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

[cyclopath]

We lost badly to Wales in the RWC mainly on the back of poor forward play. That's where it will be more critical. I can see the logic in starting Kerevi, much as I am excited by what JAS can do.

 

[dru]

It seems odd to me. A couple of weeks ago, if you were told JAS would get a start in one game and off the bench in another - which way around would have thought that would be?

That said, the Wallabies and Schmidt earned a hell of a lot of faith from me last week. Let's go, Joe.

 

[Spamnoodle]

My condolences.

Pretty inconsiderate that the Welsh Rugby Union didn’t check with Spamnoodle before booking the game.

Pretty inconsiderate for the whole eastern seaboard of Australia really...

 

[Spamnoodle]

The selection of the team that lost to Italy was worlds away from the one here. Mass changes, leaving available starters out of the side entirely, with no eye to combinations and a lot of debuts handed out. It was very clearly a 2nd string side, where as this one is still arguably our best side available.

Looking at the two seemingly unforced changes (Kerevi and Skelton coming in), both seem like good moves. As a good as Sua'ali'i was in attack he was at sea defensively at times - look at the Kellaway try from a loose ball he makes a bad read and jams in opening a massive hole. If the pass doesn't go to ground it's game over. That's exactly the sort of thing that will be targeted a week later, but naming Kerevi and Ikitau (9 tests, 7 starts as a pair) is a much safer unit defensively, while still offering plenty of threat. Throw in Skelton to nullify Wales' one real strength against us earlier this year (the maul) and it feels like the smart, safe tactical play.

Earlier this year most were screaming blue murder because Kerevi and Skelton weren't there. Even as recently as the selections before the English game.

 

[JackJill]

In Cardiff now, there's a buzz as they know the Wallabies can be inconsistent as ever and they think they are in for an upset. I'm not too convinced yet either.

 

[Tomikin]

Let's go Wallabies

 

[Tomikin]

Skelton just murdered that maul

 

[kiap]

Arm wrestle stages early

 

[kiap]

Close .....

 

[Tomthumb]

Kerevi has to score from there

 

[Tomthumb]

So it’s not a penalty as he was knocked out, but it’s also not an HIA???

 

[Tomikin]

Now that's some bullshit... His stunned so didn't roll away. But then the doc on field says his ok... That's a HIA

 

[kiap]

Yesss!

 

[Tomikin]

Tom Wright is one of our best now.. His tearing Wales apart

 

[Wallabies]

two weeks in a row Valetini had knocked some one out in a collision.

 

[Tomikin]

Let's go, can't catch him ...

 

[Wallabies]

We actually look sinister with the ball, capitalising on mistakes

 

[Tomikin]

We need to hammer this welsh team

 

[footy1>31]

we are so back

 

[Tomthumb]

Great first 20 minutes from the whole team