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I think a lot of the right reins were pulled in the lead up to this test, but not all of them.
I still think Sio needs to start, Slipper was shown up yet again and Holmes wasn't strong enough to make up for it. Skelton was willing, but isn't an Internatnal forward yet. I remember at moments in the match, watching for him to do stuff. It appears his role is to fill the defensive line one or two passes out and put on one or two big shots in a game. For that we lose the ability to jump in the lineout, a player in the ruck (I don't remember seeing him participating effectively in one) a regular ball carrier and somebody who won't give away dumb reversals of penalty.
Pocock was immense, even Hooper was valuable now that we had somebody focussing on the breakdown. I remember being delighted seein DEAN MUMM take the field, but that disappeared as soon as I realized he didn't replace Skelton.
Backseat were OK, but this game was all about the battle up front. Only thing is we desperately need either Gits or Toomua in 12 for their brains.