Wallabies vs Wales - Docklands Stadium June 16

Look, Vuna did look a bit lost out there in the 1st half, much better in the 2nd. Bloke has gone from League to Super Rugby to Test Rugby in 2 years. Your always exposed more on the wing obviously (I've played there), Diggers missed a few tackles. Comparing Vuna to Diggers, hmmm. might as well compare him to the centres & backrow considering his roving style on Saturday night.

To be honest, a lot of the outside (even inside) backs did sweet FA vs Scotland. I was willing to give them a 2nd go. If selected, see how he goes here, otherwise bring on Shippers.

Jeez, not a lot of love for Coop. Thought he was solid in the second half, perhaps a bit overawed in the first.

I'd leave him in for the Melbourne test and see how he goes.

Thrilled for Delve at getting selected in the Welsh squad. A year too late, thoroughly deserved.

Yeah, f**k you Gatland, screwed the Hamilton leg of the World Cup trip last year.

You cannot really excuse his defensive performance on the weekend when he has consistently shown at Super Rugby level that he is a liability in defense. He is an even greater liability at test level against higher quality opposition. We were lucky that Wales did not target him on the weekend and I will be very, very surprised if Cuthbert and North are not running at him all night this Saturday.

Vuna looked to not have enough of a grasp of the fundamentals to be a test winger.

The euphoria of an apparently unexpected win seems to colour people's perceptions of how players went on the weekend. The Welsh coaching contingent will be well aware that it will be a different game if they can can assert themselves at the breakdown and cut down Genia's time and options. He had a heap of opportunity and created everything for the wallabies. When that stops - and I'm starting to sound like Hanrahan here - We'll all be rooned.

Come back Kurtley.

Not excusing it, just stating the facts. Notice my last sentence: If selected, see how he goes here, otherwise bring on Shippers.

But Vuna only made 2 tackles..

Ioane made 4 and missed 4.

For all of the Vuna's defensive faults, he did bring raw enthusiasm onto the field. His kick chase was good all night, eventually resulting in him bundling Halfpenny into touch. I was watched the game with my old man (who is an old leaguie) and he stood up and applauded. I also remember a point where Vuna chased and pressured the Welsh back three. He missed every single tackle he attempted, but got himself back up and tried again until the support came.

What Vuna lacked in the defensive department he partly made up for in his willingness. He wasn't as bad as I have seen him play. However, I would still like to see him given some more time to full learn rugby inside and out before throwing him into the test side.

While I'm on that game though, McCabe ran some beautiful lines. His angled run back on the inside that he scored off was magical. You had 3 guys drifting wide, forcing the defence to slide. Then BANG! McCabe hits the line hard on the opposite angle. More of that this weekend please!

I think we will see a very similar team to last weekend. I am not happy with Dennis being used as a back up lock though. And Horne still isn't impressing me.

The McCabe try was because Genia brought someone up out of the line.

I'm trying to work out if the same thing could be done wider to counter the Scots style of defense, but it would need Cooper's pass.

Quade would throw an intercept

Behind his back. He never does anything the easy way.

I would be surprised if there is much change to the side that ran out in Brisbane other than for injury. Vuna ended up going off on Saturday as he was starting to cramp up a bit. He tried hard but I think needs to do a bit of fitness work to go along with all the rest.

What will be interesting for me will be the attitude of the Wallabies through the next 2 matches. They turned up at Suncorp with a point to prove and did so. But over the last few seasons they've given us no reason at all to think they can do that consistently.

I had high hopes that coming in to this June series, the Wallabies would be able to go through undefeated and in doing so notch up 6 consecutive test wins for the first time in who knows how long. That dream didn't last long.

Not entirely correct. Higgers, Alexander and Ashley Cooper were trending right. McCabe had set himself a long way back, to run at the opposite angle. Genia took the ball from the back of the ruck and popped a short ball to McCabe, who ran straight between Phillips and someone else I couldn't make out. Both of the Welsh defenders were drifting in an attempt to cover Higgers, Alexander and Ashley Cooper. They never saw McCabe coming.

