I think Manu has a shoulder problem to be fair, so it is unlikely he will start. I feel bad for Corbs, he is the clear England #1 but will almost certainly not start because of the great tour Mako has had. Apart from Phillips though, who I think will start with Youngs on the bench, I think that is the side he will name. As Faletau started vrs the Brumbies I think that will mean Heaslip starts.
As for hooker I think you have it bang on with Youngs, he has looked the safest in the lineout and he carries well. With POC and Croft they should operate well too.
Reflecting on yesterday, I am kind of glad we lost. Hear me out The tour had all been a bit too easy so far and while those guys who played are mainly replacements and midweek players, it was good they got a bloody nose in a meaningless game.
When does he name it?

Its funny to think that earlier in the tour everyone was saying how we shouldnt play the easy teams and should warm up against the islanders.

Think of the amount of injuries we wouldve had facing the strength of Samoa, Fiji, etc. Injuries are bad enough as it is!

It's not beyond possibility that Tuilagi is being kept under wraps till the team announcement. There is not much going around about his shoulder issue and he's had a week and a half to rest it. Gatland could spring a surprise on us yet, and if his form with wales over the past 4 years is anything to go by, then it's very very possible indeed. He has been well known for playing silly buggers with selections and springing surprises at the last minute.

It would be a crying shame if we only get to see Tuilagi and O'Driscoll side by side that one time. Those two together could be the key to the Australian lock. But the centers look solid as is. Davis had a good game against the Brumbies, despite the result.

I think Manu is going to start. The medical team confirmed he was back training a few days ago. I think they're hoping to catch the Aussies out with the late announcement

Gatland tactics 101. Sell sell selllll the dummy!

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And as for Australia!
"The Australian" newspaper contacted Professor Joe Grotowski, Head of Mathematics at the University of Queensland two days ago to calculate the backline permutations available to Robbie Deans in his 31-man squad.
With only Will Genia at scrum-half and Adam Ashley-Cooper nailed on, and factoring in the versatility of James O’Connor, Kurtley Beale, Berrick Barnes and Folau, the Professor estimated there were 77.
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id go with

1. Vunipola
2. Youngs
3. A. Jones
4. AW Jones
5. O'Connell
6. Croft
7. Warburton
8. Heaslip

9. Phillips
10. Sexton
11. North
12. O'Driscoll
13. Tuilagi
14. Wade
15. Halfpenny

subs: HIbbard, Cole, Parling, O'Brien, B. Youngs, Farrell, J.Davies, Zebo

Wade? ur kidding right? other than that. spot on. Wade is not up to this kinda thing yet.

he's special IMO, nobody better in the NH when given a yard of space no-one will catch him

Didn't show it on Saturday Mex. He was distinctly average. But then so were his teammates with the exception of Davies who was the only shining light.

to be fair he'd only been in the country 36 hours and had 1 training session after preparing himself all week for a go at the argies

Same story for Zebo mate. Who has impressed more it needs to acknowledged. The 3 boys who came in for that game won't see a test jersey. Unless there are a bunch of injuries. Getting beaten by a Weak Brumbies outfit was unfortunate to say the least.

Probably need to get a better look at him in the next midweek game. Even if he's as good as you say. He wasn't considered for the original squad, so getting parachuted into a Lions test 15 is about as unlikely as it gets. not to mention it would send awful signals to the rest of the squad who have been working hard in the past 4 weeks.

So he should be at a 100% for the midweek game and we will see how he goes i guess.

yeah what i put up wasnt necessarily what i think will happen it was just the team i would pick

Anyway mate. As they say forwards win games. And your 8 are identical to mine. But i will bet you any money Hibbard will start.

apparantly T.Youngs has got the 2 jersey, the Mail reckon theyve got an exclusive??????

Hope thats true. Tho to be fair. all the hookers have been below par.

Ben Youngs on the bench aswell???

is the team announced tomorrow?

Well today i think. but tomorrow for us mate. Ye i expected Ben Youngs to be out of the starting 15 and possibly not even on the bench. Sexton, as flat as he plays, won't like starting behind Mike Phillips. He needs quick service to play his game.

The Australians line-up as follows.

AUSTRALIA: Berrick Barnes (Waratahs); Israel Folau (Waratahs), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs), Christian Leali’ifano (Brumbies), Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds); James O’Connor (Melbourne Rebels), Will Genia (Queensland Reds); Benn Robinson (Waratahs), Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Ben Alexander (Brumbies); Kane Douglas (Waratahs), James Horwill (Queensland Reds, capt); Ben Mowen (Brumbies), Michael Hooper (Waratahs), Wycliff Palu (Waratahs).

Replacements: Saia Fainga’a (Queensland Reds), James Slipper (Queensland Reds), Sekope Kepu (Waratahs), Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds), Liam Gill (Queensland Reds), Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels), Pat McCabe (Brumbies), Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels).

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Robbie Deans is going to be fired so fast that his head will spin if he loses this series. Thus his bold selection of Justin Beiber as fly half. He's going to go down fighting. And i absolutely respect Robbie Deans for that decision. Cutting that waster and fool Cooper was the nail in his coffin. But outside Australia the rugby world applauded.

I only saw him once at FH but he played well Ding, so don't think he is a weak link. Folau is exciting too, I'm glad he has started. Would have him at fullback though, Barnes is pants. The leap he has is crazy.

Barns is awesome...... Rarely... hahaha

Robbie Deans. got to respect the man. He wants new Zealand Rugby from people who hate New Zealand rugby. But they hired a new zealander. So what the hell did they expect. I reckon his flag is already folded but he's going down with honour and picking the team he wants to pick.

If those boys go out and play with the same idea as he's got in his head. The lions are in for one hell of a battle. I feel this tour is going to end brilliantly. It's just been building so nicely. All deans needs are the boys to fight for his corner. On the other hand....it could be a wallaby BBQ if they don't

Is Folau the big lad that's been tearing up the S15 this year? I can't remember if it's him that caught my eye this season - I hope so the bloke I'm thinking of has been amazing.

Anyways my team:

Corbisiero
T. Youngs
Cole
Gray
POC
Croft
Heaslip
Warburton
Youngs
Sexton
Zebo
Tuilangi
BOD
North
Halfpenny

I love A. Jones but I'm biased about Cole and genuinely think his effort around the park is far better whilst his scrummaging is only marginally worse.

It also gives us the England frontrow that know each other well.

Corbs to start to try to utterly destroy the Aussie frontrow for 50-60 minutes in the scrum. His technique is a thing of beauty.

Then bring on Mako to thump them about. Second or third test you can start Mako but I think you need to lay a marker in the first test in the scrum. (I suppose you could argue therefore that A.Jones should start over Cole but I've justified that! )

AWJ had a great match but I still don't rate him. Grays got a brilliant work rate that I think will go well with POC - they looked good last time they played together earlier in the tour.

Other than that, I put Manu in but I wouldn't mind Davies he's been so good - I think the Aussie backs are so classy that they'll be able to cope with him and BOD where as Manu has destroyed some of the best back lines - he'll definitely make space for BOD.

Chris Leali'ifano is the man to watch for the aussies, been fantastic for the Brumbies in the S15

I was right about Corbs but wrong about Manu