Wallabies go with the same

Team announcement for Italy. Only the injured Fardy is missing from the starting XV, with Simmons replacing him after coming straight back in from injury himself. That's a bit of a surprise, because he's usually a lock.

"We've looked at Italy and we want to take them on at what they're good at," said McKenzie, who down played the importance of hands-on work at the breakdown. "It's a different focus. Italy are one of the most dominant tackling teams but they're not necessarily hard over the ball. They will try to take us on in the set piece. You have to deal with where the ball is first, not where it might be.

"You have to have a (ruck) presence but one of the best arguments in defence is if you can cut the ball off at the source it's the best way to defend."

While Simmons has only played a little of No.6 off the bench in the 2011 World Cup, McKenzie said the two-metre beanpole had the right attributes for the role.

"Statistically Simmo is in our top two in terms of defence and getting around the field and he's probably the second most athletic guy in the forward pack," he said.

1. James Slipper
2. Stephen Moore
3. Ben Alexander
4. Sitaleki Timani
5. James Horwill
6. Rob Simmons
7. Michael Hooper
8. Ben Mowen (c)
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Nick Cummins
12. Matt Toomua
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Israel Folau

Three changes on the bench:

16. Saia Fainga’a
17. Benn Robinson
18. Sekope Kepu
19. Dave Dennis
20. Liam Gill
21. Nic White
22. Christian Lealiifano
23. Joe Tomane

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/simmons-in-wallabies-backrow-for-italy-20131107-2x4fa.html

Perhaps Genia is a little fortunate - he was very poor against England.

Italy will fancy this

I disagree offload, I think the Genia/Cooper pairing now needs to cement itself on the international stage again. This tour has lost the gland slam appeal for us but let's at least get some consistency in the backs. The forwards will have to make up with what is available.

Toomua I feel is getting better every game, considering he was the understudy, I think he is starting to make that number 12 shirt his. Kuridrani's unknown to me. But AAC's a stalwart servant for the Wallabies and deserves his spot. Cummins and Folau can shine.

Would the backs been any better with on form and fit JOC and Beales in it? Possibly, but let's stick with these guys and build some understanding up.

As to the forwards, not a lot to be said. Do what we can. Maybe time for a change next season. Was a time when the 2 Bens were forming an awesome front row, now maybe not even holding place.

Italy to win.

I think Italy's only chance against the top teams is to draw them into a dog fight.  I can't see Australia making that mistake.  Also, I do think the 'might' of the Italian forwards is always trotted out and whilst they are decent, if you run them round the pitch and create some dynamic rucks then they struggle and give away penalties.

Australia to win comfortably.

Genia has a tough position, constantly on the backfoot and being made to fight for scraps. Give him a level playing field and he dominates.

nlpnlp wrote:I think Italy's only chance against the top teams is to draw them into a dog fight.  I can't see Australia making that mistake.  Also, I do think the 'might' of the Italian forwards is always trotted out and whilst they are decent, if you run them round the pitch and create some dynamic rucks then they struggle and give away penalties.

Australia to win comfortably.

+1

England should have won by more, but they didn't and I think that was more to do with the fact Australia were better than I expected, and Italy are not good enogh to beat Australia, Australia by quite a score for me.

Aussies by 15-20.

This might not be a great Aussie side but I think they'll have more than enough for Italy.

nlpnlp wrote:I think Italy's only chance against the top teams is to draw them into a dog fight.  I can't see Australia making that mistake.  Also, I do think the 'might' of the Italian forwards is always trotted out and whilst they are decent, if you run them round the pitch and create some dynamic rucks then they struggle and give away penalties.

Australia to win comfortably.

They didnt win comfortably last time at all. One score game.

Yip that's true GunsGerms, but then they came here and beat England and Wales, all close games for sure.

I think the Wallabies are a bit weak at the mo but should still have more than enough to win in Italy.....


.....


... I HOPE!!!  

And England didnt exactly thrash Oz or Italy...

Ok shall we have a gentleman's wager, I say Italy will lose to Australia before you can circumnavigate the globe without using any kind of petrol or diesel fuelled vehicles, we shall start on the Thames and unison our clocks when Big Ben strikes on the hour at noon, this Saturday.

not seen Italy play since 6 nations but they beat France and France capable beating Australia

LordDowlais wrote:Ok shall we have a gentleman's wager, I say Italy will lose to Australia before you can circumnavigate the globe without using any kind of petrol or diesel fuelled vehicles, we shall start on the Thames and unison our clocks when Big Ben strikes on the hour at noon, this Saturday.

  electric car

LordDowlais wrote:Ok shall we have a gentleman's wager, I say Italy will lose to Australia before you can circumnavigate the globe without using any kind of petrol or diesel fuelled vehicles, we shall start on the Thames and unison our clocks when Big Ben strikes on the hour at noon, this Saturday.

I'll have to forfeit our wager Sir as I will be attending the gladitorial styling of Wales versus the savage Bokke

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Ok shall we have a gentleman's wager, I say Italy will lose to Australia before you can circumnavigate the globe without using any kind of petrol or diesel fuelled vehicles, we shall start on the Thames and unison our clocks when Big Ben strikes on the hour at noon, this Saturday.

             electric car

As long as it is not a hybrid.  

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Ok shall we have a gentleman's wager, I say Italy will lose to Australia before you can circumnavigate the globe without using any kind of petrol or diesel fuelled vehicles, we shall start on the Thames and unison our clocks when Big Ben strikes on the hour at noon, this Saturday.

I'll have to forfeit our wager Sir as I will be attending the gladitorial styling of Wales versus the savage Bokke

Ha,Ha, then it is I who will have you, you coward. 

