Australia

[Sandydragon]

The Fail have named their preferred team for the Aussie game, basically the same side that beat Fiji but with Jac Morgan at blindside and Reffel at open.

I really hope Gatland doesn’t go for this, the double open side hasn’t really worked with those two and I’d prefer someone like Wainwright at blindside.

But I don’t think there will be any unenriched changes to the rest of that team that started against Fiji.

[normanski]

I think you’re right. Wainwright has World Cup experience and that could prove vital in our next game against what could be a slightly weakened Australia side.

We have yet to see if both Skelton and Tupou are out. It could just be Eddie’s kidology to say they’re injured and then pick them.

I would want Elias to start because Australia can be quite destructive at the line out. He’s also our best scrummaging hooker and I’d prefer Lake to come on for the last quarter when his rumbustious style could cause havoc near the line against tired defenders.

Basham rather Reffell on the bench because he can cover the whole back row and is great at winning gain-line yards.

[normanski]

Plus, I hope Thomas is fit and on the bench instead of Lewis. It will be important to keep a strong pack on the field for the full eighty to ensure we give the Aussies no platform late in the game.

[Numbers]

The Fail have named their preferred team for the Aussie game, basically the same side that beat Fiji but with Jac Morgan at blindside and Reffel at open.

I really hope Gatland doesn’t go for this, the double open side hasn’t really worked with those two and I’d prefer someone like Wainwright at blindside.

But I don’t think there will be any unenriched changes to the rest of that team that started against Fiji.

I don't really see your reasoning behind this, what with the number of turnover penalties Aus gave away against Fiji, surely we should be targetting that area...

[tlchimera]

I think you’re right. Wainwright has World Cup experience and that could prove vital in our next game against what could be a slightly weakened Australia side.

We have yet to see if both Skelton and Tupou are out. It could just be Eddie’s kidology to say they’re injured and then pick them.

I would want Elias to start because Australia can be quite destructive at the line out. He’s also our best scrummaging hooker and I’d prefer Lake to come on for the last quarter when his rumbustious style could cause havoc near the line against tired defenders.

Basham rather Reffell on the bench because he can cover the whole back row and is great at winning gain-line yards.

I think Lake coming on for the last quarter would help provide the chopsy bit of end of the match leadership if/when Biggar goes off early. He's more of a vocal leader than Jac, which might help in that situation.

[Son of Mathonwy]

The Fail have named their preferred team for the Aussie game, basically the same side that beat Fiji but with Jac Morgan at blindside and Reffel at open.

I really hope Gatland doesn’t go for this, the double open side hasn’t really worked with those two and I’d prefer someone like Wainwright at blindside.

But I don’t think there will be any unenriched changes to the rest of that team that started against Fiji.

I agree with their team except for the change to 6 and 7.

Morgan is on fire at 7, we can't move him out of position. And Waiinwright is a proper 6. I know Reffell is a turnover machine for Leicester but he isn't for Wales at the moment. TBH I think I'd have Basham as back row cover rather than Reffell.

[Numbers]

The Fail have named their preferred team for the Aussie game, basically the same side that beat Fiji but with Jac Morgan at blindside and Reffel at open.

I really hope Gatland doesn’t go for this, the double open side hasn’t really worked with those two and I’d prefer someone like Wainwright at blindside.

But I don’t think there will be any unenriched changes to the rest of that team that started against Fiji.

I agree with their team except for the change to 6 and 7.

Morgan is on fire at 7, we can't move him out of position. And Waiinwright is a proper 6. I know Reffell is a turnover machine for Leicester but he isn't for Wales at the moment. TBH I think I'd have Basham as back row cover rather than Reffell.

His tackling stats are more aligned to a 6 imo, I like Wainwright but he is not the same level as the other two and Morgan has played very well at 6 for Wales before.

[normanski]

Reffell is still being monitored daily, so there’s still a question mark over his fitness. Apparently he’s the only Wales player with an injury issue which is an unusual position for us to be in at this stage. Most of the Fiji starters have been rested which bodes well for Sunday.

[Sandydragon]

I think Wainwright offers us more at 6 and it doesn’t bugger about Morgan who is playing well at open side. It’s certainly not a game for Lydiate and whilst I was happier with Christ last weekend than I was in the warmups, I don’t quite see him in these big games yet.

Definitely agree about Basham on the bench who can cover all positions but also adds something against a tiring team.

[Sandydragon]

The Fail have named their preferred team for the Aussie game, basically the same side that beat Fiji but with Jac Morgan at blindside and Reffel at open.

I really hope Gatland doesn’t go for this, the double open side hasn’t really worked with those two and I’d prefer someone like Wainwright at blindside.

But I don’t think there will be any unenriched changes to the rest of that team that started against Fiji.

I don't really see your reasoning behind this, what with the number of turnover penalties Aus gave away against Fiji, surely we should be targetting that area...

