What to do with Adam Ashley-Cooper?

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By Armchair-critic, 3 Nov 2009 Armchair-critic is a Roar Rookie

Tagged:: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Grand slam, Rugby Union, wallabies

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Australian rugby union backs Quade Cooper, Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O'Connor, Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell remove the tape they used to prepare themselves to take on the forwards during a practice session in Sydney on Thursday, July 23, 2009. The Wallabies next match will be against South Africa in Cape Town on August 8. AAP Image/Paul Miller

The 2009 international season has seen the coming of age for Adam Ashley-Cooper. His form has been such that he is undoubtedly the Wallabies’ best back at present.

However, throughout the season, we have seen him in a range of different positions. The number that AAC has on his back has been largely determined by the availability of other members of the squad.

So today I want to discuss where Ashley-Cooper’s best position is.

The fact that AAC has been shifted around this year is largely due to injuries. He started the year in competition for the 15 spot with James O’Connor but quickly proved he was the better choice for fullback.

Then came the injury to Stirling Mortlock in South Africa.

This meant a re-shuffle in the backline, which resulted in AAC being in the No.12 jersey inside Ryan Cross for the match in Perth. In my opinion, this game was Ashley-Cooper’s least effective of the year and seemed to show that he is not a No.12.

However, when he was again placed there for the match in Tokyo, AAC pulled out a sublime performance in a clearly beaten team.

For the latter part of the Tri-Nations AAC was wearing the No.13 jersey and he played particularly well for the Wallabies. So much so that serious questions were being asked around whether or not a fit Stirling Mortlock was good enough to regain his place.

Now to decide which is his best position.

While he had a good game in Tokyo, I believe AAC is not an inside-centre. He doesn’t quite have the kicking and distribution skills needed in such a position.

So it leaves us with centre and fullback.

I personally believe that Australia needs him at 15 rather than 13 but that’s not to say this is his better position. However, it remains to be seen whether Mortlock can recapture some form so perhaps AAC will be needed in the midfield in the near future.

For this tour, Ashley-Cooper’s place in the side is again determined by the number of injuries within the squad.

One would think that Ryan Cross has again played him self out of the side after the weekend’s performance so it leaves us searching for a centre until Mortlock returns for the Ireland match.

There is also the issue of finding a suitable replacement for Barnes at 12.

I think O’Connor has shown that he is not able to perform to his potential when played at fullback so either needs to be benched, or played in his best position at 12. This also leaves a hole at fullback and I would not be playing Turner or Mitchell there.

They, like O’Connor, are too frail as a last line of defence.

Consequently I would put AAC at fullback and leave him there for the rest of the tour. Although he is arguably our best 13, the lack of a suitable replacement at 15 means that he is our best option. Perhaps if Cameron Shephard returns from injury next year and is able to regain his form then he could be an option.

But until then, AAC is my 15.

Finding a midfield replacement is a bit more difficult. If anyone, particularly Tyrone Smith, is able to demand selection through their midweek performance then this could solve the problem.

Otherwise I would be tempted to move Ioane into centre and have O’Connor or Quade Cooper combining with Giteau as the 10/12 combination. This then leaves a wing spot open for Turner, Mitchell or possibly O’Connor if Cooper is preferred at 10/12.

Either way, it is inevitable that there will be a weak link amongst the backline due to the injuries which have hit the midfield.

Let’s just hope that the rest of the backs follow Adam Ashley-Cooper’s lead and start to find some form.

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The Crowd Says (78) | Page 1 of Comments

Frank O'Keeffe said | November 3rd 2009 @ 3:15am | Report comment

I think 15 is the position from which he can help the Wallabies the most on this Grand Slam tour. I guartentee you the English will be sending some high balls down the field, and the Wallabies will need someone who is absolutely rock solid.

I agree Ashley-Cooper is a much improved player this year. I’d probably rate Berrick Barnes the best Wallabies back, but Ashley-Cooper is up there. He shows tremendous commitment and guts, and as someone who’s criticised him in the past and wanted Ryan Cross at 13, I’m happy to put my hand up and say I got it wrong. However, despite Ashley-Cooper probably being the better outside centre than Cross, I think he can do the most for the Wallabies at 15.

As for 13 and 12? Well the Wallabies backline has been an unsolvable puzzle since Gregan and Larkham retired. Suddenly Australians felt Giteau should be at 10, and there was a hole at 12. Things looked good in Sydney last year when Barnes was Australia’s best back, and playing well from 12. There didn’t seem to be a problem at fullback with Cameron Shepherd either. But then Barnes got injured and that screwed up the Wallabies campaign. I actually think the Wallabies could have won the tri nations last year had Barnes remained fit.

