England to whitewash Australia
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="575432" data-time="1461823397">
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<p>Who will Australia not have from last year's RWC squad?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>AAC? Mitchell? Giteau? Presumably all eligible to play if they want to?</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>The lack of players in the RWC squad is less interesting for me than the lack of the RWC.</p>
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<p>An RWC always seems to focus the mind of the Australian Rugby fraternity - without it however they are all over the shop. I fancy they will struggle this season - odd selections and underperformance are very likely.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="575432" data-time="1461823397">
<div>
<p>Who will Australia not have from last year's RWC squad?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>AAC? Mitchell? Giteau? Presumably all eligible to play if they want to?</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Cheika just confirmed yesterday that the NH players won't be selected for the England series.</p>
<p>They will be available for selection in the RC though however.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So that's also Sekope Kepu and Will Genia out.</p>
<p>Kane Douglas is injured.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>That's not too bad but there isn't exactly a plethora of in-form candidates putting their hand up to fill these gaps.</p> -
<p>This is the most settled our team will be coming into the first test in recent memory. Basically there are only a few spots free. 99% locked are:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1. Scott Sio</p>
<p>2. Stephen Moore</p>
<p>3. Greg Holmes</p>
<p>4. Rob Simmons</p>
<p>5.</p>
<p>6. Scott Fardy</p>
<p>7. Michael Hoopah</p>
<p>8. David Pocock</p>
<p>9. Nick Phipps</p>
<p>10. Bernard Foley</p>
<p>11.</p>
<p>12.</p>
<p>13. Tevita Kuridrani</p>
<p>14.</p>
<p>15. Israel Folau</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Joe Tomane would have had a wing spot locked down but he is unlikely due to injury. 12 is between Beale and Toomua. The other lock spot is fairly open, as are the wingers - though Rob Horne has the inside running for one spot.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But really there will be very little controversy when the team is picked. That won't stop some from whinging though, I'm sure.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="575507" data-time="1461843916">
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<p>This is the most settled our team will be coming into the first test in recent memory. </p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Fair point. Four spots up for grabs is very settled in the greater scheme of things.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>What would your 23 look like?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="575513" data-time="1461847272">
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<p>Would love to see Holloway get a crack at some point.</p>
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<p>Sorry Nick, I'm too lazy to look it up, number 8? Which team?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="575515" data-time="1461847628"><p>Sorry Nick, I'm too lazy to look it up, number 8? Which team?</p></blockquote>
Think it's the waratahs bloke? Damaging runner, like Thomas Waldrom but slightly slimmer. -
<p>The way we mullered the Aussie line out in the RWC final, and given that the poms have a pretty good line out (new black fellow looks the goods), it might be prudent for the Wallabies to have 4 options instead of their current 3. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Pocock can do Hoopahs job if they have a jumping number eight option</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="575519" data-time="1461850611">
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<p>Who do the non-Aussies and non-English want to win the series?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ockers for me</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A bit like choosing between gonorrhea and herpes I'll grant you but, gonorrhea doesn't linger for your lifetime :)</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Convicts every time</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="575519" data-time="1461850611">
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<p>Who do the non-Aussies and non-English want to win the series?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ockers for me</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A bit like choosing between gonorrhea and herpes I'll grant you but, gonorrhea doesn't linger for your lifetime :)</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>England, for all his eccentricities I do quite like Eddie Jones. He isn't exceptional, but he does run a very efficient ship and there aren't too many objectionable players these days. The media (at least what I've read) haven't been too OTT about the team so far.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Australia winning would be nice though just to have the media/coach/team crowing going into another Bledisloe spanking. How many false dawns can that country have since 2003?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MiketheSnow" data-cid="575521" data-time="1461860997">
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<p>Convicts every time</p>
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<p>So much for love thy neighbour. C'mon you Kiwis!!!! :yes:</p> -
Aussies to win - keep those wounds open!
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<p>Australia, can you imagine listening to the poms and Jones tossing off about how great they are and that they are now the favorites to win the RWC and that they are number 1 now</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="575516" data-time="1461849185"><p>Think it's the waratahs bloke? Damaging runner, like Thomas Waldrom but slightly slimmer.</p></blockquote>
<br>
Yep. Has been with the Tahs for a few years but in Palu's shadow. <br><br>
Lineout ability, good pace, around that good size frame for an eighth man. Starting to play 80 minutes this season after a few 50-60 slots. Only 24 so plenty of improvement left.<br><br>
Depends how the coach wants to play it. McCalman the other option for me, if The Pooper isn't in play. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="575508" data-time="1461844373">
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<p>Fair point. Four spots up for grabs is very settled in the greater scheme of things.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>What would your 23 look like?</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>That's pretty settled as well:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>16. TPN</p>
<p>17. Slipper</p>
<p>18. Ben Alexander</p>
<p>19. Rory Arnold/Sam Carter/Adam Coleman</p>
<p>20. Ben McCalman</p>
<p>21. Nick Stirzacker</p>
<p>22. Christian Lealiifano maybe</p>
<p>23. Beale/Toomua</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The short version is there won't be too many bolters or debutants.</p> -
<p>Tomane will be a big loss - he's been in some special form for the Brumbies.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>TIL - England didn't tour Australia until 1975 when they played in Sydney and then Brisbane. This will be the first three Test tour.</p>
