France v Australia, Saturday 19 November

[Highlander35]

The Socceroos almost paid the price for "resting" Tim Cahill from the Thailand match, scraping home with a 2-2 draw. He did have some Achilles soreness, but that was over two weeks ago.

Timmy isn't a best XI player anymore at basically 37 though. Excellent 25 minutes off the bench option, but nothing they shouldn't be able to cover.

 

[hammertimethere]

The talk of mass changes for the french test both baffles and terrifies me. It's completely nonsensical. In most position groups our boys need time together to build combinations and confidence, not only for 2017 for the long term but so that they are honed for Ireland and England in the short term. Certainly our tight 5 as much as possible, 12/13 both need to remain quite constant within reason.

I do however, recognise that in some tinkering for load management and form reasons is ok, especially so now that some lads have joined the squad and others are back to fitness.

Personally my preference for France would be
1. Sio
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4. Arnold
5. Simmons
6. Fardy
7. Pocock
8. Timani
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Naivalu
12. Hodge
13. TK
14. DHP
15. Folau

16. Latu
17. Slipper
18. AAAA
19. Mumm
20. McMahon
21. Phipps
22. Foley
23. Naiyaravoro

Small changes in back row, 10 and wing. Hooper and Foley to rest for once, Cooper to actually play some minutes. Pocock to stay on if the game is in the balance but come off if we're up by > 2 scores. Speight stopped to find some form.

 

[Mr Doug]

Timmy isn't a best XI player anymore at basically 37 though. Excellent 25 minutes off the bench option, but nothing they shouldn't be able to cover.

Totally agree, H35, but we will never know if he would have been able to supply that "X factor", (or in this case the "XI factor") in those last 25 minutes of that match!

 

[tragic]

The talk of mass changes for the french test both baffles and terrifies me. It's completely nonsensical. In most position groups our boys need time together to build combinations and confidence, not only for 2017 for the long term but so that they are honed for Ireland and England in the short term. Certainly our tight 5 as much as possible, 12/13 both need to remain quite constant within reason.

I do however, recognise that in some tinkering for load management and form reasons is ok, especially so now that some lads have joined the squad and others are back to fitness.

Personally my preference for France would be
1. Sio
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4. Arnold
5. Simmons
6. Fardy
7. Pocock
8. Timani
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Naivalu
12. Hodge
13. TK
14. DHP
15. Folau

16. Latu
17. Slipper
18. AAAA
19. Mumm
20. McMahon
21. Phipps
22. Foley
23. Naiyaravoro

Small changes in back row, 10 and wing. Hooper and Foley to rest for once, Cooper to actually play some minutes. Pocock to stay on if the game is in the balance but come off if we're up by > 2 scores. Speight stopped to find some form.

That would be my lineup as well.
Except I'd be tempted to swap DHP and Folau just for shits and giggles.
And rest folau early for naiyarovoro if we have a healthy lead.

 

[Scrubber2050]

The talk of mass changes for the french test both baffles and terrifies me. It's completely nonsensical. In most position groups our boys need time together to build combinations and confidence, not only for 2017 for the long term but so that they are honed for Ireland and England in the short term. Certainly our tight 5 as much as possible, 12/13 both need to remain quite constant within reason.

I do however, recognise that in some tinkering for load management and form reasons is ok, especially so now that some lads have joined the squad and others are back to fitness.

Personally my preference for France would be
1. Sio
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4. Arnold
5. Simmons
6. Fardy
7. Pocock
8. Timani
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Naivalu
12. Hodge
13. TK
14. DHP
15. Folau

16. Latu
17. Slipper
18. AAAA
19. Mumm
20. McMahon
21. Phipps
22. Foley
23. Naiyaravoro

Small changes in back row, 10 and wing. Hooper and Foley to rest for once, Cooper to actually play some minutes. Pocock to stay on if the game is in the balance but come off if we're up by > 2 scores. Speight stopped to find some form.

I reckon we will see a vastly different team to that one, probably 5 + odd changes to the starting team.

The Irish game is incredibly important to not only the team but to Chek personally. He will "rest" plenty, as he probably should.

 

[Braveheart81]

Footage of Tolu Latu and discussion of Tom Robertson in the latest ARU video with Mario Ledesma. I wonder if that's a clue to both starting?

 

[upthereds#!]

georgina robinson article under Nadolos article regarding RFU AND FRU. Titled 'Morohan named at fullback over koroibete as michael cheika shows faith'.

yet I cannot find this article by googling or on the smh sport website directly. Maybe not approved for final release.

Wouldnt be surprised if about half the starting XV changes but not a full sweep.

Most the bench will have to either start or bench again a few days later, so the starting XV cant change TOOOO much, only a handful of guys can get completely rested.