LordDowlais wrote:

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Ok shall we have a gentleman's wager, I say Italy will lose to Australia before you can circumnavigate the globe without using any kind of petrol or diesel fuelled vehicles, we shall start on the Thames and unison our clocks when Big Ben strikes on the hour at noon, this Saturday.

I'll have to forfeit our wager Sir as I will be attending the gladitorial styling of Wales versus the savage Bokke

Ha,Ha, then it is I who will have you, you coward. 

One would rather be a coward than a degenerate Ottoman

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Ok shall we have a gentleman's wager, I say Italy will lose to Australia before you can circumnavigate the globe without using any kind of petrol or diesel fuelled vehicles, we shall start on the Thames and unison our clocks when Big Ben strikes on the hour at noon, this Saturday.

I'll have to forfeit our wager Sir as I will be attending the gladitorial styling of Wales versus the savage Bokke

Ha,Ha, then it is I who will have you, you coward. 

One would rather be a coward than a degenerate Ottoman

I do not partake in accustoms with those degenerates from Llanelli, perhaps you have me coincided with another on here who moderates these pages called scarletspiderman.

Wish I hadn't bet on Aus in superbru. Simmonds is never a flanker, it's like us playing Lawes there against Italy all over again

LordDowlais wrote:

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Ok shall we have a gentleman's wager, I say Italy will lose to Australia before you can circumnavigate the globe without using any kind of petrol or diesel fuelled vehicles, we shall start on the Thames and unison our clocks when Big Ben strikes on the hour at noon, this Saturday.

I'll have to forfeit our wager Sir as I will be attending the gladitorial styling of Wales versus the savage Bokke

Ha,Ha, then it is I who will have you, you coward. 

One would rather be a coward than a degenerate Ottoman

I do not partake in accustoms with those degenerates from Llanelli, perhaps you have me coincided with another on here who moderates these pages called scarletspiderman.

Apologies, I don't converse with disfranchised ruffians, good day to you 'sir'

Well a Dutch solar car just won the World Solar Challenge in Oz.

"The vehicle completed the 3,000 km journey with an average of three people on board at an average of 67 km/h and a top speed of 120 km/h."

So as long as we can work a road route, even thru the arctic I guess, that has sunshine it could be done!!!

OzT wrote:Well a Dutch solar car just won the World Solar Challenge in Oz.

"The vehicle completed the 3,000 km journey with an average of three people on board at an average of 67 km/h and a top speed of 120 km/h."

So as long as we can work a road route, even thru the arctic I guess, that has sunshine it could be done!!!

But you would need one hell of an extension cable. 

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Ok shall we have a gentleman's wager, I say Italy will lose to Australia before you can circumnavigate the globe without using any kind of petrol or diesel fuelled vehicles, we shall start on the Thames and unison our clocks when Big Ben strikes on the hour at noon, this Saturday.

I'll have to forfeit our wager Sir as I will be attending the gladitorial styling of Wales versus the savage Bokke

Ha,Ha, then it is I who will have you, you coward. 

One would rather be a coward than a degenerate Ottoman

I do not partake in accustoms with those degenerates from Llanelli, perhaps you have me coincided with another on here who moderates these pages called scarletspiderman.

Apologies, I don't converse with disfranchised ruffians, good day to you 'sir'

And a good day to thee also, GOD SAVE THE QUEEN !!!!!!!

LordDowlais wrote:

OzT wrote:Well a Dutch solar car just won the World Solar Challenge in Oz.

"The vehicle completed the 3,000 km journey with an average of three people on board at an average of 67 km/h and a top speed of 120 km/h."

So as long as we can work a road route, even thru the arctic I guess, that has sunshine it could be done!!!

But you would need one hell of an extension cable. 

Solar.  

I didn't want to say......

OzT wrote:I didn't want to say......

Yeh, but it cannot go on water. 

Whats happend to Berrick Barnes?

Injured, off form

Generally not up to it.

westisbest wrote:Whats happend to Berrick Barnes?

Injured, off form

He's gone to play in Japan West.

Not too much of a loss, a solid steady rather than inspirational player, good luck to him in Japan.

Now if we can get Beale back in the right frame of mind, with JOC as well, now that will be worth watching!

OzT wrote:...Now if we can get Beale back in the right frame of mind, with JOC as well, now that will be worth watching!

Yes, I don't know where you play everyone but those two players have scared us when we've played against them.

Well I would play JOC at 13 and Beale as 15, cause Toomua I think is doing good at 12, like to see if he gets better

http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/11/07/spiro-the-knives-are-being-sharpened-for-ewen-mckenzie/

Knives out? Already? Bit harsh don't you think ?

I like the article, thought it was well written, though I disagree with calling for the removal of the coach so soon.

This phrase "The worst aspect about McKenzie’s Wallabies is they don’t seem to be a very happy bunch. There is no joy in their game and certainly they are not providing much joy for their supporters." was true too of Wallabies under Deans.

Few years ago I said JW with Eddie Jones would've make a dream coaching team for the Wallabies, I still think so now. But we haven't got them so I think we need to stick with Ewen and give him our full backing. Chopping and changing is not the way to build a settled happy squad, so let's all go and support what we've got and who we have.

My 2c worth.

Italy:

Luke McLean, Tommaso Benevenuti, Luca Morisi, Alberto Sgarbi, Leonardo Sarto, Alberto Di Bernardo, Edoardo Gori, Michele Rizzo, 2 Davide Giazzon, Martin Castrogiovanni, Antonio Pavanello, Marco Bortolami, Alessandro Zanni, Robert Barbieri, Sergio Parisse (capt)

Replacements: Leonardo Ghiraldini, Matias Aguero, Lorenzo Cittadini, Quintin Geldenhuys, Joshua Furno, Tobias Botes, Tommaso Allan, Tommaso Iannone.