It was a well worked play between Genia and McCabe.

A few interesting team choices for this next game.

I expect we are not likely to see Beale come back until the 3rd test. If we'd lost at Suncorp I suspect the coaching staff would have tried to rush him back, but after Barnes' composed performance on Saturday, Deans should have confidence in Barnes to do the job (as do I). I stand by my comments last week that Barnes is not an idle flyhalf for Australia, being more suited to inside centre. He is however a solid test player, and a sensible choice as back up flyhalf.

It will be interesting to see who gets the nod if Kepu is injured. The smart money would be on Alexander with Palmer to come onto the bench. I wouldn't mind seeing Palmer get promoted. That's a pure scrummaging decision, although he did put in a very busy performance against Scotland. I'd really like to see Deans continue a trend of playing a specialist LH and a specialist TH. But I guess it has never been the Australian way to choose good scrummaging over work in the loose.

Horne is one player that is having a horrible season, yet there is a huge upside to him. I'm not sure he offers anything that Faingaa doesn't. I would have been tempted to hook him for bombing that try on Saturday. Deans will surely give him another start this weekend, but he needs to start offering more in attack and defence if he wants a regular spot in the team. If he's just going to be a pure defensive player, then Faingaa has it over him. And if Beale, O'Connor or Cooper became fit tomorrow he is the obvious choice to move out of the team (with Barnes and McCabe both shuffling out one position).

Moore v TPN - The obvious choice is to bring Moore back into the starting although I think that is a bit tough on TPN as I thought he played the best we've seen him play in a long while. He brings a real physicality to the Aussie pack and if he can get his throws right he can make a big impact. I think he's probably best suited to playing the last 25 minutes of the game as he does seem to hit the proverbial wall after about 55 minutes.

I think everyone agrees that Vuna probably is not yet ready for test rugby. Had we been playing the All Blacks he would have looked seriously red faced. I'd like to see Morahan get another chance, but that seems unlikely given that he's fallen out of the squad. He's a more talented attacking player than Shipperley (IMO), and is clearly more versatile.

I think the team for Saturday will be as follows:-

1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Alexander
4. Simo
5. Sharpe
6. Higgers
7. Pocock
8. Palu
9. Genia
10. Barnes
11. Diggers
12. McCabe
13. Horne
14. Shipperley
15. AAC


16. TPN
17. Palmer
18. Timani (why Deans doesn't prefer Pyle or Douglas to this bloke I have no idea)
19. Dennis
20. Hooper
21. White
22. Faingaa

Just put it back a test. I have!

Vuna should make way for morahan or shipperley, who both should have been ahead of him.
I feel that we need a lock on the bench, so one of dennis or hooper has to drop out.
Let palmer have a chance to prove he is of true test quality if Kepu is no good.
If beale is right (should be, if you're fine to brawl with security guards you're fine to play), start him at 15 with the option to move to 10 if need be.
Horne should go until he picks up his form again.
1. Robinson (need slightly more from him)
2. Moore
3. Palmer
4. Simmons
5. Sharpe
6. Higginbotham
7. Pocock
8. Palu
9. genia
10. Barnes
11. Digby
12. McCabe
13. AAC
14. Morahan (why can't Aidan toua get fit!!!!!!!!!!!, this spot will be his for half a decade if he ever does)
15. Beale

16. TPN
17. Slipper
18. Pye or timani (preferably Pyle)
19. Dennis or Hooper
20. White
21. Faingaa (or Harris if we're worried for Kurtley, back up goalkicker and playmaker etc.)
22. Shipperley or Vuna

Well not Higgenbotham's try.

Morahan hasn't travelled to Melbourne, Foley has..

Faingaa in for Horne.

Vuna to stay. It was his debut let's not forget and dropping a player after his debut would not be great. Maybe onto the bench but not out of the 22.