Australia host Scotland tonight as the Wallabies look to make a good start the 2012 Test season. Newcastle hosts it’s first ever rugby Test match and we’ll have live commentary and scores of the match from 7.30pm AEST tonight.
The timing of this match, which takes place four days before the first Test against Wales, says a lot about the ARU and John O’Neill’s eagerness to leave the game with a bank surplus.
Nonetheless, it is a fully fledged Test match and the Wallabies will be punished if they don’t treat it as one.
Robbie Deans has named a slightly re-jigged team to take the field. The missing in action include, Kurtley Beale (shoulder), James O’Connor (liver – not the drinking this time though) and James Horwill (hamstring).
Other incumbent Wallabies such as Rocky Elsom, Quade Cooper and Dan Vickerman haven’t been able to make meaningful headway all year and weren’t picked for various reasons.
These omissions, and one eye on Wales, have caused things to be moved around a little. Joe Tomane, Mike Harris, Dave Dennis and Luke Morahan will get their first caps in the run on side. Michael Hooper will earn his debut cap if he comes off the bench as well.
The very inexperienced Sitaleki Timani will pair the not-recently-used Nathan Shape in the second row. The Scots will try to exploit this area.
One place viewers might spend some time focusing is the Wallabies back-row. David Pocock is captaining the side for the first time from his customary open-side position. Scott Higginbotham is at number 8 and Dennis at blind-side will accompany him.
If there are fears among Australia fans that Scotland can execute an ambush, it might be this trio that control the pace of the game and contact areas for the home side. They could be the most athletic and rangy group of back-rowers Australia can put on the park.
Without a doubt, Palu is being held back to play Wales, but these three will play together in gold more than once. There is too much talent and continued improvement in them not to.
Deans’ first contentious decision of the year was to award Berrick Barnes the fly-half jersey. This is not new for Barnes as he has been closely monitored by disgruntled Waratahs fans all year.
His job will be to give front-foot service to the phalanx of Queensland Reds outside him in the backs division. If he can simply give them some space to work in, most onlookers will view that as a success with the amount of preparation time available.
Scotland didn’t have a good time of it in the Six Nations this year, and were whitewashed. They haven’t successfully developed a playing style that allows them to win games unless they deploy their side in a spoiling role.
This is the first match Scotland will play on tour before matches against Fiji and Samoa.
The Scots did earn a win over Australia in 2008 that still features prominently in the minds of the Australian rugby public. That 9-8 affair is now the match many believe the Wallabies started treading water under Deans but haven’t really managed to begin swimming again.
Those nerves will be present and will need to be overcome for the men in Gold to successfully move on from this hit and run mission.
Log on The Roar from 7.30pm AEST for all the scores, banter, live commentary you can handle as the Wallabies take on Scotland.
Richie Mccaw
Guest
Wallabies: Overall winning percentage 52.37% = LOL! Head to head vs Scotland is 18 wins 9 losses = LOL!
Jiggles
Roar Guru
OJ - The reason the Wallabies lost tonight is clearly because Wallaby Legend Cayden Neville wasn't on the pitch! David Lord will tell us so tomorrow...
Sam Taulelei
Guest
OJ I wonder if he and KPM will acknowledge my earlier comments about the international inexperience of the captaincy options within the Wallabies and Boks in comparison to McCaw. Pocock is a brilliant fetcher but if he's buried in the breakdowns then he needs to be able to rely on another pair of eyes and brains to make good decisions and assist him. Tough lesson for him to learn tonight and there will be more this year. He'll develop and become a good leader in a couple of years.
STU
Guest
RED KEV,yes this is what barnes does ;he is a strategic goose awaiting another footballers headache. Genia and barnes both intermittent performers and leaders.fools gap.
Sam Taulelei
Guest
You know in the funny way that the game of rugby is for the Wallabies, I fully expect them to come out and beat the Welsh this weekend.
Joshy
Guest
David Lord, is Mike Harris still the world's best kicker? Or was that only for the 1st 3 weeks of super rugby?
