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Wallabies v Italy - 9 November

Major Tom

Major Tom

Chilla Wilson (44)
Brumby Runner said:
Six changes to the "best" XXIII put out against England. Hate to say it but it's looking like Joe has fallen for the same false sense of superiority that led to Rennie's demise.

Don't mind Faessler starting with Pollard on the bench. Not a lot of difference in quality there. AAA missing out altogether is a surprise.

One change I, and some others here, would have liked to have seen would have been LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) in the row with Williams on the bench. But not to be and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) misses out entirely.

Two changes to the backrow with Hooper at 6 and Samu on the bench. I would have preferred Valetini at 6 with Hooper on the bench, and while I always liked Pistol Pete, I wonder how he will fit into the playing structures not having played in a Joe Schmidt side before? From the selections here, it looks like Hooper will move into the second row when a lock comes off, while Valetini will then fill the 6 spot. McReight won't be replaced, so Samu is covering Wilson and injuries aside will see sweet fuck all game time is my guess.

The two Gordons in tandem leaves us short of a goal kicker for at least half the game, probably more. Unlikely to be any early penalty goals to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Probably have to win it with increments of 5 on the board.

Ikitau's absence will again hurt us in the backline.

Corey Toole's inclusion looks to be designed to give everyone a run on the European leg.

This side is not close to our best, and this game deserves our best. Lose it and the damage will be felt hard.
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Hang on. You don’t like the mass changes but advocate for Len to come in? I think he’s wife is expecting anyways.

I don’t hate this team. The bench looks better than last week. The lack of 2nd row is a risk but you’d have to think that Hooper will move to the 2nd row late. Valetini is a great player but hasn’t had the same impact with his stop start season. I like him coming off the bench and ripping in late.

Faesler is a good option to start. Pollard now has the maturity to close a test.
I think AAA would be managing his shoulder so don’t have a problem with Zane replacing him. He’s a step down scrum wise but probably a better option ball carrying wise. Ross is a step up from Robertson IMO so I’m more than happy about that.

Samu is interesting. I think he will come on for McReight if we can afford it. McReight still our best 7 by a while but he’s playing a lot of minutes. Tizzano would be ideal but picked up an injury after Japan so he wouldn’t have had that full training prep that Schmidt likes (not sure I agree with it). Schmidt probably should have played Samu against Japan in hindsight.

The backs are shuffling again which is frustrating. I believe jorgo is sick and Pietch picked up a head knock in training (classic us). I actually would not have minded jorgo to the back and Peitch and Potter to the wings but this looks like the best we can do. Daungunu if the bench is a no brainer with his ability to play multiple positions.

I’m not worried about goal kicking I’m more worried about kicking for the line.
 
dru

dru

Jason Little (69)
Brumby Runner said:
Six changes to the "best" XXIII put out against England. Hate to say it but it's looking like Joe has fallen for the same false sense of superiority that led to Rennie's demise.
Click to expand...

BR, it's disappointing but it is not the Japan squad. This seems based off the First XV with some juggling. Still, ...

Brumby Runner said:
This side is not close to our best, and this game deserves our best. Lose it and the damage will be felt hard.
Click to expand...

I'm with you there.
 
The Ghost of Raelene

The Ghost of Raelene

Tim Horan (67)
Pollard on the bench also feels like timely move even for a week. He's been the main Hooker for a while now and is probably due a reduced week and his speed could be valuable in the last 25-30. Faessler is also in need of game time after a disrupted season. That change doens't worry me and these two in the squad is an improvement on Nasser.
 
Dctarget

Dctarget

Jason Little (69)
So sounds like all the changes are forced except for Gordon at flyhalf. Can't really fault Joe then.

I was wrong earlier about Italy not having any big outs. Their backline is class and I'd take their 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15 over ours.

