Back-row shuffle could benefit Waugh

[NewsBot]

Back-row shuffle could benefit Waugh

Experienced flanker Phil Waugh is pushing for a place in the Wallabies' starting line-up amid speculation that coach John Connolly could make some back-row changes ahead of Saturday night's Test against South Africa in Sydney.

[Burgs]

Waugh hasn't been getting enough match time lately to stay fully match fit so against the Boks would be an ideal time to try starting him and then unleashing Smith (or "the Dogs of Hell" by then!) at the sixty minute mark.
Unfortunately, Fava didn't have as great an impact as desired against the AB's.
I think I would go in this week with:
6. Elsom
7. Waugh
8. Palu
18. Chisholm
19. Smith
You would assume that Palu won't have the match fitness to run out the full eighty and it would depend on the Locks as to where Chisholm and Smith slot in, but between them they cover #4-8.
It may even be a match where you gamble on an extra forward on the bench.
In that scenario I would stick with Fava for mobility and Cordingley/Rogers to cover the Backs.
Gerrard also had a less impressive match so, you could put up a case for Rathbone to start and Gerrard on the bench instead of Cordingley. This would put the pressure on Gregan however, Giteau could slot into Half for ten minutes at the end if Gregan doesn't have 80 minutes in the tank.
If he isn't going to go on tour then Gregan only has three more matches left for the year so he may as well go all out to try and prove some critics wrong before he is rested.

[travelling_gerry]

and it'snot like we need our #1 team this week is it?