Early tips for test selection

[Mr Angry]

With a test against the kiwis following SoO, what are your tips for test selection.
Aussie and Kiwis teams.

1. Lockyer
2. Minichello
3. Devere
4. Lyon
5. Sing
6. Timmins
7. Johns
8. Webcke
9. Buderus
10. Bailey
11. Tallis
12. Kennedy
13. Ricketson

14. Wing
15. Ryles
16. Carlaw
17. Fitzgibbon

With C. Anderson as the Aussie coach Stevens may be a suprise selection.

 

[salivor]

These players I exect will be in contention:
David Vaeliki
Matthew Utai
Nigel Vagana
Willie Talau
Francis Meli
Lance Hohaia
Stacey Jones
Jerry Seuseu
Richard Swain
Paul Rauhihi
Steven Kearney
Ruben Wiki
Jason Cayless
Joe Galuvao
Tony Puletua
Tyran Smith
Henry Fa’afili
Motu Tony
Sione Faumuina

I've probably forgotten a few and left a few out as theres quite a few players with injuries which makes things hard. The big problem areas for me will fullback and five eighth as I'm not too keen on Vaealiki and Hohaia in those two positions. Apart from that I'd love to see Galuvao and Pulatua in there, Kearney and Wiki have both been on fire. It should be a very good pack and Faumuina could be a bolter for the bench.

As for Australia, its shaping up as a very weak side. I think Tate will be there as apart from the last few weeks hes been playing great footy, certainly alot better than last year when he was selected for Australia. DeVere is suddenly at good odds to make it and I wouldn't rule out the bloody Gidley and Tahu duo getting the nod. Both NZ and Aus have a few troubles in the backline but the battle up front will be top notch.

 

[JoeD]

I wouldn't mind seeing Tony fill either of those trouble spots but I'm not sure who should fill the other. Another problem for the kiwis will be a goal kicker. Perhaps Swain will get the nod, IMO he's as good as anybody we've got. Also it will be very interesting to see if Betham is there or not. I think Anderson dug himself into a hole by naming him as club captain for the warriors, I wonder if he'll keep digging?

 

[salivor]

I don't see a spot for Betham in a what is a very strong forward pack. He hasn't impressed me at all for the Warriors this year. Kearney or Jones as my Kiwis captian.
Tony sounds like a better 5/8 option than Hohaia. Also Utai will have one wing which leaves Meli and Fa'afili to fight it out for the other. I'd personaly give it to Meli.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I'd possibly consider playing Fa'afili at fullback, he's safe as houses undr the high ball, great on the kick return and and can tackle ok. Possible Kiwi side:

1: Fa'afili
2: Utai
3: Talau
4: Vagana
5: Meli
6: Tony
7: Jones
8: Seu Seu
9: Swain
10: Rauhihi
11: Puletua
12: Kearney
13: Guttenbeil

14: Wiki
15: J. Cayless
16: T. Smith
17: Vaeleki

 

[maelgwnau]

My Aussie Team

1. Darren Lockyer (Brisbane)
2. Hazem El Masri (Bulldogs)
3. Brent Tate (Brisbane)
4. Jamie Lyon (Parramatta)
5. Matt Sing (Cowboys)
6. Scott Hill (Storm)
7. Andrew Johns (Newcastle)
8. Shane Webcke (Brisbane)
9. Danny Buderus (Newcastle)
10. Jason Ryles (Dragons)
11. Gordan Tallis (Brisbane) - Captain
12. Craig Fitzgibbon (Roosters)
13. Terry Hill (Wests Tigers)

14. Luke Bailey (Dragons)
15. Andrew Gee (Brisbane)
16. Craig Wing (Roosters)
17. Matthew Gidley (Newcastle

Coach: Phil Gould

 

[salivor]

SpaceMonkey, I like the look of that side. The only change I'd make is to have Joe Galuvao on the bench instead of Tyran Smith.

 

[Moffo]

1. Darren Lockyer
2. Anthony Minichello
3. Brent Tate
4. Mark Gasnier
5. Matt Sing
6. Shaun Berrigan
7. Andrew Johns
13. Ben Kennedy
12. Craig Fitzgibbon
11. Gordon Tallis
10. Luke Bailey
9. Danny Buderus
8. Shane Webcke

14. Craig Wing
15. Dane Carlaw
16. Jason Ryels
17. Petero Civoncevia

Don't like the backs, but Oz is really a bit weak there at the moment

1. David Vaealiki
2. Matt Utai
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Henry Fa'afili
5. Francis Meli
6. Robbie Paul (can he still play for NZ?)
7. Stacey Jones
13. Stephen Kearney
12. Ali Lauititi
11. Ruben Wiki
10. Jason Cayless
9. Richard Swain
8. Jerry Seu Seu

14. Tony Puletula
15. Joe Gaulvao
16. Paul Rauhihi
17. Sione Faumuina

*Assuming Nathan Cayless won't be back*

Forwards are definitely the NZ advantage

Cheers,
Moffo

 

[SP]

I like most of the NZ sides, but id put Joe Gualavao & Puletua both in the starting 13 in the 2nd row

They both go great for Penrith, imagine how good they'll be playing for thier country

 

[JoeD]

My bolter for a bench spot in the Kiwis is Tevita Latu. He's been going great for the Warriors and I think the kiwis need someone a little bit nippier to come into dummy half as the game progresses. He might only have a handful of 1st grade games under his belt but that didn't stop Hohaia geting picked last year.

 

[Prodigiousman]

Australia on form (considering suspension/injury) prior to Game 3.

1 Lockyer
2 Minichiello
3 Gidley
4 Tate
5 Tahu
6 Berrigan
7 Johns
8 Webcke
9 Buderus
10 Ryles
11 Bailey
12 Tallis
13 S Hill

14 Wing
15 Civoneciva
16 Timmins
17 Price/Hindmarsh/Simpson/Ricketson/Fletcher/Carlaw

A few eyebrows may rise with Berrigan but even Wayne Bennett knows he's a 5/8 having to play half... play Berrigan outside Johns and watch in awe.

If Scott Hill is fit he will be the lock forward.

New Zealand
1 Vaealiki
2 Meli
3 Toopi
4 Vagana
5 Utai
6 Hohaia
7 Jones
8 Rauhihi
9 Betham
10 Seu Seu
11 Wiki
12 Kearney
13 Guttenbeil

14 Lauiti'iti
15 Swann
16 T Puletua
17 Tony

Can't see there being room for Swain esp since he's going to England next season, I don't expect Nathan Cayless to be fit so not considered, Jason Cayless and Joe Galuvao will fall victim to too many quality forwards available, Andrew Lomu isn't even close to a call up, Henry Fa'afili, Sione Faumuina, Palea'aesina, Tyran Smith and Koopu will miss out.[/list][/list]

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I seriously doubt Lauiti'iti will make it into the Kiwi side as he won't be match fit by then. If we were short of second rowers it would be one thing, but when you've got Puletua, Kearney, Swann, Wiki, Guttenbeil, J. Cayless, and Gulavao all fit and playing well it would be ludicrous to select anyone not fully fit.

 

[TheROCK]

1.Lockyer
2.Minicheillo
3.Lyon
4.De Vere
5.Tahu
6.Timmins
7.Johns
8.Webcke
9.Wing
10.Bailey
11.Tallis
12.Kennedy
13.Ricketson

14.Buderus
15.Civoniceva
16.Ryles
17.Carlaw