aussie team v poms.... few shocks

my feeling is will be cheikas last game as wallaby coach...

19yo Jordan starting at 13 marking tuilagi will be interesting contest... genia starting 9 and LLF starting 10... plus hooper and pocock to start.

Think pom forwards will like the idea of 2 smallish flankers and Genia for me is well past it...

LIKELY WALLABIES TEAM: Kurtley Beale, Reece Hodge, Jordan Petaia, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Christian Lealiifano, Will Genia, Isi Naisarani, Michael Hooper (c), David Pocock, Rory Arnold, Izack Rodda, Allan Alaalatoa, Tolu Latu, Scott Sio

Reserves: Jordan Uelese, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Adam Coleman, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Nic White, Matt To’omua, James O’Connor

KB is also still under concussion injury cloud.. H-Petty to come infor cover if still injured...

Expect poms to put up high ball to KB all night....

likely team... but only * is KB (concussion injury) - 13 is Jordon... unless Cheika messing with EJ... 

Sadly going with LLF @ 10 and Genia @ 9... seriously both of these are wrong selections... imo... 

Bench is good for wobs... but think it maybe too late for them to do anything if poms get away in fi rst 50mins...

Why don't they play James O at full back - he is twice the player Beale would ever be?  

Why don't they play James O at full back - he is twice the player Beale would ever be?  

JOC...  Even at 10...... 

My answer is... Cheika a little blinded by his loyalty to NSW / Tahs... and pretty sure there maybe even be a bit of unwritten 'quota' story at play... given KB is indigenous and Qantas (& the aweful goth raeleen) care so much about minority politics...

Kurtley off the bench is probably a better place for him because NO question poms will just put up high ball for him to fumble 50% of... Haylett-Petty is good under high ball and big bodied FB... usually always beats first defender... 

As I said before think this will be Cheik's last game... his win ratio was only about 44%... so can't say he has taken this team to new heights... think internal politics have hurt but also not being able to lock in a quality 10 over past few years doesn't help. I always, always thought Foley was average even at his peak... and he only ever kicked well in games of no consequence... ie In bledisloe games he'd probably kick 33% but vs minnow get 100%...

Read an article the other day that pointed out this is Hooper (c) 99th test match... if Aussie get new coach after this game... new coach may opt for bigger backrow stocks... leaving Hoops on 99... highly unlikely but interesting theory nonetheless...

This will be entertaining game... probably moreso for poms and neutrals but hoping for a quality game of rugby without idiot refs ruining it.......

It's silly to play Hooper and Pocock, one should be coming off the bench.

yes agree... again... everyone can see it except for Cheika apparently...

Best wallabies have played in last few years when have had big blindside with Hooper / Pocock in aussie 7... (openside for non-dyslexics) 

Underhill is a pocock equivilent but younger and bigger... and hes their opensider... I've already accepted fait accompli on this game...................................

Don't you go writing off the Ozzies just yet......I'm not.

Pre-game preparation to not get as emotional on game day.. expect the worst and anything else is a bonus.... mate... I've sat through some bad defeats with remote controls being thrown at TVs.... trust me............................

Exactly Denny

If Oz can get a rumble on they could win.

What a disaster to not have the best FB and high ball weapon going into the knockout stages. 

Izzie would have made a big difference to this team.

Sucks so badly that cancel culture has now slithered its way into rugby.

you said it Plum... Izzy would have given us some hope...lol...

Anyway if aussies put up a good show then happy enough...

Noticed the kiwis are particularly quiet this week... haha... do you think they are a little nervous about the luck of the irish...?

Hell Redsman, that explains it.....found bits and pieces of a TV and a remote in my backyard

Yes Plum, it's mX PRESSURE time, every game is a final...losers go home.

Red

No worries. They'll be out in force as soon as or if their team take an unassailable lead on the weekend.

Now that I've written this one or two might appear in defiance ;)  

How about an Aussie vs France final,that would be a first.

I don't know peteia at 13. Thought JOC was alright. Why isn't Kuri in the mix? So the wobblies are gonna go run at us. I think this is suicidal but w hatever. If that's how its gotta be then that's how it's gonna be. 

Nope MR there was an  Aussie vs France final at Cardiff in 1999....I was there.

come at me pom.... its either an eloborate scheme from a desperate coach... or suicide.... ARU and rugby in aust are sinking fast... maybe cheik will actually help put the wooden stake in the heart of the worst ceo ive ever seen in the history of corporate affairs....

poms should eat this up esp with ford on the bench.. resting? i note pom backline all very capable defenders...

i think aussies should be paying 10-1 odds... now that this  team been named ....