Australia v England Test 1 Sat. July 2 @1955

[Tah Man]

So Neville starts with Philip/Swain and the other on the bench. Forward pack nearly locked in then. Same goes for who gets the 6/8 combo.
1. Bell
2. Porecki
3. Ala'alatoa
4. Neville
5. Swain/Philip
6. Leota/Valetini
7.Hooper
8. Valetini/Wilson

Then you’d assume the backline will be fairly consistent. I doubt they’ll move people around too much.
9. White
10. Cooper
11. Koroibete
12. Kerevi
13. Ikitau
14. Kellaway
15. Petaia

I don't think there will be anymore surprises today. Swain to partner Neville. Leota at 6 and Banks at 15.


Bench should look something like

16. Fainga'a
17. Slipper
18. Sio
19. Phillip
20. Samu
21. Gordon
22. JOC (James O'Connor)
23. Petaia

 

[Dctarget]

No need to bracket Valetini at #8.

6. Wilson/Leota

You reckon? I don't like Wilson at 6. I'd prefer (if they choose Wilson) to have him at 8 with Valetini at 6.

 

[Derpus]

I would be surprised if its both Valetini and Wilson. I expect to see Leota at 6.

 

[qwerty51]

You reckon? I don't like Wilson at 6. I'd prefer (if they choose Wilson) to have him at 8 with Valetini at 6.

Why? Valetini is the better option off the back of a scrum.

 

[Dctarget]

Why? Valetini is the better option off the back of a scrum.

Camped on our line with Billy V running off the back of theirs, I want Hooper or Valetini trying to stop him in his tracks.

 

[Derpus]

Camped on our line with Billy V running off the back of theirs, I want Hooper or Valetini trying to stop him in his tracks.

I mean, you can just change where you pack to suit the situation.

 

[Slim 293]

Wilson actually debuted at 6 against the All Blacks in 2020, and had a pretty fine game...

In that same match Samu played at 8, in a role more suited to Valetini, and looked really out of place...

Valetini looked somewhat wasted out wide playing at 6 in the French series, and didn't really make an impact until switched to 8...

It does seem superficial, but I think the only way that Wilson and Valetini p.ay in the same backrow under Rennie is if they swap the numbers on their jerseys.

 

[Derpus]

Whens the team?

 

[dru]

I think for now Valetini and Leota keep Wilson out of the 15 and possibly Samu is a stronger bench option.

 

[Rugby Head]

Whens the team?

1:30

 

[qwerty51]

1. Angus Bell (16 Tests)

2. David Porecki*

3. Allan Ala'alatoa (53 Tests)

4. Darcy Swain (10 Tests)

5. Cadeyrn Neville*

6. Rob Leota (6 Tests)

7. Michael Hooper (c) (118 Tests)

8. Rob Valetini (18 Tests)

9. Nic White (47 Tests)

10. Quade Cooper (75 Tests)

11. Marika Koroibete (42 Tests)

12. Samu Kerevi (38 Tests)

13. Len Ikitau (13 Tests)

14. Andrew Kellaway (13 Tests)

15. Tom Banks (19 Tests)

Replacements​

16. Folau Fainga’a (25 Tests)

17. Scott Sio (69 Tests)

18. James Slipper (114 Tests)

19. Matt Philip (20 Tests)

20. Pete Samu (19 Tests)

21. Jake Gordon (10 Tests)

22. Noah Lolesio (9 Tests)

23. Jordan Petaia (16 Tests)

 

[Braveheart81]

Interesting that Rennie has again started the season with Gordon over McDermott.

Otherwise very few surprises.

Would be interesting to have known where Holloway sat if he'd been healthy.

 

[qwerty51]

Interesting that Rennie has again started the season with Gordon over McDermott.

Otherwise very few surprises.

Would be interesting to have known where Holloway sat if he'd been healthy.

Still speculation but given Leota is at 6 over Wilson I think he would've started at 6.

 

[7137]

One red in the 23, at 23. It shouldn’t be a thing. But it will be I expect.

 

[Tomikin]

Has it actually been announced can't see it on the rugby.com.au app

 

[Slim 293]

Has it actually been announced can't see it on the rugby.com.au app

rugby.com.au jumped the gun and posted it around 1pm, and have since taken it down...

 

[Dctarget]

One red in the 23, at 23. It shouldn’t be a thing. But it will be I expect.

Maybe they shouldn’t be so shit

 

[qwerty51]

rugby.com.au jumped the gun and posted it around 1pm, and have since taken it down...

I've just received the Cease & Desist

but yeah it's legit didn't make it up, was on rugby.com.au

 

[dru]

One red in the 23, at 23. It shouldn’t be a thing. But it will be I expect.

We have not done a lot this year to expect much more.

 

[Dctarget]

curious to see Lolesio in there not JO’C.