McCalman statistically Australia's best 8

Speight will be available for Aust selection from Sept 11 this year. I'm not sure what the RC calendar looks like, but I doubt there'll be much opportunity for him to face the AB's and the Springboks.

I wonder when the combination of Hodgson and McCalman will get the recognition it deserves. People talk about the strength of combinations. The front row. 9 and 10. Well 7 and 8 are a working unit. McCalman can play how he does because he plays with Hodgson. They complement each other in style and know each other's next step with confidence. With Hodgson also playing the house down and his leadership skills the Wallabies could well benefit from this combination. Even for the least 20-30 in every game. You won't find a more effective, hard worker than Hodgson

I suspect the risk is in the scrums. On the outside it's hard to know, but I would expect that Fardy doesn't give as much force in the shove as specialist second rowers like Simmons, Horwill and Pyle. The coaches have these statistics.

Small? I think he is close to, or, the tallest player in Australia. He has a bit of a reputation for giving penalties, but I suspect if the stats were investigated, he doesn't give away too much more than the average player. He's in good form, but could work a little on his discipline, which is something I think he is already working on.

Forget depth. We'd be happy with just one international level '3'

Hope he can tackle!

Great problem to have given we got to playing Mowen out of position last year to cover Higginbotham's and Palu's absence. Cliff starts if fit - no debate from my quarter. Finding the right balance of Higgers at 6 or off the bench against working McCalman and Fardy into the mix in their best positions is for people with better detailed knowledge than me but it's a far different issue than we've had in the recent past. I notice nobody questions Hooper's spot at 7. As an aside, I'd really like to see Slipper play TH - I feel with Sio coming through to challenge Robinson we've got LH covered. I remember Slipper coming off the bench at 19/20 to start his first test at TH when we were being pushed all over the park by England and him holding a scrum steady at first attempt. Gave me hope and yet he rarely if ever packs there any more. I know less about frontrow play than I do backrow so I defer to those who do but I'd still like to see how he goes.

Graydon is a very casual relaxed customer. Good full back to.

Yeah a lock with a fantastic goose step and a bad case of foot-in-mouth syndrome.

Thanks UA, I thought there was a fourth. We had Graydon down and Southo's during my time there. Very good fullback - think the rest of them were Woodsmen from memory.

6. Higginbotham, 7. Hooper, 8. Palu Thats the first time in ages that the back row looks dangerous, forget about the end of year, just remember how the AB's and Boks messed with the Wallaby pack. I won't go for the Genia-Cooper combo, Genia looks tired and Cooper though magical is still inconsistent I like a tradition solid 10 like Toomua. 9. White/Phipps 10. Toomua 11. Speight 12. Beale 13. Kurindrani 14. The Badger 15. Izzzzzy The explosive power from 11-15 should make up for the surprise factor Cooper brings... before I get blasted I don't hate Cooper I just think too many loose plays for test matches against the AB's and Boks. This back line is big, strong and fast with two play makers, three line breakers and all good finishers.

Lets just go all backrow on them: 1. Ed Quirk 2. Saia Faingaa 3. Fotu Auelua 4. Scott Fardy 5. Luke Jones 6. Ben McCalman 7. Matt Hodgson 8. Wycliff Palu 9. Beau Robinson 10. Liam Gill 11. Michael Hooper 12. Angus Cottrell 13. Scott Higginbotham 14. The Honey Badger 15. Colby Faingaa 16. Jake Schatz 17. Stephen Hoiles 18. Pat McCutcheon 19. Jarrad Butler 20. Sean McMahon 21. Chris Alcock 22. Curtis Browning 23. David Dennis

Their older brother Mitch played full back for NSW Country. Handy player.

Cousin of Scott I believe. Expected to captain the Aus U20s later this year too. I don't know about being a Wallaby bolter, but he has big raps on him. It seems he's already considered above Jack Whetton, despite not even being in the fulltime squad yet.

Good

Any relation to Scott, Graydon and Nigel? At least those three Staniforth's were backs.

Had his best Wallabies performances last year, isn't surprising that is followed by his best Super performances. He most definitely has been in the conversation

He's on the smaller side for a lock but so what! As pointed out by Tane, arguably the best lock in the northern hemisphere over the last decade in POC is no bigger than Fardy. There are plenty of players that are considered 'small' for their position that are world beaters. So long as your locks are high 190's high and 110+ wide there's no issue. As has been mentioned, we're a bit light on in the lock stakes and Fardy (who's played most of his SR career there) is more than capable of providing some much needed coverage there. I'd suggest him starting alongside Horwill with Simmons on the bench, Higgers at 6 and a (hopefully) fully fit Palu at 8. Super impressed with McCalman but just not sure his form will be transferred over to the test arena (although he wasn't too shabby when he got his opportunities last year either).

Rob i'd suggest if he was having that bad of a night beale would be brought on from the bench, or white

Tell that to Matt Giteau or Gavin Hastings mate ;)