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Ireland v Australia

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Joe Blow

Peter Sullivan (51)
Could easily have left Hodgo on the bench to finish out the game. Ireland are pretty handy at the breakdown and we have gone from three small blokes in the 23 to only one specialist 7 who's not really known as an on the baller.
Mind, the added size will help our set piece and line out. Jones likes to carry the ball as well.
The strongest side on tour to date.
Hope QC (Quade Cooper) gets some time with Phipps.

Robinson/Faulkner, Skelton and Beale to drop off the bench please.
 

Lee Grant

John Eales (66)
Staff member
Thank god, that's the best ref possible for us.

Nigel on the sideline is interesting, there's a hell of a lot of rugby on and you'd think one of the top refs would be the main ref. Wonder if he's been 'dropped'.

Nigel dropped?

I doubt it - he's been in reasonable form in the second half of the year, except for in Mendoza when he came up with some whacko decisions—and they rotate them anyway.

The November test appointments were made as a block and they rotate some of the referees so that a few lesser-rated ones get a shot at big games.

Jackson has refereed in the TRC (Oz v Arg), but given the current ratings of the protagonists in the Ire v Aus test, this is the biggest match of his career.
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Grandmaster Flash

Johnnie Wallace (23)
Beale's back - bench named:

Res: James Hanson, Tetera Faulkner, Benn Robinson, Will Skelton, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale.
 

Lindommer

Steve Williams (59)
Staff member
I wouldn't read too much in who's on the bench and who isn't, those not on the pine this week'll be there next week.
 

KOB1987

Rod McCall (65)
Beale's back - bench named:

Res: James Hanson, Tetera Faulkner, Benn Robinson, Will Skelton, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale.

no doubt there will be some conjecture but that is a good finishing bench - Cooper & Beale fresh could cause some havoc
 

Lee Grant

John Eales (66)
Staff member
I wouldn't read too much in who's on the bench and who isn't, those not on the pine this week'll be there next week.

Supposing all the Wobs get a run it will mean that only English and Godwin would not have got a test on tour - with one test to go.

At least English got a mid-week game for the Baas, but it's a pity about Godwin. It's always a problem for specialist inside centres to be chosen for a test bench, especially in a squad like the Wallabies that has four other players who can play there, and elsewhere as well.

The time he gets in the Wob squad will be priceless but the problem may be that those others are around for years to come.

Or maybe not: most of them could disappear in a couple of years, or sooner. Whatever, it would be good if he could get a run at 13 at the Force next year to broaden his repertoire - or some minutes at flyhalf where he played in younger days.

Otherwise he may be the player to disappear - and who could blame him?
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Tomikin

Simon Poidevin (60)
Odd that Speight not 14 and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 11 - especially since the former lives there for province and the latter has the vicious right arm fend? Or is there some sort of "its just numbers on the back" bs going on?!?!?!??!?!?!
It is confusing considering Speight left fend and step inside. But maybe the coach like AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the right.
 

Joe Blow

Peter Sullivan (51)
I think Alexander is a very serviceable bench prop. He offers a high workrate at the back end of games and is very experienced.
It will be interesting to see how Faulkner goes at TH. I guess this is the best test to trial him there.
Not sure if you want a pot plant in the last 15 minutes. I am not suggesting that Faulkner is one but at that point of the test the scrum often becomes a bit of a non contest with both sides having made a multitude of changes.
Of course the problem is when your starting TH goes down in the first quarter.
 

Brumby Runner

David Wilson (68)
Beale's back - bench named:

Res: James Hanson, Tetera Faulkner, Benn Robinson, Will Skelton, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale.

Poor Horne, must really feel left out. Only Tah not to make the squad. Would 100% rather see him there than Beale who hasn't been playing or training with the squad for many weeks and was in very poor form when he was last playing. Explanation might be that Izzy will be rested during the game but in that case I would prefer to see AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 15 and Horne on the wing.
 

Brumby Runner

David Wilson (68)
Poor Horne, must really feel left out. Only Tah not to make the squad. Would 100% rather see him there than Beale who hasn't been playing or training with the squad for many weeks and was in very poor form when he was last playing. Explanation might be that Izzy will be rested during the game but in that case I would prefer to see AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 15 and Horne on the wing.

And Skelton retains his spot on the bench. Give me a break. He cannot yet play at this level and should have at least another twelve months learning the trade before he gots another run. I am supposing Horwill has an injury, but better value would have been McMahon on the bench to cover 6/8 and Jones to lock if either Simmons or Carter come off.
 

Tomikin

Simon Poidevin (60)
Did you watch much of the Force?

They were the most effective & consistent Aus scrum, Foley made them very solid.

Alexander has done little to stop the coaches looking for other options

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
I don't think they were, and it was Longbottom and Cowen for most the season. Up till his injury Alexander was the form THP. Faulkner was on the bench. His got his shot I hope he dominants but if I picked a team tomorrow to play in a WC final it be Alexander on the bench.
 
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