Michael Cheika has announced the Australia team to take on Wales in the Pool A decider at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon.
More to follow…
AUSTRALIA TEAM TO PLAY WALES
1. Scott Sio (13 Tests)
2. Stephen Moore (c) (98 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (59 Tests)
4. Kane Douglas (19 Tests)
5. Dean Mumm (40 Tests)
6. Scott Fardy (26 Tests)
7. Sean McMahon (5 Tests)
8. David Pocock (vc) (52 Tests)
9. Will Genia (62 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (23 Tests)
11. Drew Mitchell (66 Tests)
12. Matt Giteau (98 Tests)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (27 Tests)
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (vc) (110 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (35 Tests)
Replacements
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (57 Tests)
17. James Slipper (70 Tests)
18. Greg Holmes (20 Tests)
19. Rob Simmons (56 Tests)
20. Ben McCalman (43 Tests)
21. Nick Phipps (35 Tests)
22. Matt Toomua (28 Tests)
23. Kurtley Beale (56 Tests)
Still a strong team, but will be interesting to see how McMahon goes in place of Hooper.
Campese reckoned a while back back, in ‘Rugby World’ I think it was, that he’d have played Giteau @ 1st 5. Hard on Foley, esp after his tries last Sat, but that would have made room for Toomua who’s looked pretty tasty when he’s featured.
Still, it is what it is & in theory Oz should be a bit too strong & wily for Wales. V England they hardly put a foot wrong, apart from 3 of them not being able to stop Joseph that is.
Their back line moves were slick & effective & frankly, cut England to pieces.
Their scrum too, perhaps the ‘surprise’ package, functioned plenty well. Although they did win the SH Champ’shp with it.
And their loose fwds flogged England @ breakdown… & this will be an area, all other things being equal, that will likely win or lose the game on Sat for me.
Not disagreeing with anything you say Don. Aussies really put a marker down against us.
Put a marker down for all methinks.
Having switched my allegiance to Aus after they beat us last week (I have family who are Australian!! Lucky me!) I have to say I think they will be far too strong for a slightly weakened (injury induced) Welsh team. I suspect Gatland will not put his first 15 out for this one anyway, but I think Aus will hammer them.
Am considering a little wager on Aus to wine the entire thing
Not sure what the odds are, but they are certainly in with a good chance if they can keep their core players fit.
PaddyPower has 11/4 with Kiwis favourites at 6/5 and then SA in third place at 7/1
Not great odds on Aus, but it probably reflects their belief that they will beat Wales, not face SA in the next round and not have to face the Kiwis till the final
Do you mean, ‘Aus to whine during the entire thing’?