David Pocock's back as Wallabies name squad for Bledisloe 1

Without folau aint gonna beat the abs As opposed to all those times they won with him At least they have a kicking game with him gone

Jez. Hodge did nothing at 13 for the Rebels but did okay for the Wallabies in few games at 13. Petaia's old enough if good enough but he's been out with injury for a while so I'd go Hodge. Hodge has been in the team for a long time and has now played plenty of test matches. He has the temperment for it. Dunno about his defence at 13 but when he last played a test there I didn't notice his defence as being bad.

Has Squire made himself available now? Didnt know that. Does depend who the AB's select for this. It will certainly be another experimental side with Hansen desperate to see players perform under pressure...with the full shadow lineup surely etched in for Eden park. We don't know who Cheika will play back three but likely some version of Pooper again.

We need a few desperate moves don’t we? Or should we just stick with Chieka’s team of the last few years. No way! If I can’t have Quade, i’ll have Petaia off the bench. We need to gamble at this stage but not too crazily.

Late reply but Poey's presence brings dysfunction that his skills do not outweigh. WBs have lost tons of game with him on the park and Hooper will not be benched. Reward those that beat Argentina. If they do their best and lose, so be it. The players will be better for the next match

Agree, we'll be in Blue also, can't quite bring myself to wear black yet... I don't know anyone who will be wearing Wallabies kit on Saturday night. BTW, I just saw the Wallabies kit at Jim Kidd Sports in Perth marked down to $79 & it's only Monday! AB kit no such luck... Having said that, I wish the WB well & hope they perform to a standard that justifies bringing 36 players (plus the entourage...) here. Mind you, I suspect the extra cost would be similar to the entire years budget from RA towards WA Rugby development.

Neither do the Waratah wingers.

"This idea of former Wallabies missing most of the Super season (Pocock, Uelese, Coleman)" Coleman I agree with and definitely Uelese, who is yet to even establish himself at Super Rugby let alone test level. Pocock is an entirely different case, though. Has consistently shown he is one of the Wallabies best for the last decade, always an immediate top performer without a need to play himself back to form like other players. If he is capable of playing, he is first picked, no question.

What a tired old record that has become.

Why do you say that? Aftermath of the Western Force being culled from Super Rugby? A sudden influx of Kiwis to WA? General dislike of Cheika?

Pocock off the bench With his injury!!

Don’t wish that upon him Fionn. As a Rebels fan I reckon Melbourne is where rugby careers go to die. Hopefully Maddocks gets an offer from a Kiwi, SA or top European team. He’s being wasted here. Look at poor David Pocock. He’d get the 7 jersey of any test country in the world, accept Australia. He plays behind the third or fourth best open side in the country. When he does get picked, he has to do his own job plus make up for the inadequacy of Hooper. Absolute disgrace.

But the Wallabies need a 10. A world class, playmaking 10. A 10 that people say might be the best player in the world. He doesn’t have to be but he has to be good enough to be be short listed. That takes talent, development and opportunity. Foley just cannot cut it.

I like him and am sold. It would be better if he had a full season under his belt but his game against the Highlanders was sensational. Happy for anyone to offer other candidates and argue their case.

So desperation it is then.

Centres aren’t producing. Who apart from Kuridrani do you consider as an option at 13? Kerevi doesn’t defend well there. AAC is the only experienced option and he is down on pace and strength. He’s not the player he used to be. So who fills in if TK takes a knock?

I’m not sure I am on the page for Petaia. Little high level SR experience, none internationally. And he is going to be parachuted in apparently. What could possibly go wrong? It seems a desperate move.

Think you’re spot on with the 20mins in each Bled Test. Although maybe 30 or 40mins in the second one depending on how he feels? Needs as much time as possible while balancing not being rushed in too soon.

Maybe he is a distraction. But I think if we have thought that, then Hansen and Co will have thought that too. Also, he is a very much known entity, the game plan around stopping him won’t be much changed from past games so not much to ‘formulate’. Especially as most of the ABs will have played him in the past either in internationals or SR. I wouldn’t be risking him to start against the ABs, maybe a stint at the end to get game time, but why bet the farm on him making it through?

Do you think those 3 games make a difference?