From there Mortlock moved to 12 in South Africa and Ashley-Cooper came in at 13. Mortlock is not and never will be a Test inside centre. It seemed too restrictive a position for a player whose power running is the best feature of his game. Ashley-Cooper went to fullback in the Test when Australia got pumped and performed poorly.

This year O’Connor has perhaps had too much asked of him at fullback. Mortlock seems to be slowing down – especially in one Super 14 game in South Africa against I forget who.

It’s just a confusing puzzle. All of it. I don’t know what backline combinations will work for the Wallabies.

This isn’t getting started on the forwards.

Reply
ozxile said | November 3rd 2009 @ 3:18am | Report comment

If we must use AAC at fullback I would like to see the following lineup in some game – any game will do.
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. O’Connor
12. Giteau
13. Ioane
14. Hines
15. AAC

Reply
- Hoy said | November 3rd 2009 @ 8:30am | Report comment
  
  I like this one. While Cooper isn’t a great defender, he puts his body behind it at least, and has a go.
  
  I can’t see this happening sadly. Giteau will now remain at 10 for the tour, which sucks, as he wasn’t a good 10 before, and now that Barnes is injured he still isn’t a good 10.
  
  Reply
- Justin said | November 3rd 2009 @ 8:34am | Report comment
  
  With Barnes gone Gits will play 10 (wrongly yes, but thats where he will play unless we are -03). SO Gits at 10 and JOC at 12 for me.
  
  Reply
mcxd said | November 3rd 2009 @ 5:52am | Report comment

Excuse my ignorance, i didnt get to see many Brumbies games this year but where did AAC play most of his games for them ? I believe Gerrard was fullback and did a good job for them but i may be wrong. So where was AAC ?

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- Robbo said | November 3rd 2009 @ 7:03am | Report comment
  
  Gerrad was 15, although it was AAC for the last 4 matches when Gerrard was injured.
  
  I would expect Ashley Cooper to be the Brumbies fullback again next year (unless Julian Huxley is cleared to play, in which case AAC will probably move to wing).
  
  Reply
  - exile said | November 3rd 2009 @ 7:40am | Report comment
    
    I don’t think Huxley will play. I believe Lealifano is more likely to be the regular Brumbies fullback in 2010.
    
    Reply
    - Justin said | November 3rd 2009 @ 7:44am | Report comment
      
      Is that an inside word Exile? Would make sense and he may have more of a future there. He can run and is skillful, know how to find the tryline. His kicking under pressure needs work but with time he hasnt a bad boot.
      
      Reply
      - exile said | November 3rd 2009 @ 10:15am | Report comment
        
        Not an inside word – I think there have been comments on blogs to that effect, which may have been
        more informed than I am. If you look at his kicking style last season I think he must have been taking kicking
        lessons from Gerrard – he was starting to cultivate the low, long touchfinderwith a bit of a “round the
        corner” action
        
        Reply
        
        IronAwe said | November 3rd 2009 @ 8:13pm | Report comment
        
        Huxley has always been good at those kicks, even at schoolboy level he was known for low long touch-finders. I think he struggled to find the confidence to play his natural game at super 14, hopefully he can come back. Would be very inspirational to the team.
    - Robbo said | November 3rd 2009 @ 7:57am | Report comment
      
      That actually seems pretty likely:
      
      In that case my expected Brumby backline would be:
      9. Valentine
      10. Giteau
      11. Fanifo
      12. Smith
      13. Mortlock
      14. Ashley-Cooper
      15. Lealiifano
      
      Thanks for pointing out Lealiifano – I hadn’t really thought about where he would go.
      
      Reply
exile said | November 3rd 2009 @ 6:40am | Report comment

Gerrad was first-choice fullback for the Brumbies. AAC played on the wing or at 13 in Mortlock’s absence. He is not a 12 or a more than adequate 15.

If the Wallabies had a regular fullback available the rest of the positions would resolve themselves pretty easily.

Reply
Armchair-critic said | November 3rd 2009 @ 7:50am | Report comment

I was a bit rushed in preparing this so failed to get my message across.

I think the Wallabies need AAC at 15 more than any other position at the moment.

In Mortlock and Ioane we have 2 centres who are of similar ability to him but the same can’t be said for fullback. He is our best option there.

Perhaps when Shephard returns next year the situation can be reconsidered and AAC could make a push to replace Mortlock, but at the moment his position should be 15.

Reply
Dean Pantio said | November 3rd 2009 @ 7:58am | Report comment

His best position is centre. Playing people out of position is a recipe for disaster – something Deans has experience in.

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- Robbo said | November 3rd 2009 @ 8:17am | Report comment
  
  His best position is wing.
  
  Reply
- Justin said | November 