Difficult balancing act for Gatland now between giving the test team a run before the first test and over playing some players who've had to come off the bench early, e.g Jones today, Sexton against Crusaders and have their minute count up high.
His other problem is if he's considering a Sexton and Farrell starting partnership, then surely there'll be no cover for 10 in the midweek team, similar for 8 if Stander is considered at 6.
Looking at Simon's suggested team, minutes so far on tour are (taken from Russ Petty's twitter @rpetty80):
I think Itoje might start this one, maybe ahead of AWJ, but then it could revert back for the test. Moriarty has only played 80 mins and Tipuric 106 so could see either of those on the bench.
Well it certainly won't have helped him, though I thought the Aussie ref got it completely wrong. There's no doubt Cole's selling point over Sinckler is being stronger in the scrum so yeah today has hurt him.
Can see a change to McGrath, George, Sinckler as test bench with Mako, Owens, Furlong as starters maybe.
The crucial penalty they scored the winning points from was the oddest one for me, I'm not sure how a tighthead can defend against a loosehead allowed to bore in at a right angle.
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