Scotland v Wallabies at Murrayfield 12.40am Mon 25 Nov

[rugbyAU]

I imagine Wilson comes in and Kerevi unavailable, hopefully Gordon and Tupou come back too

I'd start Kerevi if he's available but don't think he will be

1 - Bell
2 - Faessler
3 - Tupou
4 - Frost
5 - Skelton
6 - Valetini
7 - McReight
8 - Wilson (c)
9 - Gordon
10 - Lolesio
11 - Jorgensen
12 - Ikitau
13 - Sua'ali'i'i
14 - Kellaway
15 - Wright
16 - BPA
17 - Kailea
18 - AA
19 - LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
20 - Gleeson
21 - McDermott
22 - Donaldson
23 - Flook

 

[Wilson]

That's probably what I'd pick too, though I'd be a bit tempted to run Bell from the bench to give him a bit of a break, depending on how Tupou is.

 

[Homer]

Im thinking Potter and Edmed may get a bench role this week. No point being on the trip otherwise as they won't get a first start against Ireland. With Kerevi gone as well, they will want any rustiness out of Potter's legs before Ireland.
Also, does Frost get a breather this week with Williams sliding back in?

 

[scrans21]

Assuming Wilson, Gordon and Tupou are back in:

1. Bell
2. Faesslar
3. Tupou
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. McReight
8. Wilson (c)
9. Gordon
10. Lolesio
11. Jorgensen
12. Ikitau
13. Sua'ali'i
14. Kellaway
15. Wright
16. Paenga-Amosa
17. Kailea (give Slipper a rest)
18. Ala'alatoa
19. Salakai-Loto
20. Uru (I think he deserves another game after this week)
21. McDermott
22. Donaldson
23. Potter

 

[LeCheese]

Im thinking Potter and Edmed may get a bench role this week. No point being on the trip otherwise as they won't get a first start against Ireland. With Kerevi gone as well, they will want any rustiness out of Potter's legs before Ireland.
Also, does Frost get a breather this week with Williams sliding back in?

Their purpose is if someone becomes unavailable. Being in the squad doesn't, and shouldn't, guarantee a game.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we need to be playing our best available team every week.

 

[KOB1987]

If Kerevi is out (I think we will appeal and win) then I would assume Hamish Stewart will come back into the squad and probably be #23. Otherwise it will be Kerevi/JAS again in whichever role.

 

[Rugby Head]

If Kerevi is out (I think we will appeal and win) then I would assume Hamish Stewart will come back into the squad and probably be #23. Otherwise it will be Kerevi/JAS again in whichever role.

If Kerevi is out, they will go with last weeks center pairing and chuck Potter on the bench.

 

[rugbyAU]

Scotland also mostly played their B side against Portugal and then played a 2nd XV Fiji team two weeks earlier and had USA/Canada/Chile/Uruguay in July so we're more match hardened coming into this one

 

[HooperPocockSmith]

1. Bell
2. Faessler
3. Tupou
4. Williams (if fit)/Frost
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. McReight
8. Wilson (c)
9. Gordon
10. Lolesio
11. Jorgenson
12. Kerevi/Ikitau (if Kerevi is suspended)
13. Ikitau/JAS
14. Kellaway
15. Wright
16. BPA
17. Kailea
18. AAA
19. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
20. Gleeson
21. McDermott
22. Donaldson
23. JAS/Potter

Hard to know what WR (World Rugby) will do RE Kerevi's tackle. IMHO it shouldn't be a suspension but I think that result is unlikely. In that case, there will probably be a return to last week's midfield pairing. A tough call will need to be made if Williams is fit. Frost played well last night and is deserved of his position but Williams was great last week. I can't see them dropping LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) as he adds a bit more punch off the pine. As others have said, I would like to see Kailea given a run this week and a spell for Slips. If Kerevi is out and JAS starts, Potter is in the 23.

I'd love to see JAS start a game on the wing - would love to see his involvement from kick return + lineout carries etc. There's something tantalising about Kerevi + Ikitau in the midfield, with JAS and Kells on the wing. Poor old Jorgo was targeted under the high ball and it's likely the Scots will look to do the same.

 

[KOB1987]

If Kerevi is out, they will go with last weeks center pairing and chuck Potter on the bench.

That's your opinion, mine is different.

 

[HooperPocockSmith]

That's your opinion, mine is different.

Potter offers more cover, no?

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Assuming everyone else agrees but Tom wrights improvement is absolutely sensational. Maybe he just is backing himself more and has more conviction to make a decision but he is genuinely outstanding.
I don’t know if there is anyone you want to get the ball more than him right now. Not just for the wallabies….he is a deadly attacker and his kicking and passing have improved immensely too.

