Pick your Wallabies XV for the Bledisloe Cup opener

Hey when are we going to see the results??! Need to get it over to Cheiks ASAP

Slipper and Hanson ? Neither can scrum. We'd be pushed all over the park. Take Sio and TPN instead. I'd like to see the Genia and Cooper pairing though. Kuridrani isn't nearly as lethal as Folau at outisde-centre. Then get in Haylett-Petty as an extra kicker in back three.

I live on Earth. It will look blue and green from your galaxy. Interesting that you reference Haskell. A peripheral, almost forgotten English journeyman whose test Renaissance coincided with a full season at Wasps under the patented tutelage of one, G. Smith. No question about the quality or currency of backrow play in Coventry last season. I suspect the 2015 Wallabies might have benefitted from such unique mentorship. The young 2017 Qld Reds backrowers sure as hell will. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-7TBhlS2A0E The same James Haskell who, in concert with a workmanlike 6 and hardrunning 8, dominated the collision, ruck and maul against the "worlds best backrow". Easy to hand out the compliments when you've just dusted the recipient. I don't recall Steve Hanson describing the Wallaby backrow in quite the same manner. I do seem to recall his quote about "strengthening some areas, weakening others" just prior to another AB Bledisloe series victory. You can be as astounded as you want Champion. Your indignity quotient alone doesn't make your point any more valid. And continually throwing out the "negative supporter" cliche simply highlights an attempted, generalised diversion from the very specific point of the argument. Michael Hooper is a talented, gutsy, hardworking Wallaby. More than worthy of the individual plaudits he has earned. But if one contests that a major Wallaby issue is a lack of up front, set piece and ruck and maul acumen in the forwards, then it is no stretch to suggest that the accommodation of Hooper and subsequent displacement of David Pocock (at the expense of an actual eight-man, with the requisite physical dimensions and capability skillsets), is a problem. It is possible to be a passionate, informed fan and still question Wallaby management team decisions, (or your personal opinion). Change the record Tiger.

A massive issue? OMG. OK, I will take your word for that. We must live on diffetent planets. I live on the one with James Haskell, the guy who described that "massive issue" as the worlds best backrow. I am astounded at Wallaby fans. They refuse to acknowledge whats in front of them and place their own negative spin on top of reality and dismiss anything that the rugby world says about their team. The Australuan backrow is not a problem and was considered by a large percentage of the rugby world to be the best in the world. For some reason you dismiss all this, invent your own reality and start acting as if that reality is the real world. But in the real world the Australian backrow is considered to be exceptionally good. Thats a fact. Why are Wallaby fans the most negative and frustrating of any fans in any sport. You have been one of the best teams in the world for 30 years and yet all I hear is about how bad things are when much of what you all complain about is the envy of most of the rugby world. You say its a massive issue. Most people in the rugby worlds elite say its brilliant. When I watch them I see brilliance but when Australians watch them they see nothing but negativity.

You dont watch rugby. Australias lineout is not strong. Its had a lot of problems for the last few years. Australias scrum was smashed against England although it was good last year but traditionally a weakness. Australia has fairly poor locks. But I guess you know best Richard. You dont though , actually your extreme and lack knowledge tbh.

Oh we judge each player individually? Thats new for you and Im glad we are making progress.

Ahhhhhhh! So frustrating. Young guys are getting a go. Did young guys not get a go when McCaw stayed? What about Cruden, Slade, Sapoaga, Barrett with Carter? Holy mother of god this is frustrating. Do me a solid and actually pay attention to whats happening. If you think that senior players stop the development of young players and prevent them getting the right amount of gametime then look up because they dont. So please stop telling me they do. Im alive and have eyes. I know what happens. So many of you just refuse to notice whats going on or listen to those doing it. So frustrating. Australia debuted about 6 players against England. McMahon is 21 or whatever and has plenty of tests. Kerevi is playing, Arnold, Coleman, DHP. What do you want! Last year Cooper, Toomua, Beale and others played 12, not just Giteau. Did Mitchell stop all other wings? Its called transition.

