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<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 461739" data-attributes="member: 24910">Looks like Australia have a number of injury problems for this match, with <a href="http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/sharpe-set-for-his-100th-wallabies-cap-20111018-1lvzk.html" target="_blank">Vickermann, Kepu, Moore, and McCabe</a> all ruled out, and Beale in doubt. Deans has even suggested that he may rest some top-line players to ensure little-used reserves get their chance.&nbsp; The team is due to be named in a few hours time so I suppose we will find out then. Vickermann, Kepu, and Moore are all losses, but I feel McCabe will actually be the biggest lost of the four.&nbsp; He is certainly not the most creative player, but he does one thing incredible well..... tackle.&nbsp; In my mind he is the best defensive 12 in world rugby - not only does he make a pile of tackles, but he makes hard tackles, often driving the player back.&nbsp; I think he would have been the ideal player to neutralize the threat that Roberts (and Davies) pose.&nbsp; With him out Australia needs to choose between Faingaa and Barnes in the 12 jersey - Faingaa can tackle hard, but he does slip off a few tackles, and while Barnes is a solid tackler he will certainly be tested by the physical running of Roberts/Davies.If I was picking Australia&#039;s 22 I&#039;d go for:AlexanderPolota-NauSlipper (Alexander at 1 and Slipper at 3 as madflyhalf suggests)HorwillSimmonsHigginbotham (I feel he deserves another chance at 6)PocockMcCalman (Samo hasn&#039;t done much since the Brisbance test... the long season may be taking its toll on the old man!)GeniaCooperIoaneA FaingaaAshley-CooperO&#039;ConnorBeale (If still injured Turner to the wing, and O&#039;Connor to fullback - I don&#039;t like the idea of moving AAC away from centre!)Bench: S Faingaa, Ma&#039;afu, Sharpe, Elsom, Burgess, Barnes, Turner</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 461739, member: 24910"] Looks like Australia have a number of injury problems for this match, with [URL="http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/sharpe-set-for-his-100th-wallabies-cap-20111018-1lvzk.html"]Vickermann, Kepu, Moore, and McCabe[/URL] all ruled out, and Beale in doubt. Deans has even suggested that he may rest some top-line players to ensure little-used reserves get their chance. The team is due to be named in a few hours time so I suppose we will find out then. Vickermann, Kepu, and Moore are all losses, but I feel McCabe will actually be the biggest lost of the four. He is certainly not the most creative player, but he does one thing incredible well..... tackle. In my mind he is the best defensive 12 in world rugby - not only does he make a pile of tackles, but he makes hard tackles, often driving the player back. I think he would have been the ideal player to neutralize the threat that Roberts (and Davies) pose. With him out Australia needs to choose between Faingaa and Barnes in the 12 jersey - Faingaa can tackle hard, but he does slip off a few tackles, and while Barnes is a solid tackler he will certainly be tested by the physical running of Roberts/Davies. If I was picking Australia's 22 I'd go for: Alexander Polota-Nau Slipper (Alexander at 1 and Slipper at 3 as madflyhalf suggests) Horwill Simmons Higginbotham (I feel he deserves another chance at 6) Pocock McCalman (Samo hasn't done much since the Brisbance test... the long season may be taking its toll on the old man!) Genia Cooper Ioane A Faingaa Ashley-Cooper O'Connor Beale (If still injured Turner to the wing, and O'Connor to fullback - I don't like the idea of moving AAC away from centre!) Bench: S Faingaa, Ma'afu, Sharpe, Elsom, Burgess, Barnes, Turner [/QUOTE]

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