Australia vs England - 3 Tests - June 2016

[RoosTah]

What's the view of you English blokes about Eddie selecting Ben Te'o, a NZ born Samoan who grew up in Australia and played in the NRL for 8 years and only managed to squeak into the Qld representative side due to injuries to better players a couple times but never looked close to being picked for Australia?

Was he really tearing it up with Leinster so much that he's better than an actual English player?

 

[Hulkster]

Is Dovoto REALLY ahead of Cipriani in the fly half pecking order?!?

 

[Peat]

Was he really tearing it up with Leinster so much that he's better than an actual English player?

Yup. Produce centres for ****, we cannot.

Is Dovoto REALLY ahead of Cipriani in the fly half pecking order?!?

No. Ford breaks his leg tomorrow, Cips is told to get into camp pronto. Ford presumably plays the 80 barring injury.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Instead, they are playing a SA side in SA.

Whereas Sinckler, Genge and LCD will likely only be in Australia to hold tackle bags amd be training front row for the other front rows unless there's an injury.

 

[Which Tyler]

What's the view of you English blokes about Eddie selecting Ben Te'o, a NZ born Samoan who grew up in Australia and played in the NRL for 8 years and only managed to squeak into the Qld representative side due to injuries to better players a couple times but never looked close to being picked for Australia?

Was he really tearing it up with Leinster so much that he's better than an actual English player?

His mother is English; and yes; he's been playing very well for Leinster for 2 whole seasons now.
He's also one of 5 centres; and is the only one who can play like Manu Tuilagi can.

Is Dovoto REALLY ahead of Cipriani in the fly half pecking order?!?

No, he's there as a specialist centre; whilst Ford is expected to play 80 minutes. Devoto will only be expected to play FH in the event of an injury to Ford (mid-game - before KO would see Cip.s in instead).

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wonder if Cips has booked a holiday to Aus to see his old Rebels mates?
That's how Michael Paterson got his call up in NZ - he was already there visiting family.

 

[spartan32]

I can only assume that Manus injury at the weekend was the reason Teo has been included. Very similar in style and size, although I have not seen enough of him to comment on his ability, although I will say that very few have ever successfully made the transition from league to union, especially when playing at centre. Eddie has shown to be a shrewd chap however so I'll hold faith, for now.

The bigger surprise for me is Yard. Hasn't looked great all season, and with all the options we have not sure where he fits in. Can only play wing, unlike Watson and Jack, doesn't have a very good kicking game, and hasn't really been finishing like a demon. He's certainly solid, but i would have been interested to see what Wade could have done given the chance. Ashton's time is past and I've no problem with that.

Finally, and I can't believe I'm saying it, but should Goode now be starting ahead of Brown. I've never rated him but this season he really has been pretty special. Weaving through defenders, taking every high ball, kicking with pinpoint accuracy and looking calm and collected throughout. be interested to know what people think.

Other then that it's a good squad with every chance of success.

 

[RoosTah]

His mother is English; and yes; he's been playing very well for Leinster for 2 whole seasons now.
He's also one of 5 centres; and is the only one who can play like Manu Tuilagi can.

Yeah, I heard he was eligible through his mum. More just curious as to whether it was another gimmick selection or if he really warranted being there because in the NRL he was never the sort of guy you'd have tipped for national honours - just too many way better players in the NRL for him even to make the bench of the Kangaroos in 8 years, so to hear he's already made your squad in England, given how huge union is there compared to here, was a bit of a surprise. I kinda thought you'd have more depth than to be selecting a journeyman like him that couldn't ever impress our national selectors in the code he grew up on.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

When I have seen him play for Leinster recently he has looked good TBF, and 12 is an area we are weak in only really hill offers similar options physically.

Not sure it is a gimmick.

 

[munstermuffin]

When I have seen him play for Leinster recently he has looked good TBF, and 12 is an area we are weak in only really hill offers similar options physically.

Not sure it is a gimmick.

He's no SBW but he does attract defenders and create space. Also he has came in to Union and learnt rapidly and certainly wouldn't be out of depth. I've seen alot worst get in to squads in recent years.

 

[welshglory]

Word is that Burrell or Devoto will brought in if Tuilagi is ruled out.

Farrell is looking a certainty to go, Jones said it was just a knock, nothing serious. That is if Saracens manage him correctly and don't f**k him up by playing him if he isn't fit, like the Carter situation.

The reaction from the press in regards to Ashton is scary to be honest. Scary in the sense that it so removed from the consensus from English rugby supporters and obviously Eddie Jones himself, yet they hold so much influence over the general public that any casual observer will probably lap it up and take it as fact.

 

[Tmartin995]

http://www.englandrugby.com/news/tuilagi-withdraws-from-england-tour-squad/

Manu's out of the tour. Replacement named after the Wales game on Sunday.

 

[Geordie]

What's the view of you English blokes about Eddie selecting Ben Te'o, a NZ born Samoan who grew up in Australia and played in the NRL for 8 years and only managed to squeak into the Qld representative side due to injuries to better players a couple times but never looked close to being picked for Australia?

Was he really tearing it up with Leinster so much that he's better than an actual English player?

I think its absolutely appalling that hes been picked! And with Manu out now...looking increasingly likely to start having never played a single game on English soil (unless he has played against an English team)

Its shocking!!!

 

[Ludders93]

Tricky series to call, Australia will start all 3 games as 4 point favourites. 60% favourites to win each match, 70% favourites to win the series.

I wasn't overly impressed by England despite the grand slam win. I thought we played well for 60 minutes against Wales, in the first half against Ireland, and for the last 20 minutes against Italy.

