It’s almost a pity that Toomua joined the Brumbies with Lealifano as that meant he was moved to 12 and did not kick for goal. He may well have been the number 10 for the Wallabies for the past 5 or so years as his defence is top shelf, can kick a mile, has a good running game, can pass both sides as well as being a very good communicator and organiser.

He’s very quick – I think Banks level

Have to treat DHP as a handy back-up. His form last year was ordinary (he lost us the Sth Afirca game) and they have to give a chance to those who deserve it. Banks is now 25 and has been the form fullback for the past 2-3 years so his time is now.

Agree about Wright. I’d like him to be given the same freedom as Banks as he used to be a 10 and 12 so would be very capable closer to the ruck.

I agree that Noah Lolesio is very good and it’s exicting that there are all of a sudden a number of quality 5/8’s in Australia (you do wonder if Will Harrison was at the Brumbies whether he would also be doing as well).
The challenge now for the Brumbies is how to bring Reesjan Pasitoa through as a number 10 as he may be even better, especially with regards to his running game.

After the review following the terrible performance of the Wallabies in 2018, it seemed that one of the glaring issues was a lack of consistency in selections. This was shown in the puzzling selections of 10/12 consisting of Foley/Beale, Beale/Toomua, Toomua Foley, etc etc.
So they brought in Johnson and O’Connor to steady the ship so to speak and provide more consistency. Whilst that seemed to be working following the Perth test v NZ, since then the erratic and inconsitencies continued through to the QF when they selected a backline that had never played togther before and making their 6th consecutive change in the 9 and 10 positions.
Whilst I understand Cheika just can’t help himself and doesn’t know any better, just what wre Johnson and O’Connor doing and what did they bring to justify their salaries. O’Connor was on record as being against the ‘Pooper’ combination which is what they went for again whilst Johnson stated that a meeting where everyone agrees means you have one too many people in the meeting.
Now we have the bizarre situation of Johnson conducting a review of the failed process that he played an integral part. Maybe in his next meeting, he might have to answer some very unpleasant questions that he also has to ask.
Either way, they have to pick a capable, strategic and innovative coach as we really haven’t had one for over 12-15 years.

I like the team.
I would have liked LSL starting with Pocock coming on but then again Pocock has now had 5 or so games so will be starting to hit some form. Georgia was his best game and if anyone can cause havoc in a QF, he can. The rest of the forwards is as strong as can be.
He’s rolled the dice with Petaia and he worth rolling the dice for. O’Connor wouldn’t have been able to fully handle Slade/Tuilagi and Kuridrani didn’t really release his wingers of the few games he has had this year. It’s a huge risk but he can’t be safe now.
The same applies for Beale who hopefully will be given the licence to roam and act as the second playmaker. On defense he should go to the wing and let Hodge take the majority of the high balls that are undoubtedly coming their way.
The really odd one is Genia as he has been so good off the bench and White has played more with Lealifano.
Either way it’s make or break for Cheika and to a large extent Jones.
Bring it on – a great game awaits.

Best team yet.
Next weekend will see Alaalatoa start.
Unless Pocock get some steals this weekend I think he should be replaced by LSL with Demspey on the bench and Hooper starting.
Hodge on the bench in place of Lealifano as Toomua capable of doing 80 minutes.
Against England Beale to the bench with DHP starting.
V England:

Sio
Latu
Alaalatoa
Arnold
Rodda
Salakaia-Loto
Hooper
Naisarani
White
To’omua
Koroibete
Kerevi
O’Connor
Petaia
Haylett-Petty

Slipper
Uleese
Tupou
Coleman
Dempsey
Genia
Hodge
Beale

Why not start Tupou?
He needs the game time.
The 2 new selectors are meant to bring stability but they are as bad as Cheika. The decision to start Foley last week was a shocker given how out of form he has been. It’s the World Cup and they are still experimenting which is a disgrace. As for Pooper, that unsurprisingly also hasn’t worked and now they are due to play England in the quaters. If they keep the status quo in they back row they will be home in 3 weeks.

I really think they need LSL at 6 with Pocock on bench. The lineout will be targeted and they will lose out because of it as it has happened before. When NZ went for a small backrow in Perth we targeted their lineout and won. We also won the collision. Now there is more pressure on Arnold, Naisarani and Rodda to make up for the shortcomings of having both Pocock and Hooper. What are the other selectors doing when the evidence from a week ago was that the Pooper combo again didn’t work. Make a decision – pick one or the other, but not both!

