Wallabies v Lions - 3rd Test, Accor Stadium, Saturday 2 August

[Mr Pilfer]

Is Tizzano injured or did he pull up ok? If ok I would start him ahead of McReight who has gone missing so far

 

[KOB1987]

Hooper starting - yay. FFS. Shame, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) & Uru have been showing a real point of athletic difference in their matches. Samu was seen training with the squad also

I expect to see the following

1. Slipper 2. Porecki 3. Tupou
4. Frost 5. Skelton
6. Hooper 8. Wilson 7. Mcreight
9. White 10. Lynagh 11. Pietsch 12. Ikitau 13. JAS 14. Jorgo 15. Wright

16. Pollard 17. Bell 18. Robertson 19. Williams 20. Gleeson 20. Samu 21. Mcdermott 22. Donaldson

Mail is that Faessler will be in 16 and we are going back to a 5:3 so no Pete Samu on the wing, it's Andrew Kellaway instead. And perhaps Bell starting. Otherwise that is the team.

 

[Slim 293]

Hooper starting - yay. FFS. Shame, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) & Uru have been showing a real point of athletic difference in their matches. Samu was seen training with the squad also

I don't know why any of them would be starting over Hooper at 6...

I can't even remember the last time LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) played in the backrow.

 

[Slim 293]

Going by Doran's now edited article, it's not entirely clear whether Hooper is directly replacing Valetini, or coming onto the bench with Gleeson to start.

Pandaram has Hooper starting, and Payto speculating Gleeson will start.

Personally, I'd go with Hooper to start while Skelton is on the field to strengthen the lineout, and bring Gleeson on for impact later.

 

[KOB1987]

Going by Doran's now edited article, it's not entirely clear whether Hooper is directly replacing Valetini, or coming onto the bench with Gleeson to start.

Pandaram has Hooper starting, and Payto speculating Gleeson will start.

Personally, I'd go with Hooper to start while Skelton is on the field to strengthen the lineout, and bring Gleeson on for impact later.

I wondered about this when I first read that Hooper is starting. If you want to replace Valetini like-for-like, then Gleeson is closer. Aside from not being a Brumby that is.

 

[Slim 293]

I wondered about this when I first read that Hooper is starting. If you want to replace Valetini like-for-like, then Gleeson is closer. Aside from not being a Brumby that is.

They all have their faults...

But honestly, I was surprised that Hooper's name was floated first over Gleeson if they want to start again with another strong ball carrier.

 

[Ignoto]

No idea how you can pick Williams on the bench, hes had back to back ineffectual games.

If Ross has been called into the squad, I could easily see Bell starting LH, Ross at 17, Taniela at 3 with Slipper on the bench.

Hopefully Lukhan is on the bench though.

 

[KOB1987]

They all have their faults...

But honestly, I was surprised that Hooper's name was floated first over Gleeson if they want to start again with another strong ball carrier.

Yes my thinking too

 

[Brumby Runner]

They all have their faults...

But honestly, I was surprised that Hooper's name was floated first over Gleeson if they want to start again with another strong ball carrier.

Hooper probably doesn't hit the line quite as hard as Langi Gleeson but he has a higher workrate and consistently makes metres in contact. Put that together with better lineout skills and I can see a good argument for starting him.

EDIT : And of course not forgetting his excellent pilfering exploits during this year's Super Rugby comp.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I wondered about this when I first read that Hooper is starting. If you want to replace Valetini like-for-like, then Gleeson is closer. Aside from not being a Brumby that is.

Too true KOB. It is a shame the other franchises are not able to upskill players the way the Brumbies can and do.

 

[Major Tom]

Going by Doran's now edited article, it's not entirely clear whether Hooper is directly replacing Valetini, or coming onto the bench with Gleeson to start.

Pandaram has Hooper starting, and Payto speculating Gleeson will start.

Personally, I'd go with Hooper to start while Skelton is on the field to strengthen the lineout, and bring Gleeson on for impact later.

