just read Bob Dwyers piece. He reckons:
9. Phipps
10. Foley
11. Horne
12. Kuridrani
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Beale
15. Folau
Gee bob is obsessed with having Tevita at twelve. I thought we put the crash ball 12 to bed? Or are we wanting to emulate warren gatland and wales?
Sure it's nice to have a big bloke wearing 12 like nonu but unfortunately we don't have anyone like him who also offers the second playmaker role. I actually think To'omua is doing a more than satisfactory job so why chop and change everything completely?
Dwyer has been hammering on about Kuridrani at 12 for ages and it clearly isn't going to happen.
To'omua will stay at 12 but I think people are really deceiving themselves if they think he's been good in test rugby this season. He was only average against France and he has had two mediocre tests against the All Blacks. He's making errors and creating almost nothing in attack. He's been charged with doing a fair amount of the kicking game in general play and that has been poor. He hasn't been decisive in attack and is equally as guilty as Beale of crabbing across field. Maybe things will improve when Phipps and Foley come into 9 and 10 but To'omua has a lot to work on.
At this stage To'omua is a second playmaker in name only. He's not actually doing any of that. The only aspect of his game that has been decent is he has made some strong tackles in defence.
Our 9, 10 and 12 have been completely ineffectual in the two Bledisloes. The first was in tough conditions but the second one there weren't a lot of excuses. I think To'omua will be the only one of that three to retain his starting spot and there'll be a hope that once Phipps and Foley are starting, To'omua will also improve.
Our catch 22 though is that once Beale gets out to that wider playmaker position he is creating opportunities. If he could tackle, he'd probably be the 12. His defence has proved such a liability though I can't see how he can play there apart from off the bench.
It seems that McKenzie is more inclined to finish the game with Phipps, Foley and Beale at 9, 10, 12 than he is with Phipps, Beale/Foley, To'omua based on the five tests this year.