So, wallabies same as last week except
Faaumasili and nongorr replacing alaalatoa and tupou
Tom hooper moves to blindside with mcreight coming into openside, Holloway out.
Skelton and Arnold swap their starting and bench roles.
I was surprised to see Holloway ahead of mcreight last week, but it seems eddie wanted three strong lineout options and was trying to accommodate skelton. This week skelton moves to the bench and mcreight comes in.
As for the all blacks, I'm surprised there is no roigard in the 23 in our last game before the World Cup squad is named. I guess that says they have seen enough of him, whether that means he is in or out I don't know. I'm not a fan of Christie but have been impressed that he has improved hugely this year in one of his biggest weaknesses - getting the ball out of the ruck when they're is ruck pressure. Still, his clearance is slow. I'd still prefer smith, Roigard, TJ, weber, and Fakatava. Hard to see what they'll find out about him this game. He could hamper our attack, or it could be that the wallabies are so crap in the tackle and ruck that he will be made to look good.
Interesting to see Newell back. I think they'll take 6 props including at least one of Williams and tuungafasi. So one of the props in the squad now will have to drop out. (Noting moody is in there too). A big game for laulala, Williams, and newell then. I wouldn't be surprised if they go with both Williams and tuungafasi as it will better protect them from having to sub a player out of the squad should they get two concurrent but short term injuries on one side of the scrum. That would mean it's newell vs laulala for the final spot. If they don't go this route then you'd say ofa would miss out on current form, despite being clearly our best prop two years ago. But newell may still need to prove himself. He's such a freak athlete though I would think they'll take him.
Oh stevenson is there! That is both strange and cool. Says to me narawas injury might be severe.
Ennor, I've said it before, yes he's been very good at super this year but I just don't see how they justify a specialist centre. Sure he can play wing, but do you want him to?
And mcleod, how is a match off the bench going to tell you much? To me that says they've pretty much already made up their minds in him too, which way I'm not sure.
