A few interesting team choices for this next game.
I expect we are not likely to see Beale come back until the 3rd test. If we'd lost at Suncorp I suspect the coaching staff would have tried to rush him back, but after Barnes' composed performance on Saturday, Deans should have confidence in Barnes to do the job (as do I). I stand by my comments last week that Barnes is not an idle flyhalf for Australia, being more suited to inside centre. He is however a solid test player, and a sensible choice as back up flyhalf.
It will be interesting to see who gets the nod if Kepu is injured. The smart money would be on Alexander with Palmer to come onto the bench. I wouldn't mind seeing Palmer get promoted. That's a pure scrummaging decision, although he did put in a very busy performance against Scotland. I'd really like to see Deans continue a trend of playing a specialist LH and a specialist TH. But I guess it has never been the Australian way to choose good scrummaging over work in the loose.
Horne is one player that is having a horrible season, yet there is a huge upside to him. I'm not sure he offers anything that Fainga'a doesn't. I would have been tempted to hook him for bombing that try on Saturday. Deans will surely give him another start this weekend, but he needs to start offering more in attack and defence if he wants a regular spot in the team. If he's just going to be a pure defensive player, then Fainga'a has it over him. And if Beale, O'Connor or Cooper became fit tomorrow he is the obvious choice to move out of the team (with Barnes and McCabe both shuffling out one position).
Moore v TPN - The obvious choice is to bring Moore back into the starting although I think that is a bit tough on TPN as I thought he played the best we've seen him play in a long while. He brings a real physicality to the Aussie pack and if he can get his throws right he can make a big impact. I think he's probably best suited to playing the last 25 minutes of the game as he does seem to hit the proverbial wall after about 55 minutes.
I think everyone agrees that Vuna probably is not yet ready for test rugby. Had we been playing the All Blacks he would have looked seriously red faced. I'd like to see Morahan get another chance, but that seems unlikely given that he's fallen out of the squad. He's a more talented attacking player than Shipperley (IMO), and is clearly more versatile.
I think the team for Saturday will be as follows:-
1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Alexander
4. Simo
5. Sharpe
6. Higgers
7. Pocock
8. Palu
9. Genia
10. Barnes
11. Diggers
12. McCabe
13. Horne
14. Shipperley
15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
16. TPN
17. Palmer
18. Timani (why Deans doesn't prefer Pyle or Douglas to this bloke I have no idea)
19. Dennis
20. Hooper
21. White
22. Fainga'a