Wales v Australia, Monday 18 November 3:10am AEDT

[Namerican]

When I was coaching a youth team (u17) we were woeful at lineouts and half the kids didn't come to practice. But we did have a kid that was 6'6 so I went with a two man lineout and threw it to him every time. It was pretty useless for anything other than gaining possession though.

If you went with a short lineout all the forwards end up standing around the 10 channel and they'd be the ones running at Sualli in the 10 channel. So he'd be running into Itoje or Tuipolotu or whatever. Even if they didn't hit him in the air, they can still contest the kick, which would prevent his forward progress. It might work once or twice, but it'd be hard to get the timing down. And I'd worry he'd get held up after landing.

It'd probably be easier to try and kick to him from 9/10. You could line him up near a ruck, centers, out wide. It certainly seems like he'd have zero trouble out jumping anyone in rugby, but you need to get the timing right. It's like a drop goal where in theory it's easy, but there are lots of ways to screw it up. You need a stable platform, perfect pass from 9 to 10, perfect kick, perfect timing from JS.

 

[Tomikin]

Why don't we just get Fesslar to NFL toss it to Kellaway on the far wing.. No one would expect that.

Anyway,

Bell Faessler Tupou
Skelton Frost
Williams Valetini McReight(c)
Gordon Lolesio
Ikitau Sua'ali'i
Jorgensen Wright Kellaway

Same bench plus Kerevi

 

[The Red Baron]

Do you reckon McReight will get the captain's armband this week?

 

[rugbyAU]

It’s a Monday morning game so he could even do it Saturday 1:30am. Which means I have to debate on forums on my own goddamn time and not work’s, would be very selfish of him.

It will be 12.30am Sat

 

[Joe Blow]

Doran reporting Sua'ali'i to the bench and Kerevi starting at 12. A good move I reckon.

 

[Purce]

Doran reporting Sua'ali'i to the bench and Kerevi starting at 12. A good move I reckon.

This would be interesting but I get it. They've got to see where Kerevi is at. Hopefully he is over the injuries which have hampered him recently. Imagine him back to his best with Joseph riding the pine and Ikitau running amok all game. Do we dare to dream of 3 legit test level centres all with points of difference?

I'd like to see Williams or Uru at 6 with Skelton to partner Frost in the row. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) to bring it home. He has been great off the bench. I am a little worried he may be not far off a yellow card though, not sure if he is just clumsy or if he it trying to play right on the edge.

I'm also like to see what Jorgo can do with a Start. I've been impressed with his, although limited, involvements this year.

 

[wamberal99]

Why don't we just get Fesslar to NFL toss it to Kellaway on the far wing.. No one would expect that.

I was fortunate enough to be taken to watch the first post-war Fijian tour. Gridiron throws to the far wing were commonplace.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

This would be interesting but I get it. They've got to see where Kerevi is at. Hopefully he is over the injuries which have hampered him recently. Imagine him back to his best with Joseph riding the pine and Ikitau running amok all game. Do we dare to dream of 3 legit test level centres all with points of difference?

I'd like to see Williams or Uru at 6 with Skelton to partner Frost in the row. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) to bring it home. He has been great off the bench. I am a little worried he may be not far off a yellow card though, not sure if he is just clumsy or if he it trying to play right on the edge.

I'm also like to see what Jorgo can do with a Start. I've been impressed with his, although limited, involvements this year.

I hope Kerevi can be effective. I'm in a wait and see thought bubble on it and Wales probably an appropriate opposition to see if he's above average still or just a guy now. If he has a decent showing it sure puts Paisami way back in the pack with his options of position very limited.

I know what you mean about LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and I fear it will cost us something bigger with the tough guys stuff in the middle.

Jorgo has been good. I think his level of involvement though is perfect for bringing through a very young bloke into Test footy. He's had some of those niggling injuries after the broken leg so these sorts of tours for him could be invaluable come 2027 when he'll only be 23 but could have 20+ Tests and 60+ Super Games.