This is a good shout.
Hooper would indeed help out the lineout and he’ll be familiar with frost calling lineouts. I feel we will struggle with this trick play lineouts we did last week.
Could get Bell to start. He and skeleton as your ball carriers.
Gleeson certainly give you punch off the bench.
Tupou to start, Nongorr to come off the bench (he’ll carry well and surely can’t scrummage any worse the Robertson). Also pretty shit he hasn’t played the lions yet.
Is Ross a better scrummager than Robertson? I feel he is so I’d pick him.
Williams off the bench even though he hasn’t done much. Just feel he’s a lineout caller if frost goes down.

 

[BDA]

Hooper probably doesn't hit the line quite as hard as Langi Gleeson but he has a higher workrate and consistently makes metres in contact. Put that together with better lineout skills and I can see a good argument for starting him.

EDIT : And of course not forgetting his excellent pilfering exploits during this year's Super Rugby comp.

Plus if tupou's starting we'll need the extra workrate

 

[Mr Pilfer]

This is a good shout.
Hooper would indeed help out the lineout and he’ll be familiar with frost calling lineouts. I feel we will struggle with this trick play lineouts we did last week.
Could get Bell to start. He and skeleton as your ball carriers.
Gleeson certainly give you punch off the bench.
Tupou to start, Nongorr to come off the bench (he’ll carry well and surely can’t scrummage any worse the Robertson). Also pretty shit he hasn’t played the lions yet.
Is Ross a better scrummager than Robertson? I feel he is so I’d pick him.
Williams off the bench even though he hasn’t done much. Just feel he’s a lineout caller if frost goes down.

Nothing wrong with Robertson’s scrummaging. Genge should have have been penalized on multiple occasion's

 

[Major Tom]

Nothing wrong with Robertson’s scrummaging. Genge should have have been penalized on multiple occasion's

He’s not a THP though.

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Standard 2pm-ish Thursday team announcement?

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Hopefully Lukhan is on the bench though.

Sadly there's no realistic chance this happens right? We would have heard about him being brought into the squad when Ross was brought in?

 

[Rugby Head]

Going to be a very wet track, we will need all the size when can get. I would hope to see:

1. Bell 2. Porecki 3. Tupou
4. Frost 5. Skelton
6. Hooper 8. Wilson 7. Mcreight
9. White 10. Lynagh 11. Pietsch 12. Ikitau 13. JAS 14. Jorgo 15. Wright

16. Pollard 17. Ross 18. Slipper 19. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) 20. Gleeson 21. Samu 22. Mcdermott 23. Donaldson

 

[rugbyAU]

Standard 2pm-ish Thursday team announcement?

Yeah assume around lunchtime as usual

 

[Slim 293]

Going to be a very wet track, we will need all the size when can get. I would hope to see:

1. Bell 2. Porecki 3. Tupou
4. Frost 5. Skelton
6. Hooper 8. Wilson 7. Mcreight
9. White 10. Lynagh 11. Pietsch 12. Ikitau 13. JAS 14. Jorgo 15. Wright

16. Pollard 17. Ross 18. Slipper 19. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) 20. Gleeson 21. Samu 22. Mcdermott 23. Donaldson

Not happening...

5/3 split...

Faessler and Kellaway on the bench.

No LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) or Samu.

Slipper plays at LH prop.

 

[Major Tom]

Going to be a very wet track, we will need all the size when can get. I would hope to see:

1. Bell 2. Porecki 3. Tupou
4. Frost 5. Skelton
6. Hooper 8. Wilson 7. Mcreight
9. White 10. Lynagh 11. Pietsch 12. Ikitau 13. JAS 14. Jorgo 15. Wright

16. Pollard 17. Ross 18. Slipper 19. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) 20. Gleeson 21. Samu 22. Mcdermott 23. Donaldson

- Ross and Slipper both LHP. Slipper maybe injured?
- LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) won't feature because he's not in the squad.
- I think Samu misses out because they'll pick either Daungunu (maybe) or Kellaway (probably) to round out the 5/3 split.
Otherwise it should be a solid team. And I like Tupou on when Skeleton is on because I think he'll keep him accountable. Also that side of the scrum should fist them if the ref opens his eyes.