So some of starting positions seem closer to being decided.
For me
Front 3 in front row seat (pardon the pun)
Sio
Moore
Kepu
TPN, Holmes and Slipper on the bench (Slipper is struggling with injuries and to nurse him through RWC best option is coming off bench)
Locks - Simmons, Skelton
Horwill, Mumm and Douglas to fight out for a bench option (Douglas unknown as not seen much of him but rated him for Tahs)
Flankers:
Pocock, Fardy / Mumm (he could perhaps Besh to replace Fardy but need to see more to confirm whether that reality
Bench: Hooper (like the idea of starting hooper and pocock but that means not starting skelton)
No 8. Palu/Mccalum
Bench: Cover could come from pocock switch to 8 for cover if only 5 forwards on bench but if do 6/2 bench (six forwards , 2 backs) could have higgers on bench
No. 9 - Phipps sown that up...Genia's injury means white is bench option but could have Giteau as cover there if go for 6/2 bench which better use of bench option perhaps
No 10. Cripes - hard one - Foley but needs to improve his goal kicking - Cooper just not in form and always found him too erratic to be a fan. He has a good passing game but you feel with Cooper he is more likely to lose you a game then win you a game. To'omua or giteau as 10 option might seriously need to be considered at this point as this position rather dire with foley / cooper not really putting there hand up convincingly 5
Bench cover: Giteau here as good bench cover....pls don't use beale there
No 11. Horne at the mo but Spreight/Tomane /Mitchell chasing
Bench cover: Mitchell would be best option if Giteau wins other back bench option over Beale as covers FB as well, but if Beale other back bench option then open race per above
No. 12 - To'omua
Bench cover: Giteau or Beale
No 13. Kuds sown up
Bench cover: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) switching from 14
No. 14: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (he has to be in the side as very consistent quality player)
Bench cover: refer discussion for 11
No 15: Izzy
Bench cover: Mitchell or Beale
So at this point the only real concern is no comfortable options showing up to say covered 10....or indeed goalkicking!!!
Moore 3. Kepu 4. Simmons 5. Skelton
6. Fardy 7. Pocock 8. McCalman 9. Phipps 10. Cooper
11. Tomane 12. To'omua 13. Kuridrani 14. Ashley-Cooper 15. Folau
16. Polota-Nau 17. Slipper 18. Holmes 19. Mumm/Horwill 20. Higganbotham
21. White 22. Beale 23. Horne
or
1. Sio 2. Moore 3. Kepu 4. Simmons 5. Skelton
6. Fardy 7. Pocock 8. McCalman 9. Phipps 10. Foley
11. Tomane 12. Giteau 13. Kuridrani 14. Ashley-Cooper 15. Folau
16. Polota-Nau 17. Slipper 18. Holmes 19. Mumm/Horwill 20. Higganbotham
21. White 22. Beale 23. Horne