2. Skelton and Simmons starting at lock for the Wallabies:
We’re still nearly three months from the end of the Super season and there are three RC games to play so nothing is finalised yet. But if I had to pick my starting locks for the World Cup tomorrow then I’d pick Skelton and Simmons. Simmons is the lineout guru and Skelton is the rock-shifter. Skelton has been hard to stop all year; to such an extent that he is being double and triple-teamed in defence to stop his progress.Maybe he will tail off in form as he did last year, but right now he is the best big-boppa lock we have and will take a lot of stopping in Northern Hemisphere conditions.Arnold, Timani and Carter have looked good at times and ineffective at others. I worry about Carter’s lack of impact, though his work rate is fine. Arnold, Timani and Coleman look good for the future, but RWC2016 is just a bit to soon.
I would still pick Jones, but as the back-up six to Fardy. He can readily back up the locks if injury strikes and his form in the loose has been excellent. In the English autumn, I don’t think McMahon can have the physical impact he has on dry hard grounds.
