Australia v Scotland, 3:00pm 17 June Sydney Football Stadium

[Braveheart81]

The back row misses Pocock of course, and I'd find room for Timani and drop Hanigan, but if anything the current back row is better balanced than the "double 7". Still think we could use a fetcher though.

On paper I think Timani improves the back row but I don't think his form is really there at all.

I'd retain Hanigan on the basis that his form is stronger. Timani is not playing close to the form he showed in 2016 in my opinion.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Timani miss out again and Hanigan and Hardwick retained in the 23.

 

[dru]

The Scotland team does look a step down from what we faced last year, especially in the back three. They will still be a huge challenge though.
.

I thought the player sheet might show that we are stepped-down too - at least front and back row. But no. Not the case.

The front row (6 players)is the same barring Sio's injury - and start v benched were swapped for Fiji.

The back row misses Pocock of course, and I'd find room for Timani and drop Hanigan, but if anything the current back row is better balanced than the "double 7". Still think we could use a fetcher though.

For the record, comparing EOYT Scots game to last week:

1: 2016 Sio. 2017 Robertson
2: 2016 Moore 2017 Polatu Nau
3: 2016 Kepu. 2017 7A
16: 2016 Latu. 2017 Moore
17: 2016 Robertson 2017 Smith
18: 2016 7A 2017 Kepu

So other than injury, pretty much the same with the exception of swapping bench for starters

6: 2016 Pocock. 2017 Hanigan
7: Hooper
8: 2016 Timani. 2017 Higgers
21/22 2016 Mumm. 2017 Hardwick

So reassessing my thought that we weren't playing our A team in these two rows - Cheika is acyually showing some consistency, injuries/not available are one issue, and just the one obvious experiment - starting the bench front row against Fiji.

Think our back line is better. Foley, who has a habit of breaking Scot hearts, was on song last week.

Wallabies by 10.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Cheika has to start Moore or retire him from captaincy and drop him out of the Wallabies. It's a matter of "face" for both of them. We'll see which way Cheika jumps.

Would rather have Moore in the team as Captain (shit - did I really say that) than have Hooper don that hat.

 

[Heavyd]

Have received an email a day about tickets and today just received two text messages from ARU urging me to buy tickets. Will be interesting to see crowd numbers.

 

[emuarse]

The lack of discussion/speculation/argument on here is a really good indicator as to how low interest is in these games from the general rugby public. Wins are vital to get people paying attention again...

Barbarian, I can't really see where you're coming from
Maybe we are all in agreement, and perhaps more will be said once the Wallabies side is announced.
Also if we were playing the sheep shaggers or the Souafreekaners then there would be their expatriate doomsayers all over the thread.

 

[KOB1987]

 

[KOB1987]

Interesting, the only change is Nabuli for Speight. The named bench is the same as last week's ;-)

 

[Braveheart81]

I think we can now assume that Cheika thinks that is currently his best forward pack and probably the best team in general (except maybe Nabuli coming in for Speight as Speight clearly had a good game).

 

[KOB1987]

^^^^ I think Sio for Roberston too, he's probably still either not fit or Cheik would rather resume him off the bench. It still has a bit of a developmental feel about it, RWC2019 is no doubt front of mind.

 

[oztimmay]

Looks like Henry is injured.


An interesting inference from Beth: was Tom's position in the starting lineup under question, irrespective if Sio was fit or not? Would love to see Toby start a test this year.

 

[ShtinaTina]

Liking this starting XV

 

[KOB1987]

Speight has a dodgy hammy apparently.

 

[whitefalcon]

That's a shame, he had a great game.

 

[barbarian]

Really surprised he picked Nabuli ahead of Naivalu and Korobeite. Maybe he's putting in the yards at training? Either way I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes.

 

[Braveheart81]

Really surprised he picked Nabuli ahead of Naivalu and Korobeite. Maybe he's putting in the yards at training? Either way I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes.

Yeah, he would have been my last choice of the four Fijian wingers.

 

[Sully]

I'm surprised at the tight five. I expected​ Arnold in for Carter and Sio and Kepu to start.
Also thougjt Moore would start ahead of TPN although I didn't agree with it.

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[amirite]

Yeah, he would have been my last choice of the four Fijian wingers.

I don't think Koroibete would've been competing for Speight's role.

As we know, Chieka picks for roles not positions. Speights role is a defender at 13 in general play (pushing Foley out of the line, and everyone else in one). I don't believe Koroibete would be considered for this due to his newness to the game.

Nabuli is a big body and is physical, but I'm not 100% sure if his rugby IQ is high enough yet to match the Scottish centers. They're pretty handy.

To me, Naivalu would've been the obvious pick.

I'm surprised at the tight five. I expected​ Arnold in for Carter and Sio and Kepu to start.
Also thougjt Moore would start ahead of TPN although I didn't agree with it.

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The reasoning here is obvious for mine, though I don't necessarily agree with it.

Carter is a Simmons-type lock. Lineout caller who's busy around the park. Sometimes called loosehead lock.

Arnold and Coleman are very similar players, your bruiser lock. Sometimes called your tighthead lock.

Now, I think making Coleman take on some of the Loosehead lock responsibilities (calling) worked well last year. But, I see the reasoning.

 

[Sully]

Nabuli should increase our penalty count. He makes a few mistakes.

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[eastman]

Yeah, he would have been my last choice of the four Fijian wingers.

Agreed- he's the most one dimensional of all of them (and they're all relatively one dimensional)

 

[joeyjohnz]

Straight up, the Nabuli pick is bloody daft. I've watched every Reds game this year and last, so I do feel a little qualified.

The kids got skills and can finish a try, but he's simply a dumb rugby player. I'm sorry, but it's true.

He's the type of player that will mis-time his chase off a box-kicking 9, end up 3 metres infront the kicker by the time boot reaches ball, and just keep chasing. All while the referee is screaming "14 NO".

He's the type of player that can't tell the difference between binary opposites. Airborne and grounded; Above and Below the neck; and Onside and offside. There's no difference to this guy.

He's just incredibly stupid and ill disciplined. It's a bit of an oxymoron to refer to him as a professional athlete considering his complete disregard for my sanity as a Reds fan.

That said, if he manages to fix his disciplinary issues he probably won't disappoint.