Wallabies versus Wales- SFS

I was surprised not to see a thread on this game already, so here we go.

The first Wallabies game at the SFS since 1999 will be an occassion to remember.

Will the Wallabies fall at the last hurdle or will they send an ominous message to touring sides (apart from Scotland) about the mighty green and gold?

Discuss.

It's expected that AAC will switch to the right wing, and Beale will be at full back. Vuna to have a holiday care of SANZAR

Perhaps not worth an new thread but thought it curious about Barnes in the SMH team of the week:

Paul Cully selects the form team from the weekend Tests.
15: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
14: JP Pietersen(South Africa)
13: Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
12: Berrick Barnes (Australia)*
11: Digby Ioane(Australia)
10: Dan Carter (New Zealand)
9: Ben Youngs(England)
8: Pierre Spies(South Africa)
7: David Pocock (Australia)
6: Willem Alberts (South Africa)
5: Nathan Sharpe (Australia)
4: Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
3: Adam Jones (Wales)
2: Bismarck du Plessis (Sth Africa)
1: Cian Healy (Ireland)
* picked out of position due to the strength of his game against Wales and no stadnout No.12 performance from the round

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/international-team-of-the-week-20120617-20i6r.html#ixzz1y66kXPC8

Fair enough no decent 12's and probably 50/50 between Carter and Barnes. Also thought AAC might have shaded Halfpenny.

I would like to see KB move to 10, Barnes to 12 and McCabe to the wing. This combination is not new, with McCabe playing some time at wing in the two previous games against Wales (plus lots of Super Rugby experience there). Besides, we may not get a better chance to see KB at 10 before QC is fully fit and returns to the side.

Excuse my ignorance, but can someone tell be how Warren Gatland injured himself in NZ? When I mention the Words "Gatland" and "injury" in the same sentence, 'Dr Google' keeps referring to 2011 RWC semi-final against France, when Warburton was red-carded and the Welsh coaching staff considered faking an injury to a prop to create non-contested scrums. Not the answer I was after!

he fell off a ladder and broke both his legs

I believe he fell off a ladder and broke both his heels/ankles on impact with the ground.

This is the team I would like to see this weekend:

You could easily swap Moore into Hooker but playing at the SFS should provide a big boost to the Tah's players. For that advantage I would keep TPN for another game (he also played very well over the weekend again so its hard to drop him on form).

15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)

14. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)

13. Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)

12. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)

11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)

10. Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels)

9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)

8. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)

7. David Pocock (captain, Western Force)

6. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)

5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)

4. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)

3. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)

2. Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs)

1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)

Run on Reserves:
16. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
17. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
18. Dave Dennis (NSW Waratahs)
19. Michael Hooper (Brumbies)
20. Nic White (Brumbies)
21. Anthony Fainga'a (Queensland Reds)
22. Mike Harris (Queensland Reds)

I would love to see another forward on the bench, ideally a lock - we really need to give some of the young locks a try out, before Sharpe or Simmons is injured. Timani does not look like the answer, time to see whether Pyle, Neville, or one of the Bumblies locks is.

Agreed. Simmons certainly hasn't set the world on fire with his play in 2012. It might be a great chance for Pyle to play next to Sharpe and gain some invaluable experience from the great man.

Well if you believe what sharpe has said this will be his last game for the wallabies. he has always said that his last game of rugby will be with force at the end of Super Rugby. He has however said he is open to maybe playing on with the wallabies if asked.so maybe maybe not.

I am excited already for this one - the wife and I are flying down so will be great to see it live

I think Joe Mac's side is probably ideal, specially the front 3. Just keep the tahs front 3 intact for the run on side.

Couldn't agree more! SFS on a Saturday arvo will be all-time!

Managed to buy a block of 18 tickets from the ARU, so me and the lads are planning on making a day of it!

Yeah I agree, thought it was absolute madness on Saturday when Dave Dennis was at lock in the scrums when Hooper came to the field.

Hooper was pretty disappointing when he came on on the weekend but I think he should stay on the bench. He's probably the best impact 7 in Australia in the moment.

That would be a first!

AAC is very safe at 15, and I would love to see Beale at 10.

But. McCabe is playing very well at 12, though - I think Deans will be reluctant to move him. And Barnes was distracted enough to look spontaneous on Saturday - fantastic. The easy fix of Beale to 15, AAC to wing and Vuna to super rugby via a judiciary enforced break must be likely.

On McCabe - he seems to get more than a twinge in his shoulder every game (again) now. After some sort of impact in both Wales tests he struggled for a couple of minutes, including quite early on Saturday night. More subluxation?

I've said this on the past 3 match threads, but it is beyond stupid that we do not have a specialist lock on the bench. What happens if Sharpe does not continue for the Four Nations? We have no Horwill? Simmons has been average. What if there is an injury (touch wood)? Pyle and Douglas look ripe to be put into test rugby, so why the fuck has it not happened yet?

Damn Deans

Thank you both for that. What a terrible way to get an extension to a short holiday in your country of birth! Maybe he's related to Ian (Molly) Meldrum! A friend of mine once fell from the top of a security fence whilst trying to gain "free entry" to a pop concert! He broke both wrists when he landed, and was at the peak of his rugby career. Many of you would know him, as he went on to play for NSW!

1-9 pick themselves.
Is KB available to play ??? If so, then 10 - 15 is as good as it gets
only change to me would be Slipper on bench for Alexander
Have always supported Moore over TPN at run-on but TPN's form is pretty special at the moment
Sharpie going very good at moment but should we blood another (for this game)

I remember those days. I'm heading there with my kids while Mrs p.Tah will be at home, holding on because we have another kid due in 5 days after the test. If the baby comes early there may be some free tickets on offer at G&GR!

We should catch up for a beer P-Tah. It was a good omen doing so in Paris when we punished the French!

(That's if you arent in the delivery room!)

If you are, my brother will buy the tickets on short notice so let me know.