Force 22 for Round 1?

How do you think the 22 should look for the first game against the Brumbies?
Backline combinations and bench cover being the most intersting point of discussion. Dont think we need another 9 on the bench imo. If we had an exceptional playmaker id be tempted to put out a huge backline with dellit to 12 and bringing in Tupou to 13. At this stage I think Stannard needs a fair bit of support from 9 and 12


1 Longbottom
2 Whittiker
3 Mafu
4 Wykes
5 Sharpe
6 Hodgson
7 Pocock
8 McCalman
9 Sheehan
10 Stannard
11 Nalaga
12 Stanley
13 Dellit
14 Cummins
15 Shepherd

16 Charles
17 Cowan
18 Lynn
19 Brown
20 Seymour/Fairbanks
21 Sidey
22 Tupou/Mafi

I would like to see Brown Start if his shoulder is ok. I think that gives us a more balanced back row with Hodgo to add impact off the bench later in the game.

I also think charles is better suited to starting with whittiker coming on about 50-60 mins in and letting rip.

Who do we have to cover the 2 hookers if one of then goes down?

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Originally Posted by GAFFA

Who do we have to cover the 2 hookers if one of then goes down?

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Elvis Tianoe

Cummins may be unlikely first game. He was limping coming off Saturday night.

Not sure of injury status etc, but this would be my first pick XV

1 Pekahou Cowan
2 Ben Whittaker
3 Salesi Ma'afu
4 Toby Lynn
5 Nathan Sharpe
6 Richard Brown
7 David Pocock
8 Ben McCalman

9 Brett Sheehan
10 James Stannard
11 Napolioni Nalaga
12 Winston Stanley
13 Nick Cummins
14 Rory Sidey
15 Cameron Shepherd

16 Nathan Charles
17 Kieran Longbottom
18 Sam Wykes
19 Matt Hodgson
20 Justin Turner
21 Ben Seymour
22 Gene Fairbanks

No room for Paddy Dellit there Burgs? or is he injured?
Paddy was a revelation chasing high kicks from 13 last year.

I'd also seriously consider playing Benny Mac on the side of the scrum when Brownie's on and at 8 when Hodgeo's on.

With the Backs, due to the nature of the Flyhalf situation, I went for a first pick backline, then an "Oh shit, it isn't working" back up, hence Seymour and multitasker Fairbanks.
So then it became a choice of 11, 13, 14 & 15. It would seem that they are trying to bring Cummins in off the Wing and Nalaga will have 11 stitched up for at least a couple of rounds. For me Shep is a no brainer for 15. So, head to head, Sidey v Dellit for 14, I like what I have seen from both, a bit of a coin toss in the end.

When does hodgo Come off contract? We might have to adapt a backup row rotation policy to ensure we can keep all our wallaby back rowers

Anyone went to Darwin? how did Nalaga played?

I'd say:

1. Cowan
2. Charles
3. Longbottom
4. Wykes
5. Sharpie
6. Hodgson
7. Pocock
8. McCalman
9. Sheehan
10. Stannard
11. Dellit
12. Stanley
13. Sidey
14. Nalaga
15. Shepherd

16. Whittaker
17. Ma'afu
18. Lynn
19. Brownie
20. Seymour
21. Mafi
22. Fairbanks

Kieran ahead of Ma'afu - he brings more around the park than Ma'afu.
Charles and Whittaker are still close, but Cheese gets the nod for me.
Lynn looks good, but then so does Battye - I can see our 4 locks fighting for game time.
Seymour on the bench as Stannard can cover 9.
Cummins was 11 and Nalaga 14 for the trial - I can see Nalaga staying at 14 for his speed. So without Cummins either Dellit or Shep at 11 and the other at full-back. Wara came on for Cummins in Darwin, but I reckon that was to have a look at him - they know what Dellit can do. Also, Wara spilled the pill a couple of times early on.
I'm not sure about the centres, either. The choice of Sidey, Mafi & Stanley (plus Fairbanks) could depend on who we're playing week to week.

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Originally Posted by wqerti

Anyone went to Darwin? how did Nalaga played?

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Nalaga went OK. Rumour is he needed a bit more conditioning than most (he'd been out of the game a while before the World Cup). He missed a couple of tackles, but again that could be conditioning - he stayed on the field a fair while (~60 minutes).

He didn't get much of the ball, but showed a couple of flashes of speed supporting other runners.

I'd say he'll still take a couple of games to get properly up to speed, but if he does he could be a big weapon. :D

I think you have to go with Mafu as the starting 3. As you said Longbottom offer more around the park and i can see him being used like Deans used Ben Alexander against Wales and the Bar Bars to come on with 15-20mins left and run rampet!

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Originally Posted by Burgs

With the Backs, due to the nature of the Flyhalf situation, I went for a first pick backline, then an "Oh shit, it isn't working" back up, hence Seymour and multitasker Fairbanks.
So then it became a choice of 11, 13, 14 & 15. It would seem that they are trying to bring Cummins in off the Wing and Nalaga will have 11 stitched up for at least a couple of rounds. For me Shep is a no brainer for 15. So, head to head, Sidey v Dellit for 14, I like what I have seen from both, a bit of a coin toss in the end.

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I guess that makes sense, but I would have replaced Fairbanks with Dellit at least, maybe even have started Paddy. I could imagine Dellit at 13 and Cummins at 14 with Carte Blanche to swap in and out as they see fit. You'd have a little nippy bloke with a ton of Ticker swapping around with a Bulky, Bruising, Tall bloke who specialises in making small outside backs hurt.......with a bigger, badder, more hurtful bloke on the other wing, I could see how that would work!

Gene seems a little 'second chance' to me...maybe it was JOC making him look bad last year!

i hear Jordan rapana is out for the season... was he any chance of breaking into the match 22?

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Originally Posted by zimeric

i hear Jordan rapana is out for the season... was he any chance of breaking into the match 22?

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Really only press to go by, but he was a slim chance given the size of the blokes out wide