Wales vs Australia - Sunday 12 November - 4:15am AEDT

[Braveheart81]

You would assume that Genia and Foley will slot straight back in if fit and healthy.

The interesting thing will be whether Beale reverts to 12, Hodge to the wing and Hunt to fullback or Hodge to 12 and Beale remains at fullback.

Either way I expect Kerevi will drop back to the bench or out of the 23.

 

[wamberal]

Hodge must be the first player chosen from now on. I assume that he will be on the wing, all things considered. But his kicking ability is so wonderful (potentially) that we just cannot afford not to have him on the pitch for 80 minutes, or until a game is well and truly won.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Bookies have Australia as only a slight favourite which is a little strange given the 12 match streak and the 11 games the Wallabies have played together since Wales last had a full strength team on the park in the six nations.

14 hours travel and 9 timezones the great leveller?

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[wamberal]

The odds depend to a fair extent on the weight of money. Possibly Welsh fans are optimistic, and putting their money where their hearts are, on their team.

 

[KOB1987]

Hodge must be the first player chosen from now on. I assume that he will be on the wing, all things considered. But his kicking ability is so wonderful (potentially) that we just cannot afford not to have him on the pitch for 80 minutes, or until a game is well and truly won.

I'm not sure I'd get that carried away. He'll be in the starting side but position wise he's probably not the first picked in any position. None of his kicks on the weekend were particularly difficult and Foley did have a 19/19 streak during the RC, Hodge also will inevitably have an off day with the boot. He's very valuable for kicks at touch etc but his kick offs were shit house.

 

[TOCC]

How about Hodge at 12, Kurtley at fullback


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[KOB1987]

I'd run with that TOCC, Hunt at 23.

 

[Micheal]

I'd like to see:

1-3: Sio, Moore, Ala'alatoa
4-5: Coleman, Simmons
6-8: McCalman, Hooper, McMahon
9-10: Genia, Foley
11,14: Hodge, Koroibete
12-13: Hunt, Kuridrani
15: Beale

16-18: Kepu, TPN, Robertson
19-20: Phillip, Timani (although Hanigan will surely crawl his way in somehow)
21-23: Phipps, Kerevi, Speight

 

[Dctarget]

I'd like to see:

1-3: Sio, Moore, Ala'alatoa
4-5: Coleman, Simmons
6-8: McCalman, Hooper, McMahon
9-10: Genia, Foley
11,14: Hodge, Koroibete
12-13: Hunt, Kuridrani
15: Beale

16-18: Kepu, TPN, Robertson
19-20: Phillip, Timani (although Hanigan will surely crawl his way in somehow)
21-23: Phipps, Kerevi, Speight

Resting TPN?

 

[Micheal]

Resting TPN?

He'd be on the bench but TPN, Moore and Kepu are all older heads these days and I'd like to see their workload managed.

 

[Braveheart81]

He'd be on the bench but TPN, Moore and Kepu are all older heads these days and I'd like to see their workload managed.

There's three games left in the year. I think we pick our best starting team for all of them. Kepu and TPN are playing some of the best rugby of their test careers right now.

 

[Lindommer]

TPN had a long rest and a good pre-season from RC 2016 to the start of Super Rugby this year, and look what that's done for him! Moore needs to have his workload managed.

 

[dru]

How about Hodge at 12, Kurtley at fullback


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I don't think it works with the Cheika/Larkham playmaker strategy. Hodge can't replicate Beales skills at 12 (though I think he has a shot at replicating Foley at 10 - though he's not close for now).

I wouldn't imagine that we will run the big bopper Fijian 3/4 line against Wales either. I would imagine, all things being equal and players being available and fit:
9 Genia
10 Foley
11 Hodge
12 Beale
13 Kurindrani
14 Karoibete/Speight
15 Hunt

Thought to be fair Hunt does not seem particularly favoured either. DHP or Hodge at 15 then, with Speight to 11.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

Any chance of McCalman replacing Hanigan at 6? Or McMahon 6, McCalman 8? Would be happy with that.

 

[A mutterer]

Not sure I'd change much in the forwards, except I'd be tempted to keep Moore on the bench rather than Ulese as the Welsh will be looking at anything to motivate the players.

Except Ned. He can stay in the stands this week.

My backline would be

9 Genia
10 Foley
11 Hodge
12 Hunt
13 Kurindrani
14 Koroibete
15 Beale

 

[Derpus]

Is DHP on tour? i thought he was out? I'm willing to bet that Hunt and Beale will both be playing a combination of 12/15 at the same time. Bet Hunt defends at 12, Beale at 15 and then Beale swaps with Foley a whole bunch as first receiver on attack with Hunt sitting wider out.

 

[Braveheart81]

Is DHP on tour? i thought he was out? .

No. He is injured.

 

[Quick Hands]

Referee​

​

Glen Jackson (New Zealand)​

Assistant 1​

​

Jaco Peyper (South Africa)​

Assistant 2​

​

Ian Tempest (England)​

TMO​

​

Graham Hughes (England)​

 

[Happy to Chat]

Except Ned. He can stay in the stands this week.

He should be watching the game at home.

 

[Froggy]

I think I would like to see Hunt at 12 & Beale at 15, where they will defend, although I think we can expect it all to be pretty fluid between Foley, Beale & Hunt. Hodge back to the wing for Speight, McCalman to 8, McMahon to 6. I would retain Hanigan on the bench, I know most disagree, but Timani just does nothing for me.

I wasn't nearly as excited about Kerevi as most, all he did was just run hard at small guys, which we know from Super rugby he does very well, but to me he's a bit of a one trick pony at this stage. Hopefully he develops a la Nonu! I think I would be giving Meakes a crack off the bench, with Phipps & Speight.