Scoreboard flatters Wallabies in 27-8 win over Georgia

Yep. I want a lock who will get in and do the work. Solid in the scrum and world class in the line out. Simmons has really impressed in the last 18 months.

Makes sense given JOC can play anywhere and JP is a specialist winger. It is a risk but I think we will need to take those risks to win. I do think that our tight 5 will match England and might outdo their scrum in the 2nd 1/2.

I had something very similar, although I had JP at 14, JOC at 22, Hodge at 23

There is never zero chance. I'm thinking about 60/40 to England.

Ockers is a slur? Not where I come from!

If any Aussie can keep Tuilagi contained, it is Kuridrani.

I’m a huge fan of Rodda, but he hasn’t been in great form this World Cup. Simmons is quick, a good defender, is easily our best line out exponent and has far better hands than Rodda.

Andy F, That’s the tension/crux with him, can he get in enough space to make plays? Or will Australia have enough inside play making if he is out in space? He hasn’t set the world on fire, but bringing him back in has been one of Cheika’s better recent moves

Might have been convinced on Sinckler a while back, but just as Cole was told in no uncertain terms by Jones he'd need to work on things to make the plane, Sinckler was conversely told to work on his scrum. He's a more complete unit now. There's definitely a Jones inspired weakness at 9 currently, but I wouldn't think White solves anything much. Robson at 27 is neither too young or past it, and as if Jones wasting him wasn't enough, the last minute diagnosis of blood clots has to put him into the basket of unluckiest players. There was a time when I only put Folau (wing) or Pocock in an England starting XV reckoning. Curry now pushes Pocock out - the lad's all round game is superior, and will only get better. He'd be my 7. Daly is looking more assured under the high ball of late, although you still sense a likely drop - but his football brain, deceptive pace, and booming boot from hand and tee, doesn't put him in the same sentence as Beale. All that said, I think your % call is fair. This game is far from a gimme. Really looking forward to it, and still fuming the French game was called of - the side needs the game time.

Yeah, meh, I mostly disagree. I’ve never rated Kruis. Still don’t see the positives in him. Am concerned that Jones thinks of him as better than Launchbury or Lawes. Launchbury especially I think outplays Kruis virtually every single match. Certainly Pocock would. He’s been by far Australia’s best player at attacking rucks (which is huge in a tournament where the referees are allowing anything to happen at the breakdown) and Is linking at a higher standard than either of England’s 7s (or Hooper). Don’t see how the B&I thing matters mate - what’s the relevance? It might have some relevance if alaalatoa has been eligible but overlooked by Gatland, but the fact is that I think Gatland would pick Alaalatoa about Sinckler. Kyle’s game around the park is great but his set piece work isn’t particularly strong. At international level, the set piece matters more. All England’s 9s have shown thus far is that they’re too young or past it. I don’t think any have played well. Do you, really? The Manu thing I can accept. As I said, I think it’s a pretty close call. Daly is a good rugby player, but all of England’s fullback options have a bit of the Kurtley Beale / Willie Le Roux weakness under the high ball. I have plenty of English friends who agree with me on this when I’ve spoken to them about it, and plenty who disagree too. It doesn’t really bother me either way, as it is so hypothetical. But it’s nice that Nick B agrees with me on most of them! I actually think Aus has a 33% chance. Aus is a bit better than last year, and England are still yet to recapture the 2016-17 form.

The only result i really want from this game is Cheika gone. The ockers beating the poms would be nice but not if it meant Cheika remains any where near international rugby.

‘Friends over form’ and ‘need for speed’ are eloquent phrases Jack.

Jaysper, ‘ockers’ may be bit misplaced in this context of as many Polynesian names as the classic Anglo-Celtic. But I will grant you that Cheika is about as Paul Hogan as a Lebanese Aussie could get (apart from the laconic bi-pass). But if the intention is to slur, ‘shackle draggers’ is pretty hard to beat. The most jarring thing is the sense that you are speaking about us as if we’re not here.

Observe statistics, never dismiss trends.

Bobby, we needed to NOT use Samu to this point, so we could use him now to surprise in the quarters. Joc and Tevita for me. Samu from bench.

I predicted Australia by 20. That is because Australia aren’t that good, Georgia aren’t that bad and no matter how dopey Cheika is, he was not going show anything this week. There were no real strike plays. It was all quite simple stuff. Australia’s set piece has been really good. As a former second rower I love to see good scrummaging, mauling and line out steals. They’re not quite Matfield and Botha but Arnold and Rodda have been fantastic. And then we’ve got Coleman off the bench although even Simmons was good in this game. It was wet and miserable which does not suit the Wallabies style of play but you know it’s a winter sport so get used to it. All that dropped ball was disappointing. England won’t beat us by 20 but they will beat us.

The hopes of a rugby nation?

Gee that’s a big call, we have had some shockers over the last 10-15. :laughing:

Do not disrespect the Georgians. Their defence was very good, particularly in close. They are professional Rugby payers, many in top tier teams. Australia did play to Georgia's strengths by just bashing it up just wide if the ruck. Pick and drive was scarce. The backs so often pass at the hip or slightly behind their support not to the space in front. This has been a problem for years in Oz Rugby. We've had no answer to the rush defence for years beyond count. Just panic pants to stationary players outside So odd when Larkham was amongst the best we've had at passing to the gap. He could not teach it at the Brumbies or the Wallabies. Hopefully the new coach will ask Mark or Glen Ella or Joey Johns to show the backs how to pass. Little chance of beating the Poms and none at all of beating the AB's. The WC requires the best players we have on the pitch and the ARU and our Coach have made sure this is not the case. Prioritising Super Rugby over Test Rugby and friends over form has hamstrung any chance we have of WC success. Korobiete's efforts show why pace is all important against well drilled defences and the way the offside line is currently refereed. Banks, Speight, Monaghan. I feel the need for speed.

Yep Cheika said they were practising for England.