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2nd test - Australia v British & Irish Lions

I'm hoping to see an Aus team of
1. Bell, 2. Pollard, 3. AA
4. Skelton, 5. Frost
6. Valetini, 7. Gleeson, 8. Wilson
9. McDermott, 10. Donaldson
12. Ikitau, 13. Sua'ali'i
11. Pietsch, 14. Jorgensen, 15. Wright

16. ]Porecki, 17. Slipper, 18. Tupou
19. LSL, 20. Hooper
21. Gordon, 22. JOC, 23. Paisami

Doubt Schmidt would do that though

Schmidt could easily have a bigger pack than the lions and stop the speed of ball to Russell.

IMO lynagh is for the post lions tour, Beale showed more control in the FNP game and showed the value of having experience on the pitch.

Donaldson is more athletic and reckon will give Ikitau more space

Hell if I was Schmidt I would be tempted for a back row of
LSL, Gleeson and Valetini would certainly look to do that v the AB
 
Be interesting to see how Andy Farrell plays his hand with Joe McCarthy looking like he’s out.

If Chessum goes to lock and Beirne continues at 6, it creates a bit of a coverage issue on the bench.

Part of me wonders if he might stick Beirne in the second row, bring in a flanker (possibly even move Curry to 6) and keep Chessum as hybrid cover on the bench?
 
Yeah, that's my guess - Morgan getting subbed early makes me think Beirne to the row and Curry/Morgan backrow

If Curry is out too then it opens it up a bit more - Morgan 7, Chessum lock, Ryan bench?

Ryan did get subbed at the same time as Morgan so maybe both coming into the side
 
Ryan has been utter dogshit though, and doesn't particularly have recent good form to fall back on like Beirne and Curry. His stats yesterday were genuinely appalling - 3 carries, 2 tackles and a y/c!
I will definitely agree with the Tuesday game being extremely poor, not so much with your first sentence.
 
Ryan has been utter dogshit though, and doesn't particularly have recent good form to fall back on like Beirne and Curry. His stats yesterday were genuinely appalling - 3 carries, 2 tackles and a y/c!
Yeah, completely agree - I'd have Cummings ahead of him every day of the week, but can't see someone who played the full 80 on a Tuesday playing any part of the Saturday game
 
Wallabies (1-15): James Slipper, Dave Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (c), Jake Gordon, Tom Lynagh, Harry Potter, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright

Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson
 
🦁

15. Hugo Keenan
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Huw Jones
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Finn Russell
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tadhg Beirne
7. Tom Curry
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher
17. Ellis Genge
18. Will Stuart
19. James Ryan
20. Jac Morgan
21. Alex Mitchell
22. Owen Farrell
23. Blair Kinghorn
 
Tuipulotu dropping out of the 23 is mind boggling. Why break up a tried and tested combo that did well in the first test. He was one of the best performers last weekend. Owen is covering ten but has played zero minutes there so far.

Ryan on the bench tells me that decision was made before the FNP game because he was shite and Cummings was far better. That's a stinker of a call from Farrell and absolutely not merit based.

Big pressure on man bun who is lucky to keep his place. Same with Freeman although they're probably safe due to the lack of alternatives.
 
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Tuipulotu dropping out of the 23 is mind boggling. Why break up a tried and tested combo that did well in the first test. He was one of the best performers last weekend. Owen is covering ten but has played zero minutes there so far.

Ryan on the bench tells me that decision was made before the FNP game because he was shite and Cummings was far better.

Big pressure on man bun who is lucky to keep his place. Same with Freeman.
Injured I believe. Sucks he doesn't get to tear the Wallabies a new one again in front of his friends and family.
 

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