Well since you said so I will not pay attention to what the international coaches and players think. First of all let me say this. You are too rigid in your idea of what a 7 is when people who know the game much better than you are not. That should indicate pretty clearly that you are the one with the fault, not international coaching teams. 2nd, you act as if Hooper gets all the glory whilst Pocock doesnt. Really, since when? Pocock is much more likely to be considered Australias best player and the worlds best flanker. I dont have time for people who declare theyve inspected Hoopers game and found it wanting when the guy wins every award except the world rugby player of the year and even that hes been shortlisted for. The guy has been selected at 7 by White, Deans, McKenzie and Cheika. But what do 3 Super Rugby winning coaches and a World Cup winning coach know. About as much as the World player of the year judges, the Super Rugby player of the year judges and the John Eales Medal judges.

x2 What Crash Ball Said. With 1 change, there are some pretty good 6,7&8's in the SR sides, we just don't get to see them at international level. I like Jordy Ried, and Smiler for the future and would like to see Hodgson back from injury. Gill (Tulon) and Ed Quirke (Sunwolves) are still in my opinion, the best men for those jobs but have been overlooked and outsourced. Full credit to Poey, but he isn't a great Jumper, which is OK if you have a #8 that can, but since chieka needs a #7 to play the #8 spot..... McCalman and MacMahon are pretty good mongrels to have on your side (they both can Jump).

Dave_S We can't have a proper #8 in the #8 position, Chiek has to select a mongrel 7/8 to make up for Hooper's absenteeism moonlighting outside #13 It is killing us at the line out, at the breakdown and in set piece attack from the scrum base.

Seb, When I recently took up watching the rugby again, I was skeptical when people told me that Hooper wasn't that good. May I suggest that you do what I did - Watch what the other back rowers contribute to their respective sides and then evaluate Hooper's performance. Pockock, Fardy, Gill, MacMahon, McCalman,Jody Ried, Kieren Ried, Dixon, A.Sarvia, Prior, Shields, Todd all buzz like wasps from ruck to ruck, vandalizing and burglarizing the opposition. They are there: - Any time a Ruck Needs to be defended - Any time a Lineout needs to be jumped - Any time a Scrum or mall needs to be pushed - Any time a Ball needs to be pilfered - Any time Fitness is required for multi phase play - Any time a Ball needs to be run through heavy defense. - Any time a break away runner needs to be tackled - Any time a position needs to be defended - Any time a difficult, low percentage tackle needs to be made. My Take-away: Hooper gets a lot of "Screen Time", scoring tries and making miraculous tackles, accumulating a lot of good looking stats. What I don't see are many positive contributions in the "Dark Places" where Poey, MacCalman, Fardy, MacMahon and the other forwards have their heads down getting bloody. You don't get missed tackle stats unless you are attempting the hard ones. He may be a good player, but not a good #7 To suggest Fardy on the Bench to make way for him is comical

Adrian, I am not a huge Phipps fan, but I give him the benefit of the doubt. I have said it before, he is a bit of a square peg in a round hole. or star shaped hole (it has a ridiculous set of skills). Like you say, his natural game is not the Wallaby game and he has been shoe-horned into the position. The opposition has Cheika's script, they know that an attack from half is unlikely and they can leave this area undefended allowing them to run a blitz defense, putting the passer under pressure and nobbling the offensive play. Both Phipps and Friz's natural games have the option to run around the base of the ruck or chip over the top. With the forwards spread so thin in a 1,3,3,1 offense pattern, it is a death wish to run or would just be handing the ball over, as there are no available chasers or ruck support. I agree Ginea is the best of both worlds - Speed to the breakdown and a pin-point pass. He is coming back from injury though, is he the best man for the job or should he play a fer proper games first to prove himself?