 

[Brumby Runner]

This would be interesting but I get it. They've got to see where Kerevi is at. Hopefully he is over the injuries which have hampered him recently. Imagine him back to his best with Joseph riding the pine and Ikitau running amok all game. Do we dare to dream of 3 legit test level centres all with points of difference?

I'd like to see Williams or Uru at 6 with Skelton to partner Frost in the row. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) to bring it home. He has been great off the bench. I am a little worried he may be not far off a yellow card though, not sure if he is just clumsy or if he it trying to play right on the edge.

I'm also like to see what Jorgo can do with a Start. I've been impressed with his, although limited, involvements this year.

I hope you're right Purce, but I think Lenny has been starved of the ball in the Wallabies' 13 spot in recent years. I am unsure if Kerevi at 12 will make such a difference. Len's involvements last weekend in the 12 spot were eye-opening. He needs to have the ball in his hands much more often than has largely been the case with Paisami, Foketi et al in the 12 position.

 

[Dctarget]

Latest Christy mail, which has been uncharacteristically unreliable of late, has these changes:
- Williams drops out for Skelton (surely not)
- Uru to replace Wilson
- Alaalaatoa to start and captain
- Jorgensen replacing Pietsch
- Kerevi replacing Sua'ali'i with him going to the bench

 

[Derpus]

I thought we'd see Kerevi but I'd be very surprised if Williams and JAS are dropped entirely.

 

[Dctarget]

I thought we'd see Kerevi but I'd be very surprised if Williams and JAS are dropped entirely.

seems JAS is to the bench and Williams potentially out entirely.

 

[Alex Sharpe]

Very tough on Williams if that's true. I am a big Frost fan but would have dropped him before Williams.

 

[Derpus]

seems JAS is to the bench and Williams potentially out entirely.

Sorry yeah

 

[scrans21]

So based on that:

1. Bell
2. Faesslar
3. Ala'alatoa (c)
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. McReight
8. Uru
9. Gordon
10. Lolesio
11. Jorgensen
12. Kerevi
13. Ikitau
14. Kellaway
15. Wright
16. Paenga-Amosa
17. Slipper/Kailea
18. Tupou/Nonggorr
19. Salakai-Loto
20. Gleeson
21. McDermott
22. Donaldson
23. Sua'ali'i

 

[Derpus]

Not that it matters much but I expect Valetini will be at the back of the scrum.

 

[Tomthumb]

If Kerevi plays like he did last year and we blow all the goodwill by losing to Wales, is it worth it?

 

[scrans21]

If Kerevi plays like he did last year and we blow all the goodwill by losing to Wales, is it worth it?

Good thing about having Sua'ali'i on the bench is that if Kerevi is bombing it we can drag him and revert to the centre combo from the England match. Not a bad backup option to have.

 

[Tomthumb]

Good thing about having Sua'ali'i on the bench is that if Kerevi is bombing it we can drag him and revert to the centre combo from the England match. Not a bad backup option to have.

Maybe. But with this and Uru coming in out of nowhere, I hope they aren't taking Wales too lightly. We need to win this game and despite the loss last week Wales looked improved from what they dished up earlier this year

 

[Sully]

Latest Christy mail, which has been uncharacteristically unreliable of late, has these changes:
- Williams drops out for Skelton (surely not)
- Uru to replace Wilson
- Alaalaatoa to start and captain
- Jorgensen replacing Pietsch
- Kerevi replacing Sua'ali'i with him going to the bench

This is pretty much what I would have done.
Williams would not dropped he would be rested/rotated getting ready for the Scots and Ireland. We don't know what his physical fitness and recovery is like and out of all the second rowers he might need a bit of a rest more than the others.

Tupou is struggling and Alaalaatoa is a good captain and his scrummaging is just about back to its best.

Uru is a proper blindside who plays second row so is the best option there.

Jorgo is a proper winger so is the best option there.

Kerevi needs to play to see what he can provide to the team these days. Sua'ali'i is still there to cover wing and centre.