Given the available players there were, I think, two possibilities - Carter or Turner. If Hickey and Bowen pick Turner then Pakalani has to play wing and Berrick goes to the bench. Being conservative selectors they will only pick young players on the bench and try to give them just 5 minutes. So that option had to be out unless Barnes was injured. Only other option available is to shuffle everyone out one space, which is exactly what they did.
Carter has been passing better this year, so he might go better at 13 than he did last year. Turner also did not set the house on fire at 13 last week. If, as Bruce suggests, Berrick at 12 means he won't be able to kick everything he gets but will have to think about running occasionally then it might just work.
The other issue is that both Bulls wingers are quick, At least one of them will be marked by a speedster.
To contra Blue's point, I think an arm wrestle is exactly what the Tahs want, preferably in the opposition 22. They do back their ability to grind out a win with their very tight defence and big pack. If there are a lot of points scored then I think it will be because either the Tah forwards get on top and then release the backs with front foot ball or because the Bulls get on top and we get slaughtered. But I expect a tough, low scoring game with penalties the decider.
The loss of Kepu is critical however, the Fuse is not as good in the open. He won't let us down in the tight but we won't see any 20 metre Kepu-type charges.What happens if Robinson goes down I don't know. Maybe Fuse to LHP because he played there early in his career or Ryan because LHP is less demanding than THP. I guess one of the two has spent time training there this week, anyone got any goss?
