Wallabies v Fiji, 3pm Sat 10th June, AAMI Park, Melbourne

[bigmac]

yes i was there at the SFS, the Gregan tackle happened right in the corner i was sitting in. i remember well Knox remonstrating with whoever was captain at the time to NOT to take the kick at goal, biut to kick for touch and soak up more time, he was well aware of the possibility that the AB's could still win the game.

Kearns was the captain
At full time the blacks stormed off in a huff but tony daly sprinted across the field to shake richard loes hand and give him a mouthful. You can see him in the video. Pure magic.

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[The Whisperer]

Fingers crossed we see a Wallaby line up close to this:

15. Israel Folau/ Karmichael Hunt
14. Dane Haylett Petty
13. Tevita Kuridrani/ Israel Folau
12. Reece Hodge
11. Marika Koroibete
10. Bernard Foley
9. Will Genia
8. Scott Highinbotham
7. Michael Hooper
6. Lopeti Timani
5. Adam Coleman
4. Rory Arnold
3. Sekope Kepu
2. Stephen Moore
1. Allan Ala'alatoa
RESERVES
16. Tolu Latu
17. Scott Sio
18. Toby Smith
19. Sam Carter
20. Richard Hardwick
21. Joe Powell
22. Quade Cooper
23. Karmichael Hunt/Sefa Naivalu

 

[Brumby Runner]

Will be at least one change and perhaps more to those selections. I just can't see Cheika playing Allan Ala'alatoa at LHP. And Scott Sio has apparently already been ruled out of the first test.

So, the front row will probably look more like 1 - Toby Smith, 2 - Moore, 3 - Kepu or Ala'alatoa.

I also think that Folau will most likely be at 15, will not be 13, and Hunt will be on the bench. Then it is very likely that Speight will be in the 14 jersey and DHP if fit in the 11 jersey, unless one of those two is being kept back for the Scotland match..

 

[fatprop]

3. Sekope Kepu
2. Stephen Moore
1. Allan Ala'alatoa
RESERVES
16. Tolu Latu
17. Scott Sio
18. Toby Smith

Two specialist LHs on the bench and two THs starting, I think Kepu and Ala'alatoa @THP ; Sio & Smith @ LHP will be sharing minutes

I would start with

3. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore
1. Allan Ala'alatoa

They have pony experience together and finish with

18. Toby Smith
16. Tolu Latu
17. Sekope Kepu

But I would not be surprised to see Robertson replace Smith because of the Tahs experience of working together as unit

 

[Scrubber2050]

Are you serious about the Tahs experience working as a unit ?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Tahs' scrum has perfected the tactic of collapsing as soon as the ball is behind the hooker's feet so that they can't be pushed off it. That is experience as working as a unit, surely.

Edit : On a serious note, I believe Sio is not ready for the Fiji test, so I expect Smith to start and Robertson on the bench. TH could go either way, but there is logic to start with the high workrate player (Ala'alatoa) and finish with the hard ball runner (Kepu) in the last 20 - 30 mins.

 

[fatprop]

Are you serious about the Tahs experience working as a unit ?

relisten to the GR&G podcast with Ben Darwin and the benefits of combinations

 

[fatprop]

Tahs' scrum has perfected the tactic of collapsing as soon as the ball is behind the hooker's feet so that they can't be pushed off it. That is experience as working as a unit, surely.

Edit : On a serious note, I believe Sio is not ready for the Fiji test, so I expect Smith to start and Robertson on the bench. TH could go either way, but there is logic to start with the high workrate player (Ala'alatoa) and finish with the hard ball runner (Kepu) in the last 20 - 30 mins.

Which prop starts or finishes is an argument about 10 minutes of playing time.

Ala'alatoa deserves to start, he has been playing really well, Scotland will be the scrummaging test

 

[Joe Blow]

Sio
Moore
Ala'alatoa
Arnold
Coleman
Timani
Hooper
Higginbotham
Genia
Foley
Speight
Hodge
Kurindrani
DHP
Folau

Smith
Kepu
Latu
Tui
Hannegan
Powell
Quade
Hunt

Thats what I would like to see but am sure there will be a couple of changes. If Sio is not fit then Robertson comes onto the bench.
Looking for forward dominance and a consistently good front foot platform provided by the pack from set piece and the breakdown.

 

[John S]

Going to be out, so taping it (taping replay of SS) so can watch test on Saturday night. Actually looking forward to it.

 

[Ruggo]

I would like to see DHP at fullback and Folau go to the wing. DHP is safe and a far better kicking game and Falou a better attacking option.

 

[KOB1987]

When is the run on side and 20 man bench announced?


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[Tex]

After umming and ahhing about attending on Saturday I finally got my tickets. Looking forward to finally cheering on a victory at AAMI Park -- 2017 has been a pretty lean year!

Hopefully some of the home town guys get a run. Sefa, Toby and Hodgey in particular.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Give Toby a run now. He won't be available to us next year.

 

[Braveheart81]

Give Toby a run now. He won't be available to us next year.

Why not?

 

[KOB1987]

That's what I was wondering too.

 

[KOB1987]

Maybe Slim's mate at the Oz and McGahan were right. From a commercial point of view it's a good game to give Koroibete his debut in. You'd think it would mean Speight is being 'rested' for this one though.

1. Melbourne Storm‏Verified account @storm Jun 6
   
   
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   Izzy and Marika!
   
   Once Storm, always Storm
   
   #Wallabies in action at @AAMIPark in Melbourne this Saturday! #purplepride
   
   
   
   Qantas Wallabies, Israel Folau and mkoroibete
   1 reply20 retweets170 likes

 

[Slim 293]

Considering Fiji are sending a B team we may as well rest a whole bunch of players.........

 

[KOB1987]

I didn't notice that article was from yesterday when I put it up, and I since thought that it would make sense to use koroibete in the marketing of the game even if he's not playing. So I'm ignoring my own post.

I think the best available 23 within the current squad will be selected for this game and the Scotland game, and some modest experimentation v Italy

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Jermain Ainsley is training with the side so I would say Sio isn't ready to go.