I wouldn’t be surprised if Gordon was selected to start this weekend. Not because he’d do any better than Cooper, but it occurred to me how few games there are between now and the WC for him to form any kind of combination with White and Kerevi and I’d imagine the preference would be to start him against Los Pumas rather than the All Blacks.

I’d love a few tweaks of the squad before the end of the RC:
1. Slipper/Bell (Gibbon if Bell unfit)
2. Porecki/Faessler/Lonergan
3. AAA/Tupou/Talakai (Van Nek if Tupou unfit)
4. Frost/Arnold
5. Skelton/Neville
6. Holloway/Leota
7. Hooper/McReight
8. Valetini/Samu
9. White/McDermott/Lonergan
10. Cooper/Gordon
11. Koroibete/Pietsch
12. Kerevi/Foketi/Hodge (Hodge as utility)
13. Ikitau/Perese
14. Nawaqanitawase/Petaia
15. Kellaway/Wright

At this point, assuming everyone is fit and firing, I think the best team could be:
1. Slipper
2. Porecki
3. AAA
4. Frost
5. Arnold
6. Holloway
7. McReight
8. Valetini
9. White
10. Cooper
11. Koroibete
12. Kerevi
13. Ikitau
14. Petaia
15. Kellaway

16. Faessler
17. Bell
18. Tupou
19. Skelton
20. Samu
21. McDermott
22. Hodge
23. Wright

However I think the game against Los Pumas could be one of the few opportunities to see some of the up and coming players, so I’d welcome one or two left field picks.

You gotta imagine Holloway will get a start, or come into the second row and Frost could play at 6. I personally like Leota when he’s fit, but the lineout wasn’t great even when the throws were on target, and I put that down to no one being a full time caller for their club. Holloway can contribute that and nail his core duties, particularly the defence in tight.

I think HJH picked up a serious injury at the end of the SR season. Don’t know what Talakai needs to do to get selected, far and away the best scrummaging TH left standing. Pone is a one trick pony who will be targeted by the better sides.

I expect there’ll be a few changes next week, but that always seemed to be on the cards. I saw the logic of the gameplan, but it necessitated a few things – a back 3 who would chase the kicks, a scrum that could at least hold its own, a fully functioning lineout. I don’t understand why people are dumping on White. His kicks and passes were accurate, but Koroibete was the only chaser he could rely on. Everyone knew exactly what was going to happen with Vunivalu, and lo and behold it worked out exactly like we thought. I had high hopes for Hodge, but he didn’t have a great game unfortunately and I suspect he’ll find himself on the pine. Why not make better use of that boot though? If no one is contesting White’s box kick, then hand it to Hodge to punt 70m. And for a coach so obsessed with league, choosing flyhalves like Cooper and Gordon, why not let them hold it for a few phases and seeing if anything is on before putting it to the boot?

Slipper, Porecki and AAA were reasonably solid around the ground and in defence, but if they can’t scrum what’s the point? Talakai should have been around to stabilise things because Nonggorr was never up to it. Uelese, well enough said, but everyone calling for Faessler to start are setting him up to fail. Valetini was really the only forward runner and made some big defensive hits, but why wasn’t Skelton queing up for the next run? Skelton was talked up after the game, and he made his tackles and shifted some bodies at the ruck, but his work rate on attack was poor. Glad THooper was introduced, but the 6 needed to be harder and with the lineout being unimpressive even when on target I wonder if Holloway could make a comeback? And I’ve long seen the value in MHooper but he’s seemed pretty flat this year and I think it opens the door to a challenger.

Ikitau has generally been criticised because of a bad kick, but his defence was easily the best in the backline and he even showed up Am on attack occasionally which is no mean feat. This gameplan is not kind to the centres. Kellaway needs to come back at fullback as soon as he’s healthy, and there isn’t a world in which Vunivalu makes the World Cup squad. I think there’s a functioning team in there somewhere, just give Cooper/Gordon and Kerevi/Foketi a little more leeway to do their thing, and get the front rows fulfilling their core duties!

I suspect Los Pumas will struggle to maintain the pace over the full 80 minutes. You really notice the lack of pathways and minimal prep time when they roll out so many of the old guard in consecutive years and unearth few new, exciting players. I hope Cheika uses the RC to blood a few new guys ahead of the WC, because a team like this doesn’t give him much injury cover at the pointy end. They’ve also lost three of their best, without Kremer, Petti and Cubelli. Is Petti injured? He’s a huge loss.

No Kellaway at fullback when he’s fit and Petaia at 23 when he’s getting back up to speed.

I could see Hodge and Wright on the bench until Petaia is fit.

Could not be a tougher start for a couple of rookie props. Let’s hope the Wallabies keep their opponents throwing lineouts in their own half for the second 40 minutes, and contest every throw. Vunivalu will be burned for pace at altitude if the Boks wings are given any space later in the game, and I’m not seeing a backup winger other than Wright if Hodge is moved back.

I assume Kerevi is being eased in after injury, and Hodge is insurance for Wright having another off night, plus the altitude and what seems to be the game plan plays to his strengths. If he executes well I’m going to be feeling much better going into the WC.

I think the question is also who calls it? Frost?

Hoover, with Valetini?

Great opportunity for Frost to hit his peak. All eyes will be on Skelton and Arnold, so Frost can come in under the radar.

Happy to hear Chocobares is back for Los Pumas. This could cement him as the 13 they structure their backline around for years to come if he manages to stay fit and healthy.

Great to have Nobes back! Getting excited about Los Pumas again.

Will the Roar soon be adding Japanese and Fijian correspondents?

