Scotland v Australia, Murrayfield, 5am 24 Nov 2013

[Tordah]

Has Foley ever played on the wing? Could be one of the Ben Smith type mould, not the fastest or strongest, but clever & elusive.
I'm assuming Feauai-Sautia went alright at 13 in Super Rugby. Otherwise Leali'ifano in at 12 and To'omua to 13 and Feauai-Sautia to the bench.

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Tomane
12. To'omua
13. Feauai-Sautia
14. Foley
15. Folau

Can't move Folau from fullback, he was/is flawless under the high ball.

Regardless, Scotland doesn't seem to pose much of a threat anyways these days.

 

[Scrubber2050]

First reports suggest Kuridrani out for 5 weeks.

jeez thats bullshit - 5 weeks - what a joke

 

[lewisr]

You've got to be kidding... How the hell was that worth 5 weeks? Ma'a Nonu runs around shoulder charging people every match and gets away with a slap on the wrist every fing time but Kuridrani lifts one bloke, realises the mistake and tries to place him back down, and get's 5 weeks?

Load of bullshit.

 

[lpd]

Peter Betham to save the day! So I would expect:
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Tomane
12.To'omua
13. CFS
14. Betham
15. Folau

 

[Fowi]

Gezz its a tough one. Folou should stay at Fullback. Its really a shame both Beale and Falou are in the same Super XV team too.

Add Foley to that list as well.

Tahs confirmed this morning that Betham has been called up and got on a flight over there this morning or last night.

9 - Genia
10 - Cooper
11 - Tomane
12 - To'omua
13 - CFS
14 - Folau
15 - Foley

That would be my backline with Betham, Lilo on the bench.

 

[No4918]

1. Slipper
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4. Simmons
5. Horwill
6. Fardy
7. Hooper
8. Mowen
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Tomane
12. To'omua
13. CFS
14. Folau
15. Foley

16. Fainga'a
17. Alexander
18. Ryan
19. Timani
20. McCalman
21. White
22. Lilo
23. Harris

With this disruption I think we need to stay as consistent as possible. Leave the 9-10-12 alone and the pack is basically the same. Short a winger but CFS could move there and Harris has played some 13.

Kuridrani decision is ridiculous.

Wallabies by 23

 

[RoffsChoice]

Once again, IRB judicial procedure is shown to be

 

[BDA]

To be honest I thought the Kuridrani tackle was a bit reckless and my first impression was probably 2 weeks. The IRB usually come down hard on players for those "tip tackles" which can result in a neck injury, and tend to try to make an example of players despite the fact that no one is hurt.

5 weeks is excessive but I suspect they've added a few weeks on knowing that the season ends next week in any event. I'm well aware that is not how the judicial process should work, however the IRB's judicial process generally seems to fly in the face of natural justice, etc.

Sucks for Kuridrani. He's had a fairly promising rookie test year. I suspect he'll get first dibs again next season. A chance for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) coming back into the centres for the Wales game.

 

[lewisr]

My Backline:

9: Cooper
10: Cooper
11: Folau
12: To'omua
13: To'omua
14: Folau
15: Folau

If only. Realistically:

9 - Genia
10 - Cooper
11 - Tomane
12 - To'omua
13 - CFS
14 - Folau
15 - Foley

 

[lewisr]

Regardless, Scotland doesn't seem to pose much of a threat anyways these days.

Ahahahaha famous last words. Just ask the wobs.

 

[fatprop]

The thought of CFS as starting 13 for the Wobs is ........ madness

 

[BDA]

The thought of CFS as starting 13 for the Wobs is .... madness

I don't think the Scots are particularly strong in that area and if they are going to win this game I doubt they'll be spreading it wide too often.

 

[emuarse]

If Link is down on wingers and keep Folau at fullback, then he could also put Harris at 13, where he's played a few times at the Reds, and CFS on the wing.

I think that Foley to fullback, Folau and Tomane on the wing, and To'omua and CFS in the centres is more likely though.

All depends if you want Folau to stay at 15 or not.

Of course, we could also put a second rower on the wing.

I agree there. MacKenzie will want to have a look at CFS as an out side centre coming on. There really aren't too many quality OC's in Aussi at present and a young player like CFS with his potential has to be seriously considered.
Especially when you think of how many good wingers we presently have, even without Ioane and Mitchell

 

[Penguin]

The thought of CFS as starting 13 for the Wobs is .... madness

Considering the circumstances what are the alternatives? Harris to 13, maybe. I think moving Izzy there would be a bigger madness & don't think tinkering around with the positions of him & To'omua would be in the best interests of the team at this point. Could either Lilo or Foley stack up there? Unknown, at least CFS had a few starts there for the Reds this year and didn't disgrace himself.

 

[RoffsChoice]

If CFS is played at 13 and I were the Scottish coach, I would be picking the fastest prop I can find at 13 and telling him to run at CFS all day.

 

[Ash]

Peter Betham to save the day! So I would expect:
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Tomane
12.To'omua
13. CFS
14. Betham
15. Folau

Betham is not on tour.

 

[Highlander35]

Considering we may have to chuck Mark Bennett there if the injury rumors are true, don't worry about CFS. Our 13s may be well matched up for inexperience.

 

[Ash]

If CFS is played at 13 and I were the Scottish coach, I would be picking the fastest prop I can find at 13 and telling him to run at CFS all day.

Why?

Apart from the obviously massive hole that'd create in the Scottish defensive backline, I don't see how that'd benefit the Scots any way on attack?

CFS doesn't have the worst defence by any stretch; it's not too bad. CFS is actually quite strong and quite physical. The Scots would be better off trying to expose him tactically, which is what I'd try to do if I was the Scottish coach and CFS was at 13.

I would try to run a few loop plays, a few second man plays and a few blocker plays around the 13 channel. The idea would be to try to get CFS to either rush up or commit to the wrong man in defence, the common mistakes from inexperienced 13s. In fact, you would've seen Kuridrani make the same mistake vs Ireland at one stage last week.

I am not sure if the Scots are capable of this though - you need good backline cohesian on the fly, players who can read defensive lines and some space to get this stuff to come off. There's not a lot of international centres who can do all that.

 

[Penguin]

If CFS is played at 13 and I were the Scottish coach, I would be picking the fastest prop I can find at 13 and telling him to run at CFS all day.

Try as I might understand this line of thinking it's just going over my head. Are you suggesting Sautia can't tackle?

 

[Tip]

A quiet reminder for posters here suggesting that Mike Harris can play 13 as he has played that position for the Reds.

He only did so because he would be defending at 12, with Quade defending at 15. I'm sure posters here wouldn't want that would we.