I thought Cooper showed last night the reasons why he should be selected last night and the reasons why he won't be selected. I have never cheered so much for a guy's audacity and then sworn at his dumb decisions.
Shame about White, he deserved a spot. Burgess just didn't show enough to justify selection. I wonder if Deans will now select a third 9, do we think he will select a 3rd hooker as well?
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I expect Deans will go with both an additional No 2 and No 9. In that case, Hanson and Burgess are near certainties for the final 6. Then I think he will go with a prop, a 4/6/8 cover, cover for 10 and 12/13/wing/FB.
If Deans can be believed, these spots will go the those who have used their "opportunities to push for selection" in the last couple of games.
Dan Palmer has probably ruled himself out with average performances lately. So the extra prop will be either Sio or Ryan. Sio has put in enormous performances all year but especially in recent matches. He would be the frontrunner, but Ryan has today's game to make a case.
Cover for 4/6/8 comes down to MMM, Kimlin or Jones. MMM will need to establish his fitness and form today. Otherwise, Kimlin has used the recent games as opportunities to press his claims, and would be favoured over Jones on experience as well as form.
If he goes for an extra 10, it will be either QC (Quade Cooper) or Matt To'omua. Depends whether QC (Quade Cooper) is really on the outer and has no chance of selection regardless of form. Looks like To'omua might be a real chance to make the squad.
Cover for 12/13/wing and FB would come from McCabe, Tapuai, Faainga or Mogg. I would be very surprised if Pat McCabe is not selected. He is an accomplished FB, has test experience at wing and 12, and has shown in recent games he can play 13. He is also distributing the ball more now than simply being a crash ball runner.
So my final 6 are Sio, Hanson, Kimlin, Burgess, To'omua and McCabe, with Ryan and MMM still in the running and largely requiring massive games today to make the squad.