Long time lurker, first post here. Hello everyone!
I feel like I might be in the minority here but I really struggle to see the point of an O'connor/To'omua 10/12 combo. Maybe they are being viewed as the "safe" option but possibly that's the perceived comfort of familiarity rather than an actual safe or, more to the point, the good option. Both of these guys, as it currently stands, don't have a good kicking game, are slow, don't have a long passing game, questionable decision making, aren't illusive and are not dominant in contact (take this with a grain of salt, obviously any player in contention for a Wallabies spot is an amazing player, just at the highest level they are not a standout in any of those facets). I can understand one being played at 10, as no one else has really outperformed O'Connor, aside from Lolesio and possibly having 2 uncapped players here is a bad idea but there is really no way of predicting that or comparing the alternative after the fact.
Both Simone and Stewart bring a lot more to 12 than either of the other two. They have been the most consistent performers at 12 all year and I think Simone is on form, the best 12 in the country at the moment (excluding the last game which was a bit of a shocker). Unlike O'Connor and To'omua, he has a fantastic passing game, a longer kicking game and is dangerous with ball in hand. The same can be said about Stewart, although they do have different strengths and weaknesses, Stewart is not such a threat with the ball at this stage and can definitely improve his discipline. Not to mention both have a higher tackle success rate than the other two, albeit marginally.
If Kerevi is also an option then I would almost certainly take him too. While maybe he can stifle a backline, I believe with maturity he can continue to develop into a more rounded player. When you are young and can run through entire teams, you are going to do so, as he ages hopefully he can bring more facets into his play. As it stands he doesn't have much of a long passing game but no one in Australia outside of Simone does.
Just to touch on the "safe" option mentioned before. A lot of the older established players at this level have experienced very little success and aren't dominant in many key areas of their position. I can't understand how they are perceived as safe just because of experience. Going off their history alone, it would be a safe to bet on a loss with many of them. If you're consistently playing well enough to be selected then you should be, you risk more by not starting players in form and demanding selection, as they can completely go off the boil or even leave for greener pastures and rightly so. Give them a chance, expect a few stumbles and don't overreact when they happen. If they are playing well enough to warrant selection then give them a fair chance, don't have them stuck behind mediocrity for a misplaced sense of security.
Didn't mean to write an essay for my first post but here we are. On topic I'd probably pick Latu and Kerevi, I actually think our second rows are in good order so long as Simmons isn't involved in the 23.