 

[KOB1987]

Potter offers more cover, no?

Depends - some people think he's a centre/winger whereas others think he is an outright winger. Assuming the former, Potter covers 13 and wing, Stewart covers 12/13 and 10 at a pinch. I actually don't think we need any more wing coverage in the 23, Donno covers there also as he can play 15 and all 3 of the current back 3 can play on the wing, as well as JAS. Schmidt's MO seems to be to replace the unavailable player with the next best in that player's position, if Kerevi is a 12 then the next pick there is Stewart so assuming Kerevi is out for the rest of the tour then at the very least Stewart will come into the main squad while there are 2 games remaining.

 

[JackJill]

I don't get why people are saying pick Kerevi? Shouldn't we pick more like the team that beat England rather then the team that blew out a hopeless Welsh team? Even if Kerevi was fit, I think Flickitau is a much more talented and dangerous 12 and Sua'ali'i'i offers uncertainty and skill at 13. That'd be much more effective then the Kerevi who can only really run and offload?

 

[HooperPocockSmith]

I don't get why people are saying pick Kerevi? Shouldn't we pick more like the team that beat England rather then the team that blew out a hopeless Welsh team? Even if Kerevi was fit, I think Flickitau is a much more talented and dangerous 12 and Sua'ali'i'i offers uncertainty and skill at 13. That'd be much more effective then the Kerevi who can only really run and offload?

I’m not as bullish on JAS as others. I think defensively he is underdone (it will come with time) and I can see the Irish and Scots picking him apart if he’s not careful. Kerevi/ikitau is safer for mine. Plus I like having a crash option at 12.

 

[dru]

From recollection, against Wales our lineout did not attack once on a Welsh throw - until LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) was on (Skelton off). The teams nominated so far seem to have only one primary jumper starting. I'd be surprised if Schmidt rolls like that. If Skelton starts, I'd anticipate the preferred back row (Valetini, McReight, Wilson) to give way for a second primary jumper.

 

[KOB1987]

I’m not as bullish on JAS as others. I think defensively he is underdone (it will come with time) and I can see the Irish and Scots picking him apart if he’s not careful. Kerevi/ikitau is safer for mine. Plus I like having a crash option at 12.

I am certainly bullish on him, but at the moment he is attack weapon only and I agree about the defensive issues. The Welsh try just after he came on looked like largely a bad defensive read from him, and there was one of the English tries last week where on the replay he was standing there in the background looking dumbfounded as the Pom was sprinting away from him. He will work it out in time, rugby defense is 10x as complex as loig.

Edit: I also think this is why they will appeal whatever sentence Kerevi is given.

 

[Highlander35]

Primary injury for Scotland is Jack Dempsey. With the A Game against Chile the day before, you can reasonably expect that the team will be largely composed of the player's who have lined up against Fiji and South Africa, with some additional positional changes due to player availability. I've named a 5-3 split but I wouldn't put it against Townsend to name a 6-2 with Tom Jordan being the only substitute and another backrower (likely Crosbie) come in instead.

15. Blair Kinghorn
14. Darcy Graham
13. Huw Jones
12. Sione Tuipulotu
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell
9. Ben White

1. Pierre Schoemann
2. Ewan Ashman
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Scott Cummings
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Matt Fagerson
7. Rory Darge
8. Josh Bayliss

16. Dylan Richardson
17. Rory Sutherland
18. Whoever wins the lucky dip
19. Alex Craig
20. Jamie Ritchie
21. Jamie Dobie
22. Tom Jordan
23. Kyle Rowe

Our depth from 6-15 remains solid, but a few retirements, injuries and exclusions have meant that the tight 5 is thin on players proven at international standard.

My expectation is a narrow win (5-10 points) for my mob, but think a blowout in either direction is could be on the cards as well, depending on which set of backs click better on the day.

 

[TSR]

I don't get why people are saying pick Kerevi? Shouldn't we pick more like the team that beat England rather then the team that blew out a hopeless Welsh team? Even if Kerevi was fit, I think Flickitau is a much more talented and dangerous 12 and Sua'ali'i'i offers uncertainty and skill at 13. That'd be much more effective then the Kerevi who can only really run and offload?

Because he has always been reliable at providing front football with his carries and, IMO, demonstrated he is still very capable of it against Wales.

 

[Serge]

I don't get why people are saying pick Kerevi? Shouldn't we pick more like the team that beat England rather then the team that blew out a hopeless Welsh team? Even if Kerevi was fit, I think Flickitau is a much more talented and dangerous 12 and Sua'ali'i'i offers uncertainty and skill at 13. That'd be much more effective then the Kerevi who can only really run and offload?

As distinct from the bloke who in 83 minutes carried six times for 5m and effectivly just offloaded.