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

[Derpus]

This feels like one or two too many changes.

In Joe we trust.

Maybe, but on the otherhand we still have all the key standouts from last week in Bell, Valetini, Ikitau and Wright. Plus Skelton is generally regarded as one of the best locks in Europe.

If we can put out a decent performance with this team not only have we improved but we also have options.

 

[Thalium]

I feel like other than JAS all other changes are injury forced

Williams - complained about his hip after the try

Wilson - Concussion

Pietsch - torn muscle

Jake - Took a hit to the head

Tupou - Knee or Performance based

It sucks but I hope they are all well prepared

 

[Joe Blow]

Nic White at 9 doesn't seem like the play, honestly.

Nasty head clash for Gordon last week. That gash might need some time to heal? This is the test to rest he, Toupo and Williams and also have a look at Skelton and Kerevi. We need to be firing on all cylinders next week.

 

[Yoda]

You have no idea how mad I am that this is the way I found out the team had been announced. I’m screaming.

Gordon head injury needs resting… Tate more potent off the bench. Simple. White has to start.

 

[lpd]

I don’t mind these changes - mix of enforced and getting a look at players ahead of two (arguably) tougher games,

Skelton gets to start and has plenty of minutes to impose himself on the game (unlike from the bench as he had to under Rennie).

Uru seems like a good fit to make up for Skelton’s weakness in the line out - also seems like Uru is the closest physical match for Fardy that we have?

I hope JAS gets 30 minutes to take on a more open game at the end.

Also Uru and Skelton, with LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) coming on, might help deal with the Welsh maul, which was the only way they kept up with us in the June tests

 

[fatprop]

One good game, 5 injuries

 

[dru]

Gordon head injury needs resting… Tate more potent off the bench. Simple. White has to start.

I'd say that we have Schmidt's thoughts on Tate pretty much pinned - not a preferred starter but desired to finish.

 

[dru]

So - the pundits behind splitting the centre pairing (Ikitau + Sua'ali'i) and starting Skelton are right. I'm keen to see the set piece effectiveness though I guess that Wales is not a bad choice to test it. I'm also keen to see these hand-skills from Kerevi - kicking and passing. TBH if his job is simply to smack it up, fine, do it well Samu.

Go Gold!

 

[Mr Pilfer]

Not many players will start 4 games back to back as it is a tough tour so giving someone like Williams a rest now makes sense and obviously Joe wants to see what Uru, Kerevi and Skelton can bring to the table as well as trying to build his own “bomb squad” and he likes what Tate, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and gleeson in particular bring from the bench.

I agree though that our kick off work was huge last week so losing Williams and JAS is a concern

 

[PhilClinton]

For the first time in recent memory the selection leakers were 100% correct. They must be back in the good books.

I fully expect the Wallabies will win this game to be honest.

It’s funny, talking to a few casuals who now have their interest peaked after the England win and JAS emergence, they were saying ‘Wales are bloody good aren’t they?’.

I think they’re referring to over 10 years ago when Wales had an outstanding team from about 2010-2014 from memory. Even the fact they only played a series here a few months ago seems to be lost on people. Hopefully we can bring rugby back to relevance.

 

[wamberal99]

I think they’re referring to over 10 years ago when Wales had an outstanding team from about 2010-2014 from memory. Even the fact they only played a series here a few months ago seems to be lost on people. Hopefully we can bring rugby back to relevance.

Or maybe they still have the memory of the Welsh eviscerating us in the World Cup?

 

[dru]

Not many players will start 4 games back to back as it is a tough tour so giving someone like Williams a rest now makes sense and obviously Joe wants to see what Uru, Kerevi and Skelton can bring to the table as well as trying to build his own “bomb squad” and he likes what Tate, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and gleeson in particular bring from the bench.

I agree though that our kick off work was huge last week so losing Williams and JAS is a concern

I wonder if the tactic continues but with someone else? Who else in the backline might get up for those kick offs?

 

[LeCheese]

Gordon head injury needs resting… Tate more potent off the bench. Simple. White has to start.

