I'm not sure about the Sexton/Farrell axis being an option at all. Against the Crusaders they lined up with Sexton at 10 for defence but in the centre on attack and that's just a bit too mishmashed to be in Gatland's thinking going into a test. It pointed towards him wanting Farrell at 10 above all others. The Maori selection is hard to read as Farrell possibly had the niggle prior to selection so it wasn't a straight decision to pick Sexton over him. We could very well be reverting to what we expected with Farrell starting at 10 and Sexton on the bench and I have no real problem with that. And we're in a much better position now than we were 2 weeks ago knowing that a) Sexton can step in and perform and b) Sexton/Farrell does work if we need it to.

I wouldn't have wanted us to arrive at Teo/Davies before the tour and still have my problems with it but I can't see it being anyone else.

See the article Flametop posted. That was not the case at all. They alternated in attack, to good effect.

Well, all the gifs in the article are from phase play when you'd always expect a bit of alternation if you had two playmakers. I didn't look at how they set up for every setpiece but any of the ones I paid attention to had Farrell at 10 in attack and Sexton there in defence.

I haven't watched the game again but from memory Sexton stood at 10 more often than not. Your point about phaseplay doesn't really wash. If they wanted Farrell as the sole playmaker they would have sent Sexton on with those instructions and re-enforced those instructions at half-time. They may not go for and certainly they seem reticent but I think you're wrong to say that they're not even considering it.

He's got to have a line-up surprise or 2 up his sleeve

not Toby at 6?
1/2p on the wing with Sanjay at FB?

AWJ starting, Warburton starting, North starting.

They're are my 'surprise' selections.

He's got to have a line-up surprise or 2 up his sleeve

not Toby at 6?
1/2p on the wing with Sanjay at FB?

AWJ starting, Warburton starting, North starting.

They're are my 'surprise' selections.

Davies also. An oldie but a goodie.

Only North will start and that's only 'cos his competition hasn't stepped up

If Gat's picks Warburton and AWJ to start in the test then he's properly taking the piss.

At this stage Hendo and Lawes aren't going to feature on the bench (they wouldn't have played 80 today) so in that scenario I'd actually prefer AWJ to start so we had some impact and energy in the final 30. I'd have preferred one of the other two to bench for Kruis and Itoje though.

Warburton will probably bench at this stage, I reckon but actually it's much of a muchness whether he benches for POM or vice versa. Both have their pros and cons.

You either start Kruis or he's out of the squad altogether imo

How will Faz (or Sexton) cope with not being picked to start?
Faz has had a few key mistakes but has played his usual standard.
Sexton started badly even before NZ but had played himself back into form.
Sexton playing well is a far better player than Faz playing well.

It's going to be interesting.