But their backrow is missing captain Michele Lamaro and Sebestian Negri, that's 110+ caps between them. Really, really important for us to get the wood on them up front.
Italy XV
15. Ange Capuozzo (Toulouse, 28 caps)
14. Louis Lynagh (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)
13. Juan Ignacio Brex (Toulon, 46 caps) – captain
12. Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby, 31 caps)
11. Monty Ioane (Lyon, 39 caps)
10. Paolo Garbisi (Toulon, 47 caps)
9. Stephen Varney (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)
8. Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 30 caps)
7. Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby, 35 caps)
6. Ross Vintcent (Exeter Chiefs, 17 caps)
5. Andrea Zambonin (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)
4. Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 55 caps)
3. Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby, 66 caps)
2. Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Français, 34 caps)
1. Danilo Fischetti (Northampton Saints, 55 caps)

Replacements
16. Tommaso Di Bartolomeo (Zebre Parma, 3 caps)
17. Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)
18. Marco Riccioni (Saracens, 34 caps)
19. Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby, 64 caps)
20. Alessandro Izekor (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)
21. Martin Page-Relo (Bordeaux, 18 caps)
22. Tommaso Allan (Perpignan, 86 caps)
23. Leonardo Marin (Benetton Rugby, 15 caps)
 
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rugbyAU

rugbyAU

Peter Johnson (47)
HarryElite said:
I think wallabies clean up here by 15-20 points.
I just cant see how italy keep up with us.
we have the best open field kicker in the world with wilson and a really running rugby backline plus a world class front row and 7.
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Hopefully but when we play teams below us we always seem to play down to our opposition
 
W

whitefalcon

Trevor Allan (34)
Jeez im nervous about this one. Lots of changes.

I also cant stop seeing 2023 gordon thowing cut out passes for the intercept again and again. I hope im wrong
 
rugbyAU

rugbyAU

Peter Johnson (47)
Strewthcobber said:
Is Italy away really that much of a drop for us as a team right now? It's a pretty revealling matchup for us at the moment. Italy's backline in particular is probably going to show us a thing or two this weekend.
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In theory we should win comftably, Italy are Tier 2 and 10th, they have only won one game against Tier 1 since we last played them I believe

lost 45-0 in SA and conceded 70+ v France earlier this year

they haven't got the wins to justify all this hype about them
 
Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
rugbyAU said:
In theory we should win comftably, Italy are Tier 2 and 10th, they have only won one game against Tier 1 since we last played them I believe

lost 45-0 in SA and conceded 70+ v France earlier this year
Click to expand...

It's 7th vs 10th on the rankings with the 10th side playing at home.

I feel like the 10.5 point start Italy have is pretty generous and have taken it.
 
Major Tom

Major Tom

Chilla Wilson (44)
We’re a 1.20. We should be alright.
But I think we were the same against Japan and we only just won that…
This is Italys first game since July yeah?
 
Wilson

Wilson

Tim Horan (67)
rugbyAU said:
In theory we should win comftably, Italy are Tier 2 and 10th, they have only won one game against Tier 1 since we last played them I believe
Click to expand...
Italy are a tier 1 nation. They have 5 wins over tier 1 nations since we last played them - Wales (24 and 25), Scotland (24), Japan (23 and 24) and a draw (France 24).
 
Strewthcobber

Strewthcobber

Phil Kearns (64)
rugbyAU said:
they haven't got the wins to justify all this hype about them
Click to expand...
They beat both Scotland (8) and Wales (12) at home last starts, as well as Georgia (11) and Japan (13).

We are currently way closer to Scotland (8) than France (5) as a team. We "should" win, but I think we need to recognise that this is more a commentary on where Australia is than Italy is
 
rugbyAU

rugbyAU

Peter Johnson (47)
Japan are not a Tier 1 nation - they’re 13th and only have beaten a Tier 1 team five times in their history

Georgia not a Tier 1 nation

Wales are no longer a Tier 1 nation at 12th (briefly 14th) after an 18 game losing streak

The only legit Tier 1 side they’ve beaten since us is Scotland, who have made one quarter final in the last four world cups and are the only other team to have never been in the Top 2 of the 6 Nations in history
 
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