Wallabies halfback Nic White may have given away one of Dave Rennie’s close calls for the first Test starting team to face England on Saturday.
White appeared on Channel Nine on Sunday and laughed when asked who his roommate was, and he revealed it was James O’Connor, who is jostling with Quade Cooper and Noah Lolesio to play flyhalf in Perth.
.Rennie will name his team on Thursday, 48 hours out from the game time.
“Read into that what you will,” White said. “Look we’ve trained in all different combinations this week. They always keep you on your toes, we do a lot of clarity sessions, a lot of walk throughs, a lot of training sessions and the team gets changed up every couple of minutes so you can’t read into that too much.
“But I like rooming with Rabs anyway – we’re a couple of old heads who like to go to bed early and get up early.”
Meanwhile star prop Taniela Tupou, who has been battling a calf injury for almost two months, is said to have fallen short in his recovery and likely to miss out.
If he’s missing, Rennie will have to adjust his front row thinking. Loosehead James Slipper has shifted to tighthead in the past. Allan Alaalatoa would start in the No.3 jersey, with Slipper coming off the bench over the uncapped Pone Fa’amausili. Angus Bell could start in the No.1 jersey, with Scott Sio as cover.
Dave Rennie faces another selection call at fullback, where Jordan Petaia has come into the frame ahead of Tom Banks.
Banks is leaving for Japan at the end of the season and told Fox Sports he wanted to leave a big impression.
“You’d be lying if you said you didn’t (want to leave a lasting impression),” Banks said.
“You have those moments, especially with the Brums. That place has been pretty special to me, and again here.
“Australian rugby’s done so much for me.
“It’s tough to think that these moments are coming to an end.”
Former Wallaby James Horwill told the Sydney Morning Herald he would opt for Petaia.
“I’d like to see Jordy there. His natural ability with the ball in hand gives another attacking option. Jordy is very good under the high ball,” Horwill said.
But Morgan Turinui said Banks was “Australia’s only real option.
“He has a significantly better body of work in Super Rugby. Yes, Banks hasn’t always 100 per cent convinced at Test level yet, but this is probably the right Test series to find out.
“That sets up whether he’s important enough for us to take him to the World Cup. Jordan Petaia is the exciting one, but you’d be picking him on gut. As exciting a player as he is, this might not be the moment.”
England young gun Marcus Smith has thanked Quade Cooper for
“We’ve connected a little bit over socials and he’s helped me a lot actually,” Smith told English media.
“He’s taught me a few things — just different ways to see the game; like the types of things he looks for when he’s analysing opposition and the way he thinks when he makes a mistake.
“It’s his mindset, really. I don’t think we’ll be talking too much on the tour, but hopefully post-game we can have a beer and hopefully I’ll be the one smiling.
“Fingers crossed, I can get a chance to go up against him because he’s a top player and it will be nice to challenge myself against another top 10 in the world.”
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I definitely hope he plays well. Bell is a young prop, he will get better in the scrum, he's awesome everywhere else as well.
Rip Atkinson
Roar Rookie
played out the way you expected... I hope bell plays w the same intent and form he's carried through SRP, it'll be a good contest for his scrummaging ability against a good pommy front row so keen to see that battle play out.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
But Slipper will be on the other side of the scrum due to injuries. Loose head prop (1) will be between Bell and Sio, I reckon Bell will start. Tight head prop (3) will be AAA with Slipper on the bench. If you bench Bell then he comes on with a prop who has had to swap sides on the other end of the scrum which is a recipe for disaster.
Rip Atkinson
Roar Rookie
reason I have slipper to start is experience, not that I don't back Bell but Slipper for the first game starter is a safer play. give bell 30-40 in H2 to come on, let slipper settle into the game.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
I think Pone is injured as well, Slipper will probably be the bench THP. Bell and AAA start with Sio and Slipper on the bench.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
I’d like that too Ferret. I think Wilson has raised his work rate and ability hitting rucks a bit this season. He needs to keep improving there but at 21 he’s got the absolute world at his feet. By 2025 him and Bobby will be massive for us I reckon.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
If Wilson can consistently compete in the line out and hit rucks efficiently he and Bobby will be a huge back row for us.
Greg
Roar Rookie
Scrum is looking bad from any perspective.
Rip Atkinson
Roar Rookie
My error - expecting Bell and Pone as the two replacement props
Frankly
Roar Rookie
Geoff, if you want to share your opinion that Hooper is over rated, that is fine. To basically say he is incompetent at international level and effectively at SR level as well, because he isn't even in the correct position, is just obsurd.
HAYNESY
Guest
Cant have Bell and Sio, both Looseheads, it is one or the other.
Rip Atkinson
Roar Rookie
This is where I see the 23 come Saturday at 7.45 Slipper Porecki AAA Swain Phillip Leota Hooper Valetini White Cooper Koroibete Kerevi Ikitau Kellaway Banks Faingaa Bell Sio Holloway/Neville Samu McDermott O’Connor Petaia
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
hahah maybe Nick White has started with minds games with Eddie early on...
TC
Guest
Banks has had his go. Not once has he really lit-up a test. IMO it's Jordy's turn. He has so much natural ability, maybe 15 (where he played his junior footy) is where it's finally realised at this level.
Chris
Guest
I would change 1, 2, 6, 16 and 17
Geoff
Guest
You carry on with this nomination rubbish as an argument as soon as someone criticises your boy , He didn`t win it, He has never won a world player of the year award as he is not good enough, the judges got it completely right and didn`t award him with anything.
PeterK
Roar Guru
none in the squad are strong at scrummaging though
Ed
Guest
PK, You are correct re Uelese. I should have said 'strongest scrummaging hookers in the squad'.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Geez I hope that's not our pack. I would change 6, 16, 17 and 19 (and maybe 4).
jameswm
Roar Guru
Exactly oz - I had hoped to attack them in the scrums and get the usual dominating run.