The back row just looks wrong. Both great players but there is nothing wrong with having a super strong lineout and getting front foot ball. They have to make up in too many other areas to offset having both in the side.
I don’t think O’Connor can handle Radradra and Haylett- Petty offers security but very little threat.
They have to win this game and they probably will but this isn’t the team that will beat England, NZ, South Africa or even Wales. They have lost too many big games with ‘Pooper’ that it make no sense to keep going down that path.
Their best team was against NZ in Perth (with Arnold) and they really should be picking their best team.

They have to pick one or the other – not both.
They have started a lot of games together and lost a lot of games together. They did have that great game against a under-performing England in 2015 but since then it has been slim pickings.
The best game the Wallabies have played recently is against the All Blacks in Perth with a big back row. This strengthens the lineout (considerably), the scrum and gets them more front foot ball enabling the back to take advantage.
The Fijians don’t have a great lineout so not sure why we are handing over the advantage there.
Our advantage is having the pair of them, they just need to decide who starts and who finishes. Not both at once to the detriment of the team as a whole.

It’s interesting that a ‘small’ backrower in Smith is pushing for a tradtional backrow (Hooper, Naisarani and LSL) whilst a ‘big’ backrower in Finegan is pushing for a the hybrid version (Hooper, Pocock and Naisarani).
You think it would be the other way around.
For what it’s worth I think Smith is more on the money.

They needed to give Kuridrani a run as am not sold on JOC being the best option at 13 as he was shown up in the 2nd Bledisloe.
Glad that Banks is playing as he will have freedom to have a crack as he was safe against South Africa and didn’t really get a crack after that. Will be interesting if DHP plays as badly as he did against Sth Africa and Banks has a blinder in what the selectors will be thinking. Same with Dempsey and Jones as the squad didn’t up being selected on Super Rugby form.
I like that players outside the squad were selected as they still may be needed.
Whilst Phipps has his detractors I’d prefer him over Powell in a WC semi just for his energy and ecperience.
Go Wallabies!!!

Banks was the form fullback in Super Rugby but DHP gets the nod on the back of a very average Super Rugby season and an atrocious game against South Africa. AAC is safe but if a game needs to be turned like last Saturday then Banks is a better bet as there is just no out and out pace in the back 3 which has not been looked at this year (Naivalu & Pulu) whilst Maddocks gets completely ignored despite playing 7 tests last year. Banks has the bigger kick of both DHP and AAC whilst also being better under the high ball than Beale who had a shocker last weekend.
The rest of the backline is good though the number 10 is still a mixed bag with To’omua now looking like the best bet though his goal kicking could let him down.
With regards to the forwards, what is the point of blooding Wright in the biggest test of the year then not selecting him in the squad a week later. Jones has done nothing wrong on the back of a strong year though Dempsey gets the nod on the back of another average Super Rugby season and multiple injuries. I would prefer Jones to cover for LSL for his grunt as well as his lineout skills. It seems Samu is still being punished for his weak game against England last year.
Hooper and LSL got thoroughly outplayed last week so the best back row combination is still unknown given that Pocock has been out all year. Hopefully they don’t revert back to ‘Pooper’ as that just weakens the scrum, the lineout and getting over the advantage line. I know Hooper is the captain and plays his heart out, but the best number 7 in a game like last weekend is Pocock. I like Hooper as a player, but in terms of structure he really should be on the bench. Also his record as captain isn’t great, though neither is Cheika’s as the coach.
The front 5 looks very strong as long as Arnold starts as he was the player that they missed the most last weekend.
Overall the concerns are a lack of pace in the back three and the getting the best structure in the back row.
However my bet is that the Wallabies will beat Wales who have peaked (and missing 2 very influential players) and should beat France or Argentina in the Quarter Final. They then will play NZ or South Africa in the Semi Final and this is where they will need their best game, and their best team.

With regards to the next test, the selectors have to go with their strongest team to win the game. To potentially have 1 million plus tune into the game only to be disappointed again by another loss is a completely wasted opportunity. We have not won the Bledisloe for 17 years and we are not going to get a better chance than this weekend. We have form and they have injuries and suspensions. The confidence the team will get from a win will far outweigh the arguable benefits for any positional testing for squad players. They have had 4 years to test players. There is excitement building and RA I feel have a responsibility to bring their best game, and their best team.

