If we can take anything from a pretty poor 2016 its that Cheika has somehow identified a handful of blokes that look to have a long future at test level.
- Love what I'm seeing from Coleman, Timani and Arnold in the forwards. All big, physical guys that catch and pass, and are regularly winning the collision. Coleman reminds my of an early career James Horwill. Arnold and Timani I'm slightly not 100% sold on, but if they can carry on from here, I could see them being key squad members up to he next world cup.
DHP looks like he was born to be a test player. I thought he was brilliant and probably deserved at least 2 tries against wales. His work under the high ball was exceptional. I'm ok with the odd box kick if our wingers are going to contest in the air like DHP did last night.
- Shout out to Frisby for a stellar try saving tackle at the end, which really prevented any chance Wales might have had of mounting a comeback. I'm still not sold that he's capable of being a great text level 9 (in the short time he was on the field I thought he gave slower service than Phipps) but with that said that tackle was a clutch play, something i'd like to see more of from him.
If I was to pick a weak link in the 15 at the moment I'd have to say its Speight. I don't think he's quite found his feet since coming back the 15 man game. He's constantly getting found out positionally. It really killed us against the All Blacks and then again last night we were put under pressure. That said, there is no denying he's talented enough to be in the side, I just think he's not quite there yet.