Timani omitted entirely from Ireland Test as Cheika finalises bench

26th November, 2016

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Lopeti Timani can break his way through plenty of tackles, but can he force his way into the Wallabies side? (AAP Image/Tony McDonough)

The Roar

26th November, 2016

2301 Reads

The Wallabies have finalised their bench for the Test against Ireland on Sunday morning (AEDT), with Lopeti Timani dropped from the Australian side entirely.

Michael Cheika left Timani out of the starting side announced earlier this week, opting instead to bring in a veteran performer in Dean Mumm, but put Timani on an extended nine-man bench.

Someone had to be dropped for the final team however and Timani has been that man – a decision that might not be particularly popular, and comes as something of a surprise given Cheika said just two weeks ago that Timani’s form had made him too hard to drop.

“He’s continually making me pick him. That’s the issue – his performances have spoken for themselves,” Cheika said when naming the side to play Scotland two weeks ago.

When naming the side for the Test against Ireland, Cheika said:

“Timani has done absolutely nothing wrong.

“We want to focus a little bit more on our lineout this week and the threat that Ireland might pose there – they’re very good in that area.

“Dean brings a lot of experience and quality in that area – but then we’ll probably lose a bit of Lopeti’s ball carrying too.

“It’s six of one, half a dozen of the other but we decided that was probably an important thing for this game and that’s how we’ll run.”

Final Wallabies team to play Ireland
1. Scott Sio (28 Tests)
2. Stephen Moore (c) (115 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (75 Tests)
4. Rory Arnold (8 Tests)
5. Rob Simmons (69 Tests)
6. Dean Mumm (55 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (63 Tests)
8. David Pocock (64 Tests)
9. Will Genia (74 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (40 Tests)
11. Henry Speight (9 Tests)
12. Reece Hodge (8 Tests)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (43 Tests)
14. Dane Haylett-Petty (12 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (50 Tests)

Reserves
16. Tolu Latu (2 Tests)
17. James Slipper (84 Tests)
18. Allan Alaalatoa (8 Tests)
19. Kane Douglas (29 Tests)
20. Sean McMahon (13 Tests)
21. Nick Phipps (51 Tests)
22. Quade Cooper (65 Tests)
23. Sefanaia Naivalu (4 Tests)

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