Reffell and Morgan in tandem won’t help our lineout.

[Sandydragon]

Reffell is still being monitored daily, so there’s still a question mark over his fitness. Apparently he’s the only Wales player with an injury issue which is an unusual position for us to be in at this stage. Most of the Fiji starters have been rested which bodes well for Sunday.

Hopefully Thomas is fit and we can avoid the squeaky bum feeling every time Lewis takes to the field.

[Numbers]

The Fail have named their preferred team for the Aussie game, basically the same side that beat Fiji but with Jac Morgan at blindside and Reffel at open.

I really hope Gatland doesn’t go for this, the double open side hasn’t really worked with those two and I’d prefer someone like Wainwright at blindside.

But I don’t think there will be any unenriched changes to the rest of that team that started against Fiji.

I don't really see your reasoning behind this, what with the number of turnover penalties Aus gave away against Fiji, surely we should be targetting that area...

Reffell and Morgan in tandem won’t help our lineout.

How many lineouts are there in a game in comparison to rucks?

[Son of Mathonwy]

The Fail have named their preferred team for the Aussie game, basically the same side that beat Fiji but with Jac Morgan at blindside and Reffel at open.

I really hope Gatland doesn’t go for this, the double open side hasn’t really worked with those two and I’d prefer someone like Wainwright at blindside.

But I don’t think there will be any unenriched changes to the rest of that team that started against Fiji.

I agree with their team except for the change to 6 and 7.

Morgan is on fire at 7, we can't move him out of position. And Waiinwright is a proper 6. I know Reffell is a turnover machine for Leicester but he isn't for Wales at the moment. TBH I think I'd have Basham as back row cover rather than Reffell.

His tackling stats are more aligned to a 6 imo, I like Wainwright but he is not the same level as the other two and Morgan has played very well at 6 for Wales before.

It wouldn't be a disaster to have Morgan at 6 but I wouldn't mess with something that's working so well.

[Sandydragon]

I don't really see your reasoning behind this, what with the number of turnover penalties Aus gave away against Fiji, surely we should be targetting that area...

Reffell and Morgan in tandem won’t help our lineout.

How many lineouts are there in a game in comparison to rucks?

Our lineout is crap
Enough already and it’s one area where Australia put Fiji under real pressure. Lose that and we lose the game.

[Numbers]

Reffell and Morgan in tandem won’t help our lineout.

How many lineouts are there in a game in comparison to rucks?

Our lineout is crap
Enough already and it’s one area where Australia put Fiji under real pressure. Lose that and we lose the game.

Our lineout was fine against Fiji with our first string, the hooker seemed to be the difference as Lake's throwing went out the window in the second half against Portugal, Wainwright is a good lineout junoper but Morgan should have that in his skillset also, I suppose I don't think the blindside should be the main lineout option when you have two giant second rows in the team along with Faletau who is excellent in the lineoutd , my thoughts are that the breakdown goes a long way to deciding who will win a game and that we would be much more competitive with Reffell on the field alongside Morgan.

[normanski]

Skelton and Topou both out as Kellaway starts at FB with Donaldson at OH.

A weakened side but one that can still cause problems for Wales.

[Mikey Brown]

Skelton and Topou both out as Kellaway starts at FB with Donaldson at OH.

A weakened side but one that can still cause problems for Wales.

Looks like you're overdogs now. Can you live up to the massive hype?

[Numbers]

Wales: Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Gareth Thomas, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Aaron Wainwright, Jac Morgan (captain), Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Corey Domachowski, Henry Thomas, Dafydd Jenkins, Taine Basham, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Rio Dyer

[Numbers]

Lake doesn't make the 23 and Anscombe for Costelow which is no surprise.

[Numbers]

Oh and Henry Thomas on the bench instead of Lewis.

[normanski]

Oh and Henry Thomas on the bench instead of Lewis.

Well if he is fit, then his 20 plus minutes will stabilise the scrum. Thank goodness he replaces Lewis.

[Numbers]

Oh and Henry Thomas on the bench instead of Lewis.

Well if he is fit, then his 20 plus minutes will stabilise the scrum. Thank goodness he replaces Lewis.

Agreed.

[normanski]

Pretty much as we expected. Glad Wainwright is in with Basham on the bench. Basham is great back row cover.

[normanski]

On our performances so far, this is the strongest side Gatland can put out. I hope Sunday will turn out to be Funday for the boys.

[Graigwen]

We really do have something like a consensus, what a strange feeling.

Gatland was always going to play Beard, and Wainwright at 6 seems the right call. What is different to previous World Cups is that we are not constrained by injuries - and we have good fit players who have not made the 23.

Like others, I am relieved to see Thomas as tight head bench cover. Hopefully this will reduce the chance of last fifteen minutes scrum panic. I thought Smith might get the loose head bench spot.

Taniela Tupou and Will Skelton are confirmed as out of the Aussie team, which will not help them.