Don't underestimate the Pom centres. Nobody really knows how they are going to work out or how big unit winger Banahan will perform or Monye at fullback for that matter, but they are all good players though our backs should have the edge in playing together and training together experience.
12 Geraghty had a great year for London Irish last season and has worked with the ex-Exiles and present England coach Brian Smith for some time. As I said in the second post on this thread: he has good hands and feet. He is fast and effective on the run but is not great at slipping tackles; nor is he a noted front-on defender as Wilko is. From what I have seen of him this season at his new club, Saints, the good form prevails.
On the face of it: Geraghty will be starting tonight only because Flutey is crocked but it will give England manager a good read on how he can handle starting in the biggest match of his life. Geraghty's choice would be to play 10 for England and he and Cipriani, are looked at as the long term successors to Wilko; but an assured performance at 12 tonight will do him no harm for later selection at 10.
The contest between Quade Cooper and Geraghty will be one of the interesting points of the match because if the Pom will be under harsh scrutiny; so will the Aussie be. And Cooper will be trying to prove his big match ability also.
13 Hipkiss may not have been playing either had Tindall and others been available, but as I indicated before: you have to nail this guy at the tackle line else he will cause havoc with his supporting runners behind it. Centres don't necessarily defend against each other a lot in the 15 man game but if they do I would back Digby to cover him but not vice versa. My fear about Digby is the reading of stuff that Brian Smith has cooked up.
Another fear I have is Banahan coming off the wing in the set piece, especially near our line. Although this bloke is not as much of a footie player as Cueto is on the other wing, he is farquing huge and hard to stop even when you know what is coming up.
I would try to catch full back Monye out with a few deft kicks as his read of the fullback role wouldn't be great, and if the kick goes between Banahan and him, all the better. The big winger as a wide turning circle. Come to think of it I'd put some attacking kicks behind Banahan.
All this hoo-haa for about either team has to be underwritten by the forwards doing their job. For the Poms: Crane at 8 doesn't impress me, 6 Croft is a hard player like Rocky, but neither he nor even 7 Moody are great at groundwork.
If get some consistency including: set piece, having a good work rate at the contests, and the back line drills work during the game, we should win. But if the Poms slow the ball down to the pace of their 4, 5, 8 and front row, we turn the ball over all the time (pay attention Ciffy) and have to rely on low percentage brilliancies to wing the chockies, we will get second.