Michael Cheika has named the Australia side to take on England this weekend.
1. Scott Sio (29 Tests)
2. Stephen Moore (c) (116 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (76 Tests)
4. Kane Douglas (30 Tests)
5. Rob Simmons (70 Tests)
6. David Pocock (65 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (64 Tests)
8. Lopeti Timani (5 Tests)
9. Nick Phipps (51 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (41 Tests)
11. Sefanaia Naivalu (5 Tests)
12. Reece Hodge (9 Tests)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (44 Tests)
14. Dane Haylett-Petty (13 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (51 Tests)
Reserves
16. Tolu Latu (3 Tests)
17. James Slipper (85 Tests)
18. Tom Robertson (6 Tests)
19. Dean Mumm (56 Tests)
20. Sean McMahon (14 Tests)
21. Nick Frisby (4 Tests)
22. Quade Cooper (66 Tests)
23. Henry Speight (10 Tests)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
I was hoping they would keep Mumm and Speight. Replacing them with Timani, who is a proper 8, and Naivalu, who looks rather good, makes for a stronger team than played Ireland
That said, no Genia is a good thing for England
Its a very dangerous looking backs division. We needs Lawes to be constantly in Foley’s face and the forwards to relentlessly clear Pocock out of rucks
I would like to see Youngs giving Phipps as much hassle as possible. Sadly looks like I’m going to miss this game as well and will have to settle for highlights on BBC1. Probably with the sound off so I don’t have to listen to the rantings of Brian Moore and Eddie Butler.
Yeah, I think Phipps is a definite weak point for them – as is their bench with the exception of McMahon and to a lesser extent Cooper (this generation’s Carlos Spencer)
The Aussies must be hoping that Sio and Kepu can manage 80 mins
I think England will lose this one. The Aussies are on an upward curve after the summer, looked dangerous against Ireland and Cheika has chosen a better team than that game. I think our injuries are in enough critical positions – lock, flanker and particularly BV at 8 – that it will make it difficult to overcome a team as good as Aus
As an aside, Farrell’s defence concerns me, he made 3, missed 2 against Fiji and made 8, missed 4 against Argentina. He goes too high and tries to hit too hard and can miss or be brushed off. If this happens against Aus we are in trouble as they love their mid-field runners and the defence from Ford, Farrell and Joseph will have to be perfect.
I hope I am wrong but I can see the Aussies winning by 7
I know what you mean. It’s a rugby league style tackle but he’s not quite big enough to pull it off. Saying that he does it much better than Goode!!
A lot of the time I think he’s trying to target the ball to dislodge but I often wish he would just tackle properly.
It’s obviously something that Gustard and Jones feel comfortable with otherwise he wouldn’t keep doing it.
I think Ford and JJ have become much better defensively and frequently tackle well above their weight, maybe giving Farrell more freedom to target the ball? Either way I hope he tones it down for this match as Hooper is too slippery and Pocock and Timani are just too big.
I think we will just sneak it, maybe a drop goal last minute!?
Really hope I get to watch it live but my son is hoping to be grading for his karate orange belt tomorrow afternoon which is on at exactly the same time!!
I think its tactical
Gustards Sarries defence had one of the highest missed tackle rates in the Prem but its because the defence comes up so fast and tackles high looking to either dislodge the ball or get a dominant tackle but there is always another player ghosting in behind looking to clear up the scraps if the first player gets bounced. As an attacking player you know if you manage to step the first tackler you get smashed by the second a fraction later
They still use it now and mostly to the same effect, but not always.
Nice to see that Gustard is instilling the same belief and trust in each other into the England players.
That sounds reasonable Leon, but what works at club level does not necessarily work at international level.
Against Aus, all it takes is one bounced tackle and the covering player to not be quite quick enough by a milisecond and the ball will be elsewhere and the defensive line 2 players down rather than one. Australia’s off-loading and support running is too good for first-up tackles to be missed
worked ok so far but understand you concerns
I believe that it can also be flawed for an inside ball to a winger on a sharp angle
To me it’s too close to call. But I do think Cheika is losing it a bit with his attacks on EJ. What’s the betting the Aussies come out overly pumped and give a away a card of one colour or the other!