England to whitewash Australia

mariner4life

Still think that back row is unbalanced and there is a lack of carriers in the pack. 
I like the 10-12-13 with Folau chiming in if they can get some decent ball.

NTA

Ball carriers will need to be Moore, Sio, and ? Maybe Arnold. I dunno. Haven't seen enough of him.
 
Looks more like a team designed to nullify the Poms at the ruck (no surprises there) and then let the backs have a go, with fast coverage i.e. Hooper and Pocok.

NTA

Oh - and Kerevi will probably just be the bash weapon off set piece to lay a platform. Hopefully...
 
Anyway, main concerns are around the midfield defence.

MajorPom

What the Aussies thoughts on Horne being vc? I've never been unduly bothered about him on the opposition, and thus am surprised that he must be considered an absolute starter.
 
I would have thought Bono would have at least got the nod for that, or given his whole sabbatical thing, any of Simmons, Foley or even Folau seem stronger choices to me.
 
I'm not saying Horne is shit, not at all. Just surprised he's considered a senior Wallaby.

barbarian

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="585878" data-time="1465450783">
<div>
Ball carriers will need to be Moore, Sio, and ? Maybe Arnold. I dunno. Haven't seen enough of him.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
There aren't any out-and-out carriers there (in the Totai Kefu mould) but there aren't any passengers either. All 8 forwards are capable with ball in hand.
 
I think it's a good side. Probably the best we could have picked under the circumstances.

barbarian

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="585890" data-time="1465451858">
<div>
What the Aussies thoughts on Horne being vc? I've never been unduly bothered about him on the opposition, and thus am surprised that he must be considered an absolute starter.
 
I would have thought Bono would have at least got the nod for that, or given his whole sabbatical thing, any of Simmons, Foley or even Folau seem stronger choices to me.
 
I'm not saying Horne is shit, not at all. Just surprised he's considered a senior Wallaby.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Yeah it's a weird one. Would have to be someone in the backs, Izzy Folau is pretty quiet and maybe they think Foley has enough on his plate? 
 
Horne probably the logical choice after that.
 
These things are always a bit hard - I don't know what he's like at training or behind closed doors. Doesn't strike me as the inspirational leader type, but I could be wrong.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="585890" data-time="1465451858">What the Aussies thoughts on Horne being vc? I've never been unduly bothered about him on the opposition, and thus am surprised that he must be considered an absolute starter. 
I would have thought Bono would have at least got the nod for that, or given his whole sabbatical thing, any of Simmons, Foley or even Folau seem stronger choices to me. 
I'm not saying Horne is shit, not at all. Just surprised he's considered a senior Wallaby.</blockquote>
 
They've got two VC's so needs to be in the backs given the C and other VC are forwards. 
Horne has been around a long time despite only playing 30 odd tests. Whilst he hasn't really set the world on fire so to speak, he is an "effort guy" that you know is going to put it in like its his last test.

MiketheSnow

In the Nathan Grey mould for me. Never gives less than 100%. Leads by example.

NTA

And you have to reward that. Can't always be giving it to the showponies.

mariner4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="585891" data-time="1465452001">
There aren't any out-and-out carriers there (in the Totai Kefu mould) but there aren't any passengers either. All 8 forwards are capable with ball in hand. 
I think it's a good side. Probably the best we could have picked under the circumstances.</blockquote>
 
That's incredibly generous barb, at test level a couple of those guys are pretty limited runners of the ball.

Bovidae

A 6:2 split in the reserves indicates where Cheika thinks this test will be won or lost. So McMahon is the backup no.8? I would have thought McCalman would be on the bench. Horvill and Mumm seems unnecessary.

MiketheSnow

What's with Skelton?
 
If he's not injured, then I would have thought him running it up against Itoje would have kept Itoje quiet and/or knackered.

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="585878" data-time="1465450783">Ball carriers will need to be Moore, Sio, and ? Maybe Arnold. I dunno. Haven't seen enough of him. Looks more like a team designed to nullify the Poms at the ruck (no surprises there) and then let the backs have a go, with fast coverage i.e. Hoopah and Pocok.</blockquote> Moore and Sio are good ball carriers. Hooper provides a real point of difference against the English, apart from Itoje they don't have that sort of athleticism/ speed effectively making another centre. Scott Fardy concentrates on clearing rucks, which he's good at. Pocock would be in competition witrh Owen Franks for the least effective carrier of the ball. Still think against England you want more height too. Greg Holmes will anchor the scrum well, he's been a rock for the Reds. Dane Haylett-Petty reminds me of a younger Ben from Accounts.

Canes4life

I hope it's a dry night at Suncorp. That centre pairing of Kerevi and Kuridrani could be a nightmare for England if Aus can get on the front foot. I still don't see why they keep picking Horne on the wing. Surely they have a more deadly finisher than him running around.

Gunner

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="585932" data-time="1465461200">
I still don't see why they keep picking Horne on the wing. Surely they have a more deadly finisher than him running around.</blockquote>I don't get the love for him either. Solid enough, but he's not going to spark something from nothing and win a game for them (should be a must IMO for a test winger). 
The Wobs version of Caleb Ralph.

Derm McCrum

England team announced: Brown, Watson, Joseph, Burrell, Yarde, Farrell, Youngs, Vunipola, Hartley, Cole, Itoje, Kris, Robshaw, Vunipola, Haskell Bench is Cowan-Dlckie, Mullan, Hill, Launchbury, Lawes, Care, Ford, Nowell

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="585936" data-time="1465463692">
England team announced: 
... 
Bench is 
..., Launchbury, Lawes, ...</blockquote>
 
Really? Going for size?

Catogrande

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="585942" data-time="1465466151">
<div>
Really? Going for size?
</div>
</blockquote>
Yeah, a bit of a worry for me. No real back row cover at all, just people who "can do a job" and this in an area where Aus have the advantage too. I see the first test slipping away from England unless we can really bully them up front.
 
Not very inspiring.

barbarian

Yeah their lack of back-row dynamism is amazing.
 
As for Horne, we are without a number of our top wingers (AAC, Mitchell, Tomane, Speight) so he's in there for now. But he is also the lynch-pin of our defensive line.

Catogrande

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="585936" data-time="1465463692">
<div>
England team announced: 
Brown, Watson, Joseph, Burrell, Yarde, Farrell, Youngs, Vunipola, Hartley, Cole, Itoje, Kris, Robshaw, Vunipola, Haskell 
Bench is 
Cowan-Dlckie, Mullan, Hill, Launchbury, Lawes, Care, Ford, Nowell
</div>
</blockquote>
Apart from the whole back row issue (although that is significant), not too much to complain about. Could have gone for Slade on the bench rather than Ford. Gives a 10,12 and 13 option. Plus more reliable place kicking.

The Silver Fern

England to whitewash Australia