Is this our strongest XV for the WC
1. Slipper
2. Porecki
3. Allaalatoa
4. Frost
5. Rodda
6. Holloway
7. Hooper
8. Valetini
9. White
10. Cooper
11. Korobiete
12. Kerevi
13. Ikitau
14. Kellaway
15. Wright
16. Lonergan
17. Bell
18. Topou
19. Skelton
20. Samu/Leota
21. McDermott
22. Foley
23. Petaia
There's a lot I don't like about that team.
Rodda has no form, due injuries admittedly, over the past two seasons. We are not short on quality locks and I for one will be disappointed if Rodda gets a seat at the expense of say Neville or Philip. Frost, Skelton are the two front runners, and then comes Richie Arnold (perhaps), Neville, Philip, Swain and Holloway in front of Rodda.
Hooper must be long odds to be in the starting lineup but may make the squad. Even some Tahs fans on here rate him the second best No 7 for the Tahs. Like others, I expect Jones to go for a bigger player or one who plays bigger at 7, and think the options are Wright and Samu. Even if he were to go with the traditional Aussie No 7, I don't think Hooper's form warrants his selection. He may have had his best game of the year last week but it was still below par for selection as the Wallaby No 7, punctuated as it was by missed tackles, being swatted off by ball carriers, slow running and slow to return to the line after having an involvement and cynical play that indicated to me that he is now not able to front up consistently over 80 minutes in a high tempo, high pressure game.
I am completely comfortable with Holloway at 6. He has immense presence at lineout time, is a good defender and more often than not makes ground in contact in possession of the ball. Others who might come into the equation for 6 are Leota and Swinton, but Jed has it at the moment and I am more than happy with that, He would best compensate for lineout weaknesses in the second row if Skelto starts, as I expect to happen.
Cooper, Koroibete and Kerevi are question marks on fitness and form. We need to see them in action to gauge their usefulness to the Wallabies.
In no reality does Petaia miss out on a wing spot to Kellaway. Good and dependable as Andrew is, Jordan will be a star at this Cup and his combination with Koroibete and Wright in the back three is mouthwatering.
Otherwise Bernard Foley would be a step backwards to a mundane No 10 who has issues managing an attack, passing the ball under pressure and kicking. All very important skills we want to see in a No 10. Carter Gordon is our future standout 10 and either he or Noah Lolesio should be the bench 10 imo. Whichever Eddie Jones thinks will fit into his game plan the best.
In summary, I think your team is nowhere near the strogest we can put out for the Cup.