Michael Cheika has named the Wallabies side to take on England this weekend.
1. Scott Sio (41 Tests)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (80 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (89 Tests)
4. Rob Simmons (80 Tests)
5. Adam Coleman (20 Tests)
6. Ned Hanigan (11 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (77 Tests)
8. Sean McMahon (24 Tests)
9. Will Genia (vc) (86 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (vc) (53 Tests)
11. Reece Hodge (22 Tests)
12. Samu Kerevi (16 Tests)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (56 Tests)
14. Marika Koroibete (6 Tests)
15. Kurtley Beale (69 Tests)
Reserves
16. Stephen Moore (127 Tests)
17. Tom Robertson (17 Tests)
18. Allan Alaalatoa (21 Tests)
19. Matt Philip (2 Tests)
20. Ben McCalman (51 Tests)
21. Lopeti Timani (10 Tests)
22. Nick Phipps (60 Tests)
23. Karmichael Hunt (4 Tests)
24. Henry Speight (19 Tests)
^one to be omitted
Folau is a big miss, not only because he’s one hell of a player but also because it takes Beale out of midfield and makes them look a bit one dimensional.
Personally I’m not too worried about Kerevi, particularly when he is partnered with Kurindrani. Kurindrani is a better player but they’re both pretty similar and one dimensional.
Genia, Beale and Foley can of course still cause us a real head ache!
they have a balance of play makers, power runners, and Speedsters just not necessarily in the normal positions so i would expect the roles to be quite fluid.
Foley PM
Hodge PM/S
Kerevi PR
Kurindrani PR
Koribiete S
Beale PM
It’s a lot weaker with Folau missing and Beale moved. Not many teams now play with two powerful players in the way that Aus have set up and there’s a reason for that.
England will definitely have to play very well to win but seeing that back line I have more confidence that usual. It certainly isn’t often that I would likely pick more England backs than Aus in a combined team…
This is a strong and in form Australian team and England will have to play well to
beat them.
I agree that England will have to play well, but I am not so sure about this being a strong Aussie team.
It’s a very different one to the one that beat the Aussies. No Folau is the biggest change (he has been hugely in form) but also no Beale at 12 (his best position imo), Kerevi at 12 instead with his suspect defence, no Tui to come on in the second row (he had a massive effect on the Aussies forward effort vs the ABs), no Dempsey at 6 but instead Hannigan who has not looked quite up to it at this level. Also Koroibete is still a novice at this level and needs to be properly tested – the Welsh didn’t do so
No Aussie team is easy to beat but this one could have been a lot more dangerous