Wales v Australia
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@MiketheSnow I hope Anscombe stays fit as Priestland on the bench would worry me.
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Australia:
15 Tom Wright, 14 Jordan Petaia, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper (c)
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Ned Hanigan, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Noah Lolesio, 23 Jock Campbell -
No disrespect to Australia - it's great that they're able to field a competitive squad - but if we don't put them to the sword and win convincingly by scoring tries, then Pivac and Jones have to go
This is a MUST WIN match
Heart says Wales by 11-16
Head says it could go either way
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Wales v Australia:
Australia:
15 Tom Wright, 14 Jordan Petaia, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper (c)
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Ned Hanigan, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Noah Lolesio, 23 Jock CampbellDave the other night
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@Bovidae said in Wales v Australia:
Donaldson starting over Lolesio is a surprise, unless Rennie wants the NSW 9-10 combo.
Which is hardly a well-formed combo - Edmed was rotated as starting 10.
Of course, you have to question Gordon to begin with given his discipline hasn't been top notch.
BUT that selection is making Brumbies (Lolesio) and Reds (McDermott) fans shriek to the heavens, so that's a plus
If we win it'll taste even sweeter
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@MiketheSnow said in Wales v Australia:
No disrespect to Australia - it's great that they're able to field a competitive squad - but if we don't put them to the sword and win convincingly by scoring tries, then Pivac and Jones have to go
I was at NSW Rugby HQ last night for a board meeting, in their fancy new offices opened less than a month ago.
All the office chairs have a cover on them in Waratahs colours, with the staff member's name. That was pretty cool.
One of the chairs also had Georgia flags printed and stuck all over it, except for the name. I get up closer and it was a name of Welsh origin
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Lolesio isn't good enough so Rennie should absolutely move past him and find another option
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@mariner4life said in Wales v Australia:
Lolesio isn't good enough so Rennie should absolutely move past him and find another option
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Surprised that Samu isn’t starting given they are down on personnel. That said he could be insurance for whoever of the three loosies struggles first…
Backline isn’t too bad in terms of the actual players, but not a lot of test experience or combinations out there.
Oz could scrape a draw, but I think they’d have to play pretty well to even get that.
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@ACT-Crusader said in Wales v Australia:
Surprised that Samu isn’t starting given they are down on personnel. That said he could be insurance for whoever of the three loosies struggles first…
Backline isn’t too bad in terms of the actual players, but not a lot of test experience or combinations out there.
Oz could scrape a draw, but I think they’d have to play pretty well to even get that.
This is Wales they are playing isn't it?
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To answer my own query about the 1st 5 selection:
"We want to find out about Ben, we're heading into a World Cup year next year and the assumption is Quade [Cooper] will be fit and available hopefully, so we obviously know about him, we know a lot about Bernard [Foley], we're going to find out a bit about Ben.
"His versatility helps too, he can play 15, he's certainly quick enough to play back there, and we've got Noah who's got a fair bit of experience now to come into the game late."
Wallabies to start Donaldson in final Test
Waratahs youngster Langi Gleeson will make his first run-on start for the Wallabies alongside Tahs teammate Ben Donaldson who's been handed the starting flyhalf position over the more experienced Noah Lolesio.
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@ACT-Crusader said in Wales v Australia:
Surprised that Samu isn’t starting given they are down on personnel. That said he could be insurance for whoever of the three loosies struggles first…
Backline isn’t too bad in terms of the actual players, but not a lot of test experience or combinations out there.
Oz could scrape a draw, but I think they’d have to play pretty well to even get that.
@ACT-Crusader said in Wales v Australia:
Surprised that Samu isn’t starting given they are down on personnel. That said he could be insurance for whoever of the three loosies struggles first…
Backline isn’t too bad in terms of the actual players, but not a lot of test experience or combinations out there.
Oz could scrape a draw, but I think they’d have to play pretty well to even get that.
I thought Samu was playing very well?
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@nostrildamus @ACT-Crusader the idea is probably back row balance - Gleeson is given his shot at being the ball-running 8 like Valetini (but smaller) and so you have McReight as the fetcher and Holloway as the bloke who has been doing the dirty work at 6 most of the year.
With Samu at 8, our backrow was lacking the impact runner. I still think Gleeson is going to get cleaned up against Tipuric, Faletau, and Morgan