 

[KOB1987]

Kyle Godwin to debut as Michael Cheika brings in 11 newbies to Wallabies line-up

Paris: Kyle Godwin has come from the clouds and will make his Wallabies debut at inside-centre with Michael Cheika announcing a plethora of changes for the match against France this weekend.
From the starting XV that took the field in Edinburgh last week only David Pocock, Will Genia, Henry Speight and Tevita Kuridrani remain as 11 new faces come in to get more minutes under their belt against the French
Australia and Scotland locked horns in Edinburgh with the visitors snatching a 23-22 win in the dying minutes of the game.
Scott Sio, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Rory Arnold, Michael Hooper, Lopeti Timani, Bernard Foley, Reece Hodge, Dane Haylett-Petty and Israel Folau have all been rested from the starting team as part of Cheika's plan to freshen them up before the all-important fixture against Ireland in Dublin next week.
The Wallabies will field a completely new tight-five with props James Slipper and Allan Ala'alatoa joining hooker Tolu Latu in front of Australia's World Cup final second-row pairing of Kane Douglas and Rob Simmons.

Big step up: Kyle Godwin is set to make his Test debut at the weekend. Photo: Getty Images
With Hooper rested, it means Pocock will move to No.7, Scott Fardy comes into blindside breakaway and Sean McMahon will make his return from injury with a shot at No.8.
Genia, who did not feature in Australia's two matches prior to the Scotland game, will start at halfback alongside a familiar partner in crime in Quade Cooper at five-eighth.
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Brumbies duo Speight and Kuridrani keep their spots in the backline but are joined by winger Sefa Naivalu and a new fullback in Luke Morahan.
And then there is Godwin, the Western Force centre who will take his services to the Brumbies next year.

 

[KOB1987]

Sorry about the clips etc, I found it at the bottom of an article (a la upthereds) and couldn't edit it.

EDIT: sorted it now

 

[upthereds#!]

nice one ! i dont have a subscription so couldnt see it!

 

[No4918]

Wow. Big calls.

Grand slam appears to be the big goal from the tour. Should still be a win but Cheika appears to see dropping this one as acceptable.

 

[Twoilms]

Wow. Big calls.

Grand slam appears to be the big goal from the tour. Should still be a win but Cheika appears to see dropping this one as acceptable.

If the above is spot on, it's still a very strong team. Many of those players people have been arguing for inclusion for a while. Godwin, Cooper, Naivalu etc.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

be interesting to see who is on the bench

 

[Hawko]

Has the finisher's list been held back as usual?

 

[Braveheart81]

1. James Slipper (83 Tests)

2. Tolu Latu (1 Test)

3. Allan Ala'alatoa (7 Tests)

4. Kane Douglas (28 Tests)

5. Rob Simmons (68 Tests)

6. Scott Fardy (38 Tests)

7. David Pocock (c) (63 Tests)

8. Sean McMahon (12 Tests)

9. Will Genia (vc) (73 Tests)

10. Quade Cooper (65 Tests)

11. Henry Speight (8 Tests)

12. Kyle Godwin*

13. Tevita Kuridrani (42 Tests)

14. Sefanaia Naivalu (3 Tests)

15. Luke Morahan (2 Tests)

Reserves (one to be omitted)

Stephen Moore (c) (114 Tests)

Scott Sio (27 Tests)

Tom Robertson (5 Tests)

Will Skelton (17 Tests)

Dean Mumm (54 Tests)

Lopeti Timani (5 Tests)

Nick Phipps (50 Tests)

Bernard Foley (39 Tests)

Taqele Naiyaravoro (2 Tests)

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[Quick Hands]

Wow. Big calls.

Grand slam appears to be the big goal from the tour. Should still be a win but Cheika appears to see dropping this one as acceptable.

Other than having a reunion lunch in 30 years time, I can't really see the point in raving on about winning 4 tests and losing one in the middle.

Particularly when we're long odds to beat either England or Ireland.

I'd have thought that beating France this week would be a good objective.

What happened to the one game at a time cliche?

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Massive call from Cheika, but not one that I disagree with. We've all been screaming for resting some blokes and he's duly delivered.

 

[amirite]

#realtalk - Mumm has shown more than Simmons and should be starting in that role (smaller, higher work rate, lineout calling lock).

Maybe Mumm is seen as first string and will get a go against the good sides.

 

[amirite]

Massive call from Cheika, but not one that I disagree with. We've all been screaming for resting some blokes and he's duly delivered.

The trouble with mass changes is - If is goes well, why? If it goes badly, why?

So many variables. Not a good 'AB test' (as all selections should be).

 

[disco]

I think it's a good team only problem is how well they gel, good team on paper I think they can get the job done.