I’d want Ikitau on the field more than just about any other player. Hodge may not be the most spectacular inside centre but he has a big body that can take the hit on attack and defence, and his kicking sets him apart. Ikitau could be used as the second distributor if Hodge is used for the crash ball. If Hodge is chosen over Foketi I would see it as horses for courses rather than anything permanent.

I was basing it more on how I thought they would be considered by Jones as cover for the WC. I think he sees JOC more as a 12, but if he was at 10 the 12 would almost certainly be Walton. That being said, you’re right that Pone, Swinton and Fines-Leleiwasa could be more in the running than Talakai, Uru and Gordon.

So something like:
1. Blake Schoupp (ACT Brumbies)
2. Folau Fainga’a (Western Force)
3. Sam Talakai (Melbourne Rebels)
4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Melbourne Rebels)
5. Cadeyrn Neville (ACT Brumbies)
6. Seru Uru (Queensland Reds)
7. Brad Wilkin (Melbourne Rebels)
8. Harry Wilson (Queensland Reds)
9. Jake Gordon (NSW Waratahs)
10. Bernard Foley (Kubota Spears)
11. Corey Toole (ACT Brumbies)
12. James O’Connor (Queensland Reds)
13. Josh Flook (Queensland Reds)
14. Lachlan Anderson (Melbourne Rebels)
15. Jock Campbell (Queensland Reds)

16. Lachlan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies)
17. Tom Lambert (NSW Waratahs)
18. Pone Fa’amausili (Melbourne Rebels)
19. Josh Canham (Melbourne Rebels)
20. Lachlan Swinton (NSW Waratahs)
21. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa (Western Force)
22. Joey Walton (NSW Waratahs)
23. Ollie Sapsford (ACT Brumbies)

Injury cover:
Ned Hanigan (NSW Waratahs)
Rhys Van Nek (ACT Brumbies)

Pretty strong team, and I have no doubt some of them will be required for the WC after a bruising RC.

Absolutely, at altitude Hodge’s boot can do some damage. Watch for him kicking out of the 22 to keep the Wallabies in the right part of the field, and taking the points from penalties anywhere within 60m of the posts. Hodge is one of the selections I’m most pleased with. On the other hand, the Boks are going to target Vunivalu’s wing and burn him for pace on every occasion. I’m willing to bet he’ll be subbed early in the second half.

I wonder if it’s a reflection of EJ trying out some new ideas to get ahead of where he sees the game trending, based on what he’s gleaned from the multitude of other sports he’s into? American football has their special teams, and I don’t watch the NRL but I assume their interchange rules mean that there is very little specialisation on their bench. Perhaps he sees a trend towards a different way to use the bench in rugby, where you’re inserting power or pace players where they’re needed rather than having players replacing specific positions in the forwards and backs? Obviously the front row is different, but Hodge and Kemeny are about the same height, and Hitoshi Ono really wasn’t proportioned that differently Hodge. Could this be the first tentative step towards blurring positions 19 to 23?

Gordon was a standout. Easy to see the Gordon brothers as Wallabies 10 and 15 at some point in the future. Centres were solid too. Don’t know who the winger was who ran in the last try but gee he had some pace! Excited for the rest of the tournament.

All I ask is for a 16 who can throw straight under pressure at the tail end of a game.

Yeah I was impressed by Van Nek and Schoupp, particularly as a unit, but I’m always wary of throwing rookies into the test arena. I would prefer if they didn’t use Schoupp yet either, but needs must. I’m just not convinced Pone brings anything to the table that the back row doesn’t already bring.

I genuinely don’t get the love for Pone. He’s a one trick pony who is easily neutralised at the top levels, and doesn’t excel at his core duties. Give me props who can scrum and hookers who can throw. Slipper can play both sides so Talakai would be my second pick for TH, Gibbon my second for LH and Schoupp a placeholder for the fifth spot until Bell returns. Tupou would probably take Gibbon’s place and firm Slipper’s LH spot, but I’d imagine there’ll be some attrition over the coming months. Hooker is still a mystery to me.

Really interesting to see how Eddie constructs his backrow, and will give a lot of clues about how he plans to play. I’d imagine tackle stats will be high on his list of backrow considerations, given he’s vocal about playing field position and playing without the ball. Excited to see this play out!

I’d be generally happy with the rest of the lineup apart from the back three. There’s no way Vunivalu should be above Pietsch or Campbell, and I have developed some questions about Nawaqanitawase, although I suspect he’d benefit from playing with one of the named 10s and playing outside Ikitau. I think Pietsch would be a better substitute for what Koroibete brings, and in a three way race between Nawaqanitawase, Vunivalu and a fit Petaia I would say Petaia take the spot. With Kellaway starting 15 and a bench of Hodge and Wright, I could imagine Nawaqanitawase and Vunivalu missing out.

Campbell may be unlucky he really only plays one position, and Paisami and Perese are surplus to requirements right now.

They really didn’t find an adequate replacement for Simone. Huge loss for Australian rugby.

Could’ve gone either way, Brums teamwork is what puts them head and shoulders above every other Australian team. Good lesson that stars are made, not bought. I suspect Wright played his way out of the Wallabies starting XV and Lolesio played his way out of the squad, but Hooper could be in with a shot?

Starting Debreczeni seems a fair indication they’re going to rely heavily on his tactical kicking to try to keep the Canes pinned in their own half. I probably would have preferred Wright or Mogg on the wing, because Sapsford is really only a centre. The could probably have handled the loss of Toole or O’Donnell, but not both. Hope Sapsford and Wright’s defensive positioning is on point, because there’s going to be some serious traffic coming down that wing!