Eleven changes made to Wallabies side - Godwin to debut, Pocock skipper

How gutted are you that Australia hasn't lost recently? Must be tough to not have a basis for your Australia bashing

Hopefully it's not the only premise for changing all but 4 players for this test, but don't the Frenchies always bring down an untested development squad and team for any tours against Southern Hemisphere sides? Good opportunity to give the next tier of players a chance and also to say 'get nicked' to the French Union for their lack of respect in previous tours to Oz. Win, win sitch!

Five tests in five weeks at the end of a long season is a big load. This is definitely the game to rest some blokes.

Exactamundo. Let's see old died in the wool baby blue Cynical Play respond to that Taylorman!

The guys played about 5 minutes and you come up with this crap? I would play Skelton in this match, his style of play will be needed against the French, will be a great impact replacement.

Cliff you stick with Dean Mum then. When I compare the two I see potential upside in a younger player that just by eliminating stupid foul play moments will immediately improve their game. Similarly that one of the two can greatly improve their fitness and be better. Further that one of them has shown that they can be physical, they just need to execute more cleanly and more often. But you stick with Mum, I mean how good was his cover tackle!

Their 2016 records are remarkably similar...both terrible...four wins and losses each, similar scoring. Scotland easily beat France in the 6N so would be ahead. Mind you, the marginally better of two average sides is neither here nor there but Cheika could be throwing this away with quite obviously a second side, but I like the fact that he's asked the wider squad to step up. It can only enhance the test experience. It's something Hansen might do but for slightly different reasons.

Exactly, getting selecting in a seconds side reinforces the thinking, it doesn't disprove it. Would have thought that was obvious.

Your straight jacket getting a bit loose? The world does not revolve around Quade, and Cheika does not have a vendetta against him. Cheika is the one who campaigned to get him an aru contract when he was on the pine for a club team.

i dont think taquele will do too much if he's not marked by a pipsqueak like in the barbarians match. all he has is size and its not really worth much at the top level unless you can get him one on one 1m from the line.

not too many 10's in world rugby can do that tho peter but i spose that is one way for him to look at it positively. i wonder if he is allowing for that assumption now or if he is planning only based on his pack doing well. alternatively perhaps it could end up like a deans situation where we flog france by 50 points and then the backline that did it is never seen again.

I'm with jez. I'd like to see what he can do if fit. I don't think he'll be using that technique of falling on/hitting players lying on the ball anymore. France may be his last chance - wouldn't risk him against Ireland or England.

Peter K, I agree that Hodge had a mostly ineffective game last week. However, Folau was used effectively at second receiver many, many times and Hodge lost his sense of where to position himself. I think tonight Cooper will drift and throw to Kuridrani and his wingers but maybe the odd inside ball to Godwin. We'll see. Skeltons intimidation factor could be good tonight as he played strongly against the French in Australia a couple of years ago. I still want to see him mature as a player.

perhaps but the best players find away to make bad passes good (when possible)

I have similar concerns about the backline , Wally. I am struggling to see real combinations and penetration, (unless the B team have been slicing them up at training). This is what we don't know. How has Quade and Godwin been combining at training? Morahan has hardly been at training. So it's hard to see how he will combine with the other new boys to replace the Hodge/Izzy/DHP attack combo. I am hoping desperately that Cheika is not setting up some of these for a failure. Of course, he knows about training form much better than I. I am aware that Mick Byrne likes to place players in intense competing scenarios at training and warm up. So maybe, just maybe, the team selected has been selected for their competitive combos. I'm ahopin' and aprayin'

I just noticed... Cheika has just done it again. Timani out. Skelton in. See what I mean?!! Skelton should have been on the first plane home after the Scotland game.

That's a big call with Skelton lumbering around the international arena. Give Kyle a chance to show us what he's got.

Cynical Play. You're probably right about the anti-tahs dig. Probably not warranted and I apologize. It was a bit of a frustrated vent on my part. You are wrong about the blinkers though. I have a number of provincial alliances due a bit of state hopping in my life. I admit that I am anti-tahs because they are the mortal enemy if you aren't a Tahs supporter. That's a given. The Crusaders evoke the same reaction. My issue is with the coach not selecting the best players in position to fill the Gold Jersey. Even Waratah supporters struggle to justify Skelton's inclusion. I guess that's way Daryl G. sent him back to 1st grade earlier this year. Judging by the game on the weekend, he hasn't learned a thing. Selecting Horne, Palu & Hooper does add fuel to the fire when there are better players in their positions. Good players, but not the best players. Us anti-Tahs folk just take these selections as nepotism. Hence the comment. There are number of them that do deserve their place in the Wallabies but too many do not.

I kind of assumed Godwin was picked so as not to wear down Hodge by asking him to tackle Fofana all night. Godwin tackles pretty well doesn't he?

Australia may have to get used to battling out 4th-5th with RSA. Though it would be more likely that they will compete with IRE for 3rd-4th.