It's true that the quality of this year's 6 nations was poor, but England won in my eyes through pragmatic rugby. We dominated line-outs and scrums, played territory and defended well. Eddie Jones knows how to win, and we played the percentages.

Australia will be without Giteau and Mitchell, and their super rugby franchises haven't been overly impressive. They swept 3-0 France in 2014 and Wales in 2012 in their previous June tours, but I get the feeling there's not a huge amount between the teams.

I can't work out how to bet this series. It's too close to call I think. The general consensus is Australia will win the series 2-1. That's the most likely outcome scoreline wise, but with the way Saracens have been playing, I could see us dominating Australia up front, and Farrell's penalties kicking us to victory.

I'm going to go for a 2-1 England Victory. Australia have gone through mediocre periods after world cups in previous years. I remember them losing to Scotland, and nearly finishing bottom of the rugby championship a few times after the last world cup.

England to be too physical and the Saracens wolf pack to take another scalp.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Australia squad for England Test series:

Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Adam Coleman, Scott Fardy, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Nick Frisby, Liam Gill, James Hanson, Mike Harris, Dane Haylett-Petty, Greg Holmes, Michael Hooper, Rob Horne, James Horwill, Leroy Houston, Karmichael Hunt, Sekope Kepu Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon Stephen Moore, Luke Morahan, Dean Mumm, Eto Nabuli, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Wycliff Palu, Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Joe Powell, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Toby Smith.

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/wallabies-squad-full-of-suprises/

If some Wallaby fan on here wants to sort the above into positions; be my guest.

 

[Millsy]

Hope to see Dane Haylett-Petty get some game time for the Wallabies, very deserving of his selection into the side... Hopefully he grabs it with both hands!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Interesting squad by the aussies.

Hooker
James Hanson
Stephen Moore
Tatafu Polota-Nau

Prop
Allan Alaalatoa
Greg Holmes
Sekope Kepu
Scott Sio
James Slipper
Toby Smith

Locks
Rory Arnold
Sam Carter
Adam Coleman
James Horwill
Dean Mumm
Rob Simmons
Will Skelton

Flankers
Scott Fardy
Liam Gill
Michael Hooper
Sean McMahon
David Pocock

Number 8
Leroy Houston
Ben McCalman
Wycliff Palu

Scrum Half
Nick Frisby
Nick Phipps
Joe Powell

Fly Half
Bernard Foley
Christian Lealiifano

Centres
Karmichael Hunt
Samu Kerevi
Tevita Kuridrani

Wings
Dane Haylett-Petty
Rob Horne
Luke Morahan
Eto Nabuli
Taqele Naiyaravoro

Full Back
Israel Folau
Mike Harris

 

[welshglory]

If Jed Holloway wasn't ruled out through injury i don't think Houston would have been selected. Looks like luck is on Houston's side

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Powell is similar to Genge in terms of very limited number of top flight games, but has looked good coming off the bench imagine more for the experience than the playing.

Guessing something like this
1) Sio
2) Moore
3) Holmes
4) Simmons
5) Carter (Maybe horwill for some reason)
6) Fardy
7) Hooper
8) Pocock
9) Phipps
10) Foley
11) Haylett-Petty
12) Kervei
13) Kuridrani
14) Naiyaravoro
15) Izzy

16) Polota-Nau
17) Slipper
18) Kepu
19) Skelton
20) McCalman
21) Frisby
22) Lealiifano
23) Hunt

maybe for first test.

V
(IMO eddies first team)
1) Vunipola, 2) Hartley, 3) Cole
4) Kruis, 5) Itoje
6) Robshaw, 7) Haskell, 8) Vunipola
9) Youngs/Care, 10) Ford
12) Farrell, 13) JJ
11) Nowell, 14) Watson, 15) Brown

16) George, 17) Mullan, 18) Hill
19) Launchbury, 20) Clifford/Harrison
21) Youngs/Care, 22) Daly/Goode, 23) Te'o

 

[spartan32]

Powell is similar to Genge in terms of very limited number of top flight games, but has looked good coming off the bench imagine more for the experience than the playing.

Guessing something like this
1) Sio
2) Moore
3) Holmes
4) Simmons
5) Carter (Maybe horwill for some reason)
6) Fardy
7) Hooper
8) Pocock
9) Phipps
10) Foley
11) Haylett-Petty
12) Kervei
13) Kuridrani
14) Naiyaravoro
15) Izzy

16) Polota-Nau
17) Slipper
18) Kepu
19) Skelton
20) McCalman
21) Frisby
22) Lealiifano
23) Hunt

maybe for first test.

V
(IMO eddies first team)
1) Vunipola, 2) Hartley, 3) Cole
4) Kruis, 5) Itoje
6) Robshaw, 7) Haskell, 8) Vunipola
9) Youngs/Care, 10) Ford
12) Farrell, 13) JJ
11) Nowell, 14) Watson, 15) Brown

16) George, 17) Mullan, 18) Hill
19) Launchbury, 20) Clifford/Harrison
21) Youngs/Care, 22) Daly/Goode, 23) Te'o

Faz at 12 is an interesting one. It seemed to work well in the 6 nations but I feel like we need someone who can punch a hole if needed and that back line isn't going to do that. In fact Nowell is probably the strongest runner of all that lot and he'll be way out on the wing, and he won't get much change out of Niayavoro, no one will for that matter.

Not that I think route 1 rugby is always the answer but it certainly is nice to have as an option. That being said I suppose Billy can be used in the wider channel to make holes, or draw defenders.

Also, and I can't believe I'm saying it, but should Goode not be starting. He has out performed Brown this season in the Prem and is certainly the in form 15?