I feel like there is a lot of panicking and hoping for some luck in the selections for this game.
Cheika seems desperate for some game breakers and big bodies and is taking a lot of risks in bringing them in.
Skelton in the forwards, who has had one really good game all year for the Tahs. You could say the same about Palu, but he's one of the last men standing at 8. There's a bit risk with Skelton, as he doesn't seem as fit this year and won't keep up with a high tempo game. This pack of English forwards has been very good, and you feel could very well expose some of Skelton's deficiencies.
Simmons in for Carter, who I thought had one of his best games in gold. Carter has been fairly lack luster this year for the Brumbies, but didn't deserve to be dropped for his game last week. (I didn't think that Simmons deserved to be dropped after an OK 20 minutes before an injury the first game either, but there you go). Simmons coming back in seems a selection to make up for Skelton's deficiencies. Not a fan of this chopping and changing of players who don't deserve to be dropped.
Coleman, who was in the shadow squad, comes in with no injury. Good luck to Coleman, but calling Coleman in is an interesting call. Horwill, for example, was called back from the UK, played well in the first game, and is rewarded by getting dropped for the rest of the series, including getting shunted behind someone from the shadow squad. Cheika seems desperate for another big body, and has decided it isn't Arnold for now.
To'omua coming in after being injured for a couple of months, and not being in very good form before being injured. I can understand the desire for a second play maker, and Lilo hasn't performed at 12 in his chances in two tests. But we have parachuted in To'omua (who I am a big fan of at 12) as the first game back from injury and with no form before it. Unfortunately I can't see this ending too well.
Which has led to the dropping of Kerevi entirely from the 23, arguably our second best back in this series behind Folau (maybe DHP too). Harsh reward for the test rookie.
On the bench Naiyaravoro is drafted in. Cheika is desperate for a point of difference with another large body, but again it has led to the selection of a guy without a lot of form and seemingly lacking fitness. Big Naiya wasn't fantastic in Scotland from what I've heard, so it's apparently another selection on little form but plenty of hope.
The other concern is some key players in the team struggling for form, like Moore, Kuridrani, Phipps.
Cheika seems to be digging for some change and a point of difference, but it looks like a big gamble on players with little form to hold onto some pride.
I have no confidence that we can get the job done tonight, and unfortunately if I was forced to put money on this game, it wouldn't be on us.