaia really has to play this game doesn't he - otherwise there is going to be a lot of questions.

Surprisingly I wouldn't even be surprised to see Foley potentially in the mix, even if it's off the bench. I don't think we can risk totally writing him off, not unless you see Beale as our third 10 in case of emergencies?

The insurance company have already paid the claim mate.

I forgot about Kurindrani - will come in and I can't wait to see the great man.

 

[The Honey Badger]

Bobby, you have way too many of the real starting 15 starting. This has to be the 2nd XV one starting game.

I expect Genia and Foley to start. White and To'omua on the bench to play in case of emergency or token minutes at the end.

They can't play very far in the tournament with one 9 and one 10. They need to give these 2 to find some form against a tier 2/3 nation we should put 50 on.

I hope for Foley's sake they do. On his day he is a great 10.

 

[molman]

I wouldn't be surprised to see something closer to the Samoa pre-RWC game. Something like this;

1. Slipper
2. Fainga'a
3. Kepu
4. Simmons
5. Coleman
6. Lukhan
7. Pocock
8. Dempsey
9. Genia
10. Foley
11. Marika
12. To'omua\JOC (James O'Connor)
13. Tevita
14. Petaia
15. DHP

...I guess it depends on the balance of building the combinations/game time with the starting 15 vs using the depth of the squad and giving those starters a rest whilst avoiding any possibility of a Ireland/Japan or Fiji/Uraguay senario and securing the bonus point so we top the pool when Fiji beat Wales

I hope for Foley's sake they do. On his day he is a great 10.

In some ways I do too. He looked mentally shattered after that Wales game.

 

[The Honey Badger]

To'omua will be in cotton wool. Benching at best.
So too DHP and Koroibete.

 

[Bobby Sands]

Bobby, you have way too many of the real starting 15 starting. This has to be the 2nd XV one starting game.

I expect Genia and Foley to start. White and To'omua on the bench to play in case of emergency or token minutes at the end.

They can't play very far in the tournament with one 9 and one 10. They need to give these 2 to find some form against a tier 2/3 nation we should put 50 on.

I hope for Foley's sake they do. On his day he is a great 10.

Foley has the chance to genuinely de-rail our campaign further.

He should be absolutely no where near the field.

When was the last game at any level that Foley was even up to standard, let alone played above the level?

 

[molman]

To'omua will be in cotton wool. Benching at best.
So too DHP and Koroibete.

If that is the case, who is playing back - Beale? and the other Wing - AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)?

 

[KOB1987]

If that is the case, who is playing back - Beale? and the other Wing - AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)?

Yes

 

[Viking]

Foley has the chance to genuinely de-rail our campaign further.

He should be absolutely no where near the field.

When was the last game at any level that Foley was even up to standard, let alone played above the level?

That would be last RWC.

The concerning thing for me too, is Cheika's post match interview. He seemed to down-play To'omua's impact stating he had better front foot ball from the forwards.
I got the feeling Cheika was making excuses for Foley's poor performance. Foley's terrible passes, missed tackles, poor kick can't be disregarded and blamed on the forwards not providing front foot ball.

I hope To'omua starts at 10 for the rest of thr tourney, even against these two games. He needs more time in the position. Happy to sub him off after 45mins and bring on Lilo.

 

[Braveheart81]

We are surely selecting all the back end of the squad for this and then using the Georgia game to build for the quarter final.

1. Slipper
2. Fainga'a
3. Tupou
4. Simmons
5. Coleman
6. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
7. Pocock
8. Dempsey
9. Genia
10. Foley/Lilo/To'omua
11. Petaia
12. JOC (James O'Connor)
13. Kuridrani
14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
15. Beale

16. Uelese 17. Sio 18. Kepu 19. Rodda 20. Hooper 21. White 22. Lilo/Foley/To'omua 23. DHP

You're resting Ala'alatoa, Latu, Arnold, Naisarani, Kerevi, Koroibete and probably To'omua and Hodge who will all start against Georgia and then our quarter final. Hodge is suspended and would come back for the quarter final unless Petaia manages to unseat him.

The question for Cheika now is whether To'omua is going to start at 10 against Georgia and the quarter final or whether we return to Lilo. Foley clearly had a shocker and shouldn't be picked again if it can be avoided. We need to consider that Lilo hasn't played well though. He has played 1 good test against the All Blacks in Perth this season and has been average (Argentina) or substantially worse (All Blacks at Eden Park, Fiji) in his other tests.

It doesn't bode well that we have effectively dragged our 10 for form issues shortly after half time in three tests this year (Lilo against the All Blacks at Eden Park and Fiji, and Foley against Wales).