Bennett has confirmed that Williams and Farrell are the two to miss out so looks like that will be the team give or take any possible changes in who starts and who is on the bench.

yeah i think you can only have one lightweight backrower on the 17 against the giant Aussies and Kiwis and despite Farrell being in form, Bateman is the correct choice imo.

True but cooper isn't a back rower meaning we only have Bateman and whitehead as out and out back rowers. All other forwards are more props than back row. Except slamming Sam who can obviously play anywhere in the pack.

Which doesn't leave us looking very mobile in my opinion.

Unless he plans to play hodgeson at loose when Clark is on the field.

Which is exactly what he did vs France & is how Hodgson is used in the NRL by the Raiders.

If he does that with Sam Burgess presumably going to 2nd row it still begs the question of where does he play Cooper? 5 props in a 17 is unnecessary and you'll end up struggling to give them all decent minutes.

Graham will do big minutes as that is his game. Hill could be it will be nice to use him in short bursts. Burgess twins aswell, absolutely smash in for short stints in the knowledge they will get a few breathers. Whitehead and Bateman are machines and are unlikely to need a break but if they do then Sam to back row and Cooper to loose. I reckon we have all bases covered whilst having the luxury pf keeping our big units fresh.

Let's hope we can attack the side where Kenny-Dowall defends, he was woeful in attack & defence against the Aussies in the Kiwis last game.
The Aussies also kept Johnson quiet & Leuluai is not the most creative halfback although he's very good in defence.
It seems to me it'll be our pack vs theirs & whoever comes out on top in that battle will win.
It will be a game of big hits, I hope both sides keep the tackles down.