My take on the 7 jersey.
If we aren't starting both, then Hooper should be the starter. Early in a test match, everyone is fit, energetic and accurate at the breakdown, which means the cleanouts are powerful and accurate, and support is there on time.
What's the point of Pocock then? It's the rugby equivalent of the Battle of Kursk. The opposition know he's coming, they're mentally prepared for it, physically ready to pulverise him before he even gets within 3m of the ball, and they have the energy and accuracy to do it. All we will achieve is possible injuries, a waste of his particular skill set, and the increased likelihood of him being penalised.
We'd be better off starting Hooper, where his running game is more use when we have the energy to be playing expansively, and need a 7 who can be that running link man to provide support where he's needed.
Games don't open up in the final 20minutes of test rugby, it's a myth. They get tighter and more brutal, and in those minutes, stopping a team's momentum and spoiling their breakdown is more important than running.
At the back end of the game, bring Pocock on against tired opposition forwards. The cleanout isn't as accurate, timely, or aggressive, so we would NOW be pitching Pocock's strengths, against weakness. Concentrated strength against a weak point will be much, much more effective.
When people are fatigued, they don't think clearly, and the whole team is more susceptible to group-think, and momentum is the greatest influence on team spirit. The ability to disrupt, slow down, and pilfer is of much more use in those final minute, because it's psychological impact is multiplied. It's spirit crushing to go 15 phases, minutes before the end of a game that you've thrown everything into, only to have some bastard latch onto a ruck you've not quite made it to in time, and win the penalty.
The style of his turnovers is important too. Rather than the clean pilfer, he wins more turnovers by forcing a penalty. In the dying minutes, having the opposition go 10-15 phases, make 30m of grinding territory, only for Pocock to latch on and win a penalty, is like a well timed counter-attack, a la Stalingrad.
We've drawn them in, tired them out, made them invest a lot of mental energy and the need for it to bring success, and then right at the crucial stage when they've thrown EVERYTHING at us, Pocock wins the penalty, the whole team gets a breather and a mental win over them, and we ALSO get to boot it 40m back up field and reclaim all the lost territory. PLUS you get the throw in.
This style of play is also much more strategically smarter, because you control the initiative. If your gameplan includes long periods of time where you expect to be on the retreat, drawing the opposition in before counter-attacking, no one FEELS like it's a retreat. You're controlling the game without the opposition knowing it, because they feel like they are by attacking. If the team understands this, the composure in defence is there as they're not under pressure mentally; they know they're in control and simply waiting for the right moment. It's also easy as a team to exploit the right moment, because everyone is waiting for it.
You go from absorbing pressure on your 22, to suddenly being on the attack with a positive mental status, as you've just achieved a psychological victory and team morale spikes. If we can then pick up points, it's even more effective.
Defeat them mentally, and the physical defeat is inevitable.
Pocock has to close games out, that is where he will be of maximum effectiveness, and it's also why I'd have my starting pack looking like this:
Slipper
Moore
Kepu
Skelton
Simmons
Fardy
Hooper
Palu/Higgers if Palu is broken
Good balance of grafters with workrate, and impact players who can get us over the advantage line.
Sio = Big powerful ball runer with low centre of gravity.
Latu/Fainga'a (i'd go Fainga'a, because he has test experience and proven composure/leadership qualities, vital for closing out games. His throwing is also at worst, on par with any other hooking options, and he also brings those low chopping tackles that get Pocock in as 2nd man straight over a prone player before support arrives. ).
Holmes = Similar style to Slipper
Timani = does what Skelton does, send him out with orders to just smash people and physically dominate. He also provides massive drive in the scrum, and we are going to badly need a strong scrum in the closing stages of games, and Skelton is not going to last 80 minutes in test rugby, we'll get 50, max, out of him.
Jones = High workrate, lineout option for either of Simmons or Fardy.
Pocock = as discussed
Vaea = I know he's raw, but he's hands down the best ball running forward in Aus because he makes metres through contact, rather than only when he spots a gap. He's got incredibly soft hands, a massive workrate, provides huge power for the scrum, is very strong over the ball, and does all of it with aggression. It's also a very explosive type of strength, which is devastating against tired defenders because when you're fatigued, you may be able to keep plodding along but you don't have explosive energy anymore.
The strengths of Fainga'a, Timani, Pocock and Vaea are all very complimentary of each other's styles, rather than individual strengths that just don't match anyone elses.
Won't bother with the hairstylists, if we don't get the pack right they wont matter anyway.
If we go with a 5-3 split, i'd drop Jones for a back, as Simmons and Fardy can both play 80mins without issue.
