A lot of people are talking about the locks and so they should: it's our weakest position, although there are serious technical issues outside of the position discussion which should be addressed more than they are.
The double-whammy of the injury to Fardy (at least an option for the second row) and the move offshore of Douglas, has had an effect that was not unexpected, given the general deterioration of Horwill since he was in his pomp.
As yours truly has said a few times: Simmons is probably the most valuable player in the Aussie team: not the best, but the most valuable, because he is the only lineout caller in the country who can start in test matches regularly and can play for 80 minutes to do so.
From time to time he plays well otherwise too. His continued good health is vital.
People started getting on the Skelton bandwagon after he played all 80 minutes for the Waratahs against the Lions last year, but I recall saying that he would have to prove himself for 60 minutes on a regular basis for the Waratahs in 2014 before he was looked at for the Wallabies.
Because of the happy acquisition of Jackpot, that didn't happen, but it didn't seem to matter when he made his stunning debut in the third test against France on that sunny afternoon.
My opinion wavered then but is back full-throttle. I will just change the year to 2015 and add the proviso that his scrummaging work has to improve. I never appreciated before the tour how poor it was.
Choosing him on the bench since he is in the touring squad is another matter since Horwill is a shell of his old self and playing as though he has an injury anyway.
If the second row has been a problem area there has been at least one tight-five position that has surprised us in a good way.
Who would have thought that with our top three hookers injured: Moore, TPN and Charles, that our fourth- and fifth-raters, Fainga'a and Hanson, would play so well?
Fainga'a should get the nickname "Lazarus" - his rebirth has been stunning.
Well done him.
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