Fatboy
Guest
Shungmao - spot on Panda and well done to the Scots. O'neil better not escape the criticism as he made the call to slot this test in for a few extra bucks and boy hasn't it put us under pressure for a fired up Welsh team this weekend ... -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Drop kick
Guest
Genia was the problem, lousy passes giving the backs no chance, forced Barnes to take the ball into contact far too many times
Worlds biggest
Guest
Alexander going down eh, geeeez we didn't see that one coming against a good scrum. How is this bloke still in the Wallaby set up ? Dingo certainly has an impressive list of insipid Performances on his Wallaby resume but this one must be top's. The Wallabies not only suffered yet ANOTHER embarrassing loss but they blew a great opportunity to promote the game in a league mad town. They will be back in there droves after that one. The conditions were tough but the Wallabies had enough ball to go wide plenty of times. If the ARU don't make a coaching change this season they will alienate even more supporters including myself. Stop the rot now, it's not working so make the change now.
Drop kick
Guest
Wales in NZ 2011, Wales in Wales 2011? they are a home nation aren't they?
Sam Taulelei
Guest
I agree Suzy, I suspected the Wallaby forwards were going to struggle when I saw the weather forecast. I made this comment on this thread earlier this afternoon in response to someone stating this was the best Wallaby back row combination available and that Paul was history. "Yes but Palu has bulk and size and in conditions that don’t favour a running, wide game that plays to Higginbotham’s strengths, those assets are greatly appreciated. Challenge for both teams tonight is similar to when the Tahs played the Canes. Controlling the ball in contact, securing setpiece possession and playing the game in the opposition half. There should be a lot of mauling tonight which will suit the Scots." And in Spiro's thread today: "Euan Murray will be a tough opponent for Slipper but that is balanced by the debut of loosehead prop Ryan Grant. Richie Gray and Alastair Kellock are a strong locking combination and I’m surprised they didnt make Kellock captain. The Edinburgh combination from halfback to midfield will at least be familiar with each other even if they are still green at this level. This is a good test match for the Wallabies, the newer players will realise there isn’t the same amount of space and time at international level compared to Super rugby and the forwards will have to also shake some of their Super rugby habits and play a tighter role to set the platform." I was bemused by the fact that there wasn't a single Roar article that listed the Scottish lineup, everything was about what the Wallabies were going to do and why certain players were selected. Deans must be cursing JON and the ARU for foisting this fixture on him.
Tarragon Fields
Guest
Is Harris a forward??? How is the loss his fault?
STU
Guest
GARMOS,i think youre onto it.ONE dimensional attack lead by barnes who again didnt CONTROL the game.the game in the second half should have seen Scots confined to their 22 and play worked from side to side until chance to use backs. faiangaa( ioane,harris)spent game as loose forwards.Who decides this strategy.?It wasnt 3 days but 3 months hopefully of planning by deans OR doesnt he get paid if not actively coaching?im sure Foley in his first year as head coach would enjoy the cattle Deans had at his disposal. We all expected Deans to have runners off barnes to improve barnes tactical appreciation----but alas duped again.
Sam Taulelei
Guest
I agree Jeznez. While most will be critical of the Wallaby effort in their responses, one shouldn't forget to praise the Scots.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Which Kiwi reject is more useless, Deans or Mike Harris? I eagerly await David Lord's investigative journalism.
Dc of nz
Guest
I am a kiwi and once again we know what happened here and let me synthesize some of the comments here .. Robbie was asleep at the wheel Poor game day plan Poor technique in the go forward on attack Terrible substitutions Inability to coach for the conditions No leadership to go wide and test the flanks No selection of an enforcer to drive the team forward in the tight Then Robbie has the temerity in the press conference to say the team were not on the same page and lacked clarity ...well who's fault is that ...and the wallabies brand takes a hit .. You should see what people are saying on twitter.. When is he ever going to put his hand up and say I got that one wrong ...
jeznez
Roar Guru
Congratulations Scotland - that was a good tough game of rugby played in very difficult conditions.
chuck
Guest
First win in thirty years on Australian soil they have derserved this win the last power play on that scrum was smart Rugby to steal the game on full time . Ambushed by the Scottts next Wales must think they can do it now whats the excuse now the game should have never been played so close too the Welch tour 3 day turn around . Mike Harris will bear all the flax on this lost no doubt .
TD
Guest
The scottish scrum was dominant all night barring a couple, i'll agree it was more so after Palmer went off. I wouldn't be calling that a good night for the Aussie scrum though, Palmer was the better of the three Aussies but don't get too carried away.
Garmos
Guest
Something very much like the Waratahs the way the Wallabies played tonite -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.