Gatland names experimental side for Washington DC game

Savea

Kirifi

Papali’i

Finau

Lio-Willie

Jacobson

Sititi

Lakai

Blackadder

I’d say that Blackadder is gone, Lio-Willie may not get selected ahead of Kirifi, and there’s a danger for some guys like Finau, Lakai and Papali’i to lose their spots because the other guys have been playing out of their skins for the whole season so far.

And to think that there’s one ineligible bloke in Moana Pasifika playing arguably better than all of them (except his teammate Savea) and that’s Miracle Fai’ilagi.

A note about Savea - his form has been so exceptional this year that I’d recommend the coaches use a 6-2 bench split and have Savea cover the midfield in case of an injury. He’s just that good! His kick and chase tries over the season remind me of a midfield back. And he has pace too.

Lio-Willie brings more physicality, defensively and offensively, than Sotutu has in his whole career. It seems Sotutu has taken to Akira Ioane’s form of “if I’m huge then the AB’s will select me” which is simply not true anymore. Sotutu needs to do work on defense and operate in a lineout. Haven’t really seen a master class in either of those this season, while Christian has been excellent at lineout time as 3rd/4th option and always gets at least 10 tackles, usually bruising ones.

It’s a corporate conn. It's just a second honeymoon for baby boomers to spunk their kids university funds.

Although the 2001 and 2009 series's were brilliant to be fair.

The second test in 2009 was the only game - for me - to match the 2000 Bledisole cup game.

But he was among the absolute best man and ball tacklers around. Marcus is nowhere near that.

For all his attacking play, he would be the last line of defence at full back.

Liability.

5:3 is the only option for me. Although it looks like Australia will essentially have 15 wingers playing.

I only really get the highlights to be fair. With super rugby it's a dozen games a weekend.

I only really have time to watch Connaght get dumped on at home. That's 80 mins well spent.

Flustered and trying to force the game by running everything from his own 22, not so much.

I'm sure every Aussie worth their salt wants him to start the test series. At 10!

They'd eat and shyte him.