Robinson
Moore
Palmer
Gives us a rock solid front row, our best at scrummaging, which we will absolutely need for at least the first half of each game so we don't piss the ref off.
Douglas
Horwill (Fardy)
Two form locks at this stage. Horwill a shoe in if fit. Two excellent lineout operators, who get their rocks off by smashing people in the rucks and shifting bodies. Fardy also is quite handy at ball pilfering and is a damn good runner of the ball.
McMeniman
Hooper
Mowen
MMM because he just lives to hurt people. He'll probably only last a game or two, but the damage he's likely to cause int hat time is more than other options will. Hooper as the incumbent, and Mowen for his lineout prowess. Its all good to have 4 jumpers, but if there isn't anyone who can call it well, you're buggered.
Genia
Cooper
Assuming they can find form and get their combo right, our best bet. White/Lealiifano is uncapped, so these two are the best.
Ioane - Obvious
Lealiifano
Fainga'a
Controversial certainly. Lealiifano is an excellent defender, and his ball running is very strong. He has the ability to play a direct game, but also with the passing game that Tapuia doesn't have. His goal kicking is also arguably the best in Aus behind Beiber. If Beiber was injured, who would kick?
Fainga'a purely and simply for his defence. Tuilagi is going to be the 13, if we don't have someone capable of dropping him to the turf immediately, we're going to pay. Fainga'a is the only option who's played 13 who will make dominant tackles, and tackles on the other side of the gainline. The leg up that will provide the pack and the momentum it generates, is just as valuable to a team as being good at running the ball. He doesn't choke backlines, and willl be able to hit Cooper's long passes at speed and keep the backline STRAIGHT. Also played a lot of rugby with Lealiifano so there is a reasonable combination there (albiet one position out for both of them).
Beiber
Beale
Beiber played all of his best rugby at wing, and likewise for Beale at FB. Beale is not a test 10, and Beiber's strengths best suit him to playing out wide with space and speed to work with. Simple.
TPN
Alexander
2nd best hooker, best bench prop option. Come on at 50mins and use his open field game, plus freshness will help his scrummaging.
Fardy
Higgers
Gill
Fardy is in excellent form, but you could argue Pyle or Carter could be there instead. Simmons isn't doing enough, Timani is a lineout liability, Neville is still raw. Higgers would be an excellent player coming off the bench, but the same could be said for MMM. Gill as the less-experienced 7 gets the bench role. Him coming on with 20mins to go would cause havock for the Lions at the breakdown.
White
Tapuai
Mogg
White obviously, Taps would be great to inject into the centres as he can play both. Mogg as his form dictates it, though AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is obviously hard to leave out. Its hard to tell is he's badly out of form, or just Tah-itis, but at this stage his form is horrible.