Yeah I had forgotten about Gordon’s gash. Similarly Williams’ hip

 

[LeCheese]

Newscorp has run a (mostly JAS-based, usually an anti-rugby spin) Wallabies story just about every day this week. I don’t even think that happened during the World Cup pile on.

We’re back baby!

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Newscorp has run a (mostly JAS-based, usually an anti-rugby spin) Wallabies story just about every day this week. I don’t even think that happened during the World Cup pile on.

We’re back baby!

View attachment 20783

Lol
It is smart to play him on the bench this game.
That was his first game. Let him come on at 60 mins and open it up and the start one of Scotland or Ireland

 

[Wilson]

Newscorp has run a (mostly JAS-based, usually an anti-rugby spin) Wallabies story just about every day this week. I don’t even think that happened during the World Cup pile on.

We’re back baby!

View attachment 20783

I'm pretty glad this first few games of Sua'ali'i's wallabies career are playing out overseas, it'd be hard for all of this (junk) coverage not to become a distraction for the team while Schmidt's trying to build something if they were at home.

 

[molman]

I feel like other than JAS all other changes are injury forced

Williams - complained about his hip after the try

Wilson - Concussion

Pietsch - torn muscle

Jake - Took a hit to the head

Tupou - Knee or Performance based

It sucks but I hope they are all well prepared

I really hope Tupou's knee isn't too bad. I really want to see him running around again at his full potential.

I thought AAA's had a good game against the English and was starting to look good, so that's a big positive and great to see. It'll be good to give Nonggorr some more International level game time. We need to keep building our depth. The JAS move makes a lot of sense to me.

 

[Thalium]

JAS on the bench makes sense Bring him on to carve when wales are tired or if Kerevi is a flop. Wales would have also spent the week looking at all his footage

Kerevi will be tasked with smashing that 12 channel for sure. It was weak last week and he can make some good yards there

White makes sense to get us in behind the Welsh. His box kick hang time is unmatched in Australia and really accurate expect to see Jorgo and Kellaway contesting in the air

Skelton and Uru add muscle for that welsh Maul. The welsh are desperate and I suspect will turn to that old favourite to a lot in this game

Tupou out make sense lots of news was posted earlier in the year about having to manage his minutes to get his body up to where it needs to be and he currently is not up to making the amount of quick tackles and clear outs that will be required in this game. Expect to see him back for the next game unless Zane has an absolute blinder

 

[Brumby Runner]

Not many players will start 4 games back to back as it is a tough tour so giving someone like Williams a rest now makes sense and obviously Joe wants to see what Uru, Kerevi and Skelton can bring to the table as well as trying to build his own “bomb squad” and he likes what Tate, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and gleeson in particular bring from the bench.

I agree though that our kick off work was huge last week so losing Williams and JAS is a concern

I think with both Frost and Skelton receiving the kickoffs, we'll probably go ok in that area, but without Sua'ali'i we will be less likely to win or put pressure on the opposition receivers. I suppose the answer is that we'll have to do all the scoring.

I am also concerned that Nic White will simply box kick away early possession all game and without Pietsch we'll have less chance of recovering possession from those kicks. So, possession-wise we could be in for a long night at least until JAS comes off the bench - the earlier the better I suspect.

 

[molman]

I think with both Frost and Skelton receiving the kickoffs, we'll probably go ok in that area, but without Sua'ali'i we will be less likely to win or put pressure on the opposition receivers. I suppose the answer is that we'll have to do all the scoring.

I am also concerned that Nic White will simply box kick away early possession all game and without Pietsch we'll have less chance of recovering possession from those kicks. So, possession-wise we could be in for a long night at least until JAS comes off the bench - the earlier the better I suspect.

I think some pundits forget that the halves are normally running the game plan that the coaches have setup and if they don't (without reason) then they wont likely be around next game. If he's kicking a lot and early then I'd have to assume that was the goal, but I do agree that I'm not convinced we have the aerial jumping threats until Sua'ali'i comes on. Kellaway, Wright and Jorgenson etc. are ok, but I wouldn't say that it's what comes to mind as their strength.

I suspect that Wales will put the ball up a fair bit this game.