This is the best Australian team for a number of years. Initially thought that JOC was in the wrong position but now think it is worth a shot as it will give the backline a number of options. For once we have more jumpers than them so my feeling is we will win the scrum and the lineout. Latu starting was a must so they just have to hold their nerve for 80. Australia by 6.

With 60,000 people going to the first Bledisloe game of the year, and millions watching, the selectors really have a duty to select their strongest team. Yet they continue with their tinkering because either they can’t make a decision or they really don’t know what they are doing.
Kuridrani is the best and most consistent outside centre in Australia so logic says to keep him there. Same for Kerevi at inside centre. If they were playing in the same Super Rugby team, it would take 4-5 rounds before they really started to gel. Same with test rugby. Kuridrani hasn’t played badly, he just hasn’t got enough ball and the combination is still forming. Unsurprisingly their second game was better than their first.
So choosing O’Connor out of position doesn’t make sense and nor does the combination with Kerevi. It would have been better having O’Connor at inside centre with Kerevi outside him. Cheika did similar things last year with predictable results – Beale at 10 with To’omua at 12 (should have been the other way around), then To’omua at 10 with Foley at 12 (again should have been the other way around).
It is unfair on O’Connor to go up against the best team in the world with limited game time and out of position. It is also unfair on the 60,000 Perth fans who want Australia, like New Zealand, to field their best and strongest team. Sadly the tinkering continues.

The backline does not look threatening at all. Banks desreves a second chance and why not give him time with Lealiifano given they have the combination from the Brumbies. It would have been better to trial Beale with Foley last week as they have the combination from the Waratahs. Hodge didn’t do enough last week (or this season to be honest) to be given another go above Banks, Maddocks and others. Not sure if DHP can get back in from here given his confidence levels.
Glad that Luke Jones has been given as go but he should be starting as defence last week was a problem. Rodda needs to go up a gear.
I’m glad that Latu is there as he is about the only forward that attacks the ball though a pity that Alaalatoa is still injured. Hopefully he’s right for the All Blacks.

I know he’s a risk but I think Latu needs to play as he’s one of the few that attacks the ball.
Naisarani was aggressive as was Arnold though was disappointed with the intensity of LSL and Rodda.
Hooper is amazingly industrious and gets a lot of work done however with all the experimenting that Cheika as done, he has never trialled anyone (ie Pocock) at 7 but Hooper. It will be interesting once (if) Pocock is fit enough who he will put in the openside role once they are at the make or break games of the World Cup.
Hopefully Alaalatoa and Sio are available as they are just a step above the others, especually the former.
I have not seen White play since 2015 and he was vey impressive and just the bullet that Genia needs to compete for the position. White played with authority and precision so I hope they stick with him.
They also need to stick with Kerevi as he can be a Nonu type player which will be needed come World Cup time. With him at 12, it is either Foley or Toom’ua at 10 and I think the latter deserves a shot.
With DHP’s mistake in the first half, I was surprised they kept him rather than move Banks to the wing when Beale came on. He seems to be very low in confidence, and hasn’t been in form the whole season, so you wonder if he will get it back in time for later in the year. Whilst Banks wasn’t spectacular, he needs more time so maybe he is our wing option as he has the pace which we lack.
As for JOC he will need to start this weekend which I think should be in the back 3 to give him the freedom to roam and pop up when he see’s an opportunity. Beale to stay on the bench for the time being as he can cause havoc when he comes on for the final quarter.

I would prefer seeing how O’Connor goes on the wing ahead of DHP as realistically he is not going to replace Kerevi at 12.

Even Maddocks is slow and Koriabete is more power than pure speed. Of the squad as a whole, only Pulu and Naivalu have real pace (besides Banks but they need to keep him at fullback).

Injuries are getting ridiculously common.

Surprises are Johnson- Holmes over Kepu
Luke Jones not getting a go
Otherwise a pretty fair team.
Great that Banks is getting a start though I think the wingers are safe but slow.
The back row will compete but will be interesting how Hooper goes as he got belted when Waratahs played the South African teams through the season.
The 2 K’s in centres could be one of trump cards this year especially with Kerevi in the form that he has been in.
Given the oppostion, they really need to start with a win to get the confidence up.
Go Wallabies!

Robertson, Powell and a hooker won’t make the 31.
Pocock for Wright.
O’Conner for Ashley Cooper.
Maybe Coleman for LSL.
Maybe Samu for Valenti.