Wallabies name team to face South Africa: Cheika rings the changes for Springboks clash

I would like to see Dempsey developed as an 8 ..... he has size, power, aggression, hits hard, is mobile and supports the ball runners ..... Timani and Higginbotham are both yesterdays men, they are lazy and do not play for the team .... Naisirani is not yet qualified ..... we need to develop a quality 8 or two

Fardy is no longer available for the Wallabies

Any Chinese players taking the field? TMO from Beijing?

I disagree, Timani has been solid in every full test he has been given, and has been decent in most of the tests he has limited minutes off the bench. Flanders has been invisible in all of his tests. Timani at least has the power to impose himself, and he cleans out like no one else. I don't think Timani is endlessly praised at all, he is just the best option of an average bunch.

You do know that the number 4 for Chinese is not good... and ffs I have no idea what relevance this has to anything :)

I'm pointing out the disconnect between the wunderkind cult and reality. Timani isn't obviously better than Hanigan, he may be a bit better but the way people go on here you'd think Timani is Kaino. Timani hasn't had the chance to fail miserably so he becomes the focal point for the 'grass is greener on the other side' mentality. However, analysis of his Super and NRC performances shows there's a reason why he's been given little chance at test level - he's never impressed at lower levels. His limited chances at test level tend to confirm the analysis is correct. Granted, Hanigan is in a similar boat but the derision Hanigan gets and the worship Timani gets is unbalanced.

As for dual playmates I was likeing the look of QC and toomua

It's a strong starting up overall other than Hanigan, which just seems unfounded to me still. Don't get it. Yes, maybe potential, but not a test starter. And obviously a better 10 than Foley would be ideal, but we're skint there, so go well Wallabies with what you have. A real opportunity this week to show improvement and consistency rather than that last week was a once off. If they can come out and play with the same degree of commitment and execution, they'll be in with a real shot to win it and gain more belief back from fans. But they've got to do that and they've got to do it every match. That's the talk that's coming out of camp, so they are aware, would love to see that delivered on Saturday. Go Wallabies.

MitchO - saw Nasarini last weekend in Perth. He had a cracking game. Looks promising.

i don't have an issue with dual playmakers , just not at 10 and 12. First of all 10 has to actually be a playmaker which foley is not. The other playmaker should be at 15 or a roving wing where they can come in and inject themselves , or be on the other side of a midfield scrum. Beale would be ideal at 15 (and Cooper at 10) as a combination of 2 playmakers. Unless of course the 2nd playmaker at 12 is the size of Nonu or Kerevi and they are dangerous runners, strong dominant tacklers as well as a secondary playmaker , then fine have them at 12.

If Timani had had both the minutes and the consistency of selection that Hanigan has enjoyed we'd know where we stood with him. I think he has done okay so far and if given a chance to settle might be able to show some progress. Ripping him in and out is not good for him. Play him or don't.

Weird logic, timber, because we're not comparing Timani to a really good player like Jerome Kaino, are we? We're comparing him to Ned Flanders, who is just awful at international level, whereas Timani has done alright.

Timani is overrated, I haven't seen him play consistently well at super level let alone test level. Yet for some reason, 90% of fans demand his inclusion as if it's a given - the rugby wunderkind cult in full force. His physique flatters to deceive and Cheika has got it right on this occasion, Timani simply isn't very good.

Hansen wanted that from Luatua. Also considers Barrett as a possible 6/8. I agree it is a tough role but carries big benefits for a team.

Hahaha :) 0-20min SA advances to Aus goal line and get scrumming. scrum gets reset 5 times and SA get a penalty, Jantjies narrowly converts it. 20-40min PSDT almost get yellow carded for a fracas with Coleman, but Jackson wisely refrains from ruining the game Foley kicks the penalty Haltime score: 3-3 40-60 min: Beale puts one up for Folau who regathers and scores by out jumping Rhule and Coetzee. 60-80 min: SA gets penalty try after Aus keeps collapsing the scrum close to their line Etzebeth runs through some fwds, offloads to Kolisi who gives back flip to Serfontein who scores. Full Time score: SA 17-10 Aus

They will be lucky if anyone shows up at all. With only Taf and Ads on the field and Rona unlikely to make it onto the field , there is nobody for the locals to cheer for. Too Many HorrorTahs! Dempsey with less than 50 Minutes of SR this year is an indictment on the selection process.

DodoV. My understanding is that Hanigan is a converted lock. So at test level he is still learing his positional play as well as learning Cheika's strategy. Hodge is very young and I reckon he is up for test rugby. Just needs experience. He did okay when thrown in the deep end.

Why do they persist with the selection of the plump work experience kiddie, Tom Robertson? If he were fit he'd be 71kg. Is he still averaging one meter per carry? Yes, 1m per carry! And again with Hanigan? He has zero positional understanding. Is this is first year of rugby as a back rower. Has anyone ever had reason to say "Good Hit!" when Hanigan tackles a player. He leans on them for a rest. And yes, Hodge has a big boot, but to make the Wallabies backs you should be exceptional with ball in hand and in defence, eg. Ma'a Nonu, Jean de Villiers, Brian O'Driscoll. Jeremy Guscott. We're at a historical low point for quality specialist backs.

I forgot that Robertson is our back up loosehead. Surely a bigger tougher more experienced guy could hold the seat until someone better comes along - even if that someone better is Robertson with another season or two of weights and experience. I really don't mind a Cowan or a Ben A for it. Both are on the borderline between SR and Test rugby but so is Robertson. What are the looseheads like at Qld and Melbourne? Or Robertson is a convert and Toby Smith sort of played both sides. Alan A is a convert to tighthead. Is it too late to consider Ainsley at tighthead and put Alan A back to loosehead? If Alan A hasn't played there for while it is probably too much to ask coz his muscle memory will all be pushing the 'wrong' way.

Hooper's form has been pretty patchy but I accept that he will start at 7. Also have no problem with Kepu or Folau (I am including Beale as an overseas based player). Foley I am not a fan of, but it what it is. I would prefer Dempsey to Hanigan based purely on the fact that he actually showed some semblance of physicality in the small amount I've seen him play, but I still don't understand how is in there about Fardy, Higgers and RHP. I have big issues with Hanigan, Robertson and Phipps. None of these three should be anywhere near the 23, and I don't even think should be in the wider squad.