Richard, I don't see the pattern you appear to be implying. Robertson has 7 times as much super rugby under his belt than Tupou so that probably helps. He's looked solid and obviously has potential. Tupou could very well be the best front row forward we've witnessed in a long time but getting some more SR under his belt is only going to be a good thing. He's played 104 minutes for QLD; give him a little more time. We haven't got great depth at #3 and considering the departure of Holmes and Weeks' injury Robertson is probably the pick as far as being 'most ready'. Yeah, I'm ok with Horwill not being there. Simmons has to start and I'd prefer Coleman to be on the park with him at kickoff. I don't think I've advocated picking a veteran midfield. I'm happy with Kuridrani (25 years?) at 13 because I'm not confident in Folau's defensive abilities yet, particularly as he is still playing the 13/15 hybrid role. I'm a huge Kerevi fan and I'd really love to see Hodge get out there at some point. I wouldn't consider any of the three of them as old. As far I'm aware the two 'patterns' I'm suggesting are "don't rush in really young kids who need more time if possible" and "lets put more of an emphasis on selecting players who will be available at the 2019 RWC". Maybe layoff the hooch for a while, Rich.

1. Scott Sio 2. Totafu Polota-Nau 3. Sekope Kepu 4. Kane Douglas 5. Rob Simmons 6. Scott Fardy 7. Michael Hooper 8. David Pocock 9. Will Genia 10. Quade Cooper 11. Drew Mitchell 12. Matt Toomua 13. Tevita Kurindrani 14. Dane Haylett - Petty 15. Israel Folau 16. James Hanson 17. James Slipper 18. Alan Ala'alatoa 19. Adam Coleman 20. Sean McMahon 21. Nick Phipps 22. Matt Giteau 23. Adam Ashley - Cooper

McCaw was onside? NOOOOO.. WRONG AGAIN. .... Our backrow is our weakness ..Our set piece SCRUM AND LINEOUT TIGHT FIVE is very good ( Our strength )... We lack ferociousness and power at the tackle area and at times have players isolated on attack because Hooper is swanning on the wing.. We are also weak at 9 10 11 12 13..

A slightly ironic moniker for an AB supporter? Respectfully, the obvious imbalance in the Wallabies 6/7/8 channel is a massive issue that not only lessens the backrow, but indeed the effectiveness and punch of the entire pack. Australia aren't gifted with a huge number of muscular, bruising, tight running, set piece effective forwards at the best of times and - tireless, flying, gutsy metronome that Hooper undoubtedly is - sacrificing this fundamental skill set in the Gold 8 and displacing the best openside flanker on the planet in the process (who isn't close to a top 20 eightman) to accommodate a wide running, moderately breakdown and maul effective 7, is continued folly. That Hooper and/or Pocock individually play well or not (and really, two great players who have fantastic consistency), is a distant secondary priority to how the Wallaby forwards execute as a group. Up front collisions, set piece, ruck and maul, breakdown contest: pick guys that satisfy these core skills first. That's not happening.

1 . Waratah Tom Robertson has played 13 super rugby games, Thor has played 3.. 13 games gets you a gig for the WALLABIES if you are a Waratah.. 2. You want younger lads in the second row ( not Horwill ) but not in the midfiled Browny ? You see a pattern here ??

Indeed you don't. You don't drop Simmons because he will be around for another 5 years. You don't drop Fardy because there is no strong performing alternative. You consider dropping Mumm because he has not really shown to be indispensable in the team. Etc.

'McCaw was oniside?' Simmons is about 5 years younger than most of the other guys you listed... he's definitely got another RWC in him unlike everyone else you mentioned. I'm not talking about wholesale cuts but if you're running a backline with the trio of Gits, AAC and Drew, that leaves the halves, 15 and either 13 or 14 for local players... you can probably lock those away to phipps/genia, foley/cooper, folau and either Kuridrani at 13 or DHP at 14. One more outside back and that's it on the team sheet... at some point we're going to have to give the younger guys some time and I'd rather get it done a few years before the next RWC. One or two older heads in the backs is enough for me...

Im over trying to explain the obvious but here goes. The use of older players does not stunt development of younger players, it helps it. You have them train and play along side these players and transition. You dont drop all the older players and start fresh to develop players. It annoys me that people cant grasp this simple fact so Im sorry if I seem rude. So it is in the interest of winning now and in the future to use senior players such as Moore, Fardy, Giteau, Simmons, Mumm, Mitchell and AAC. It is not in the interest of developing Aus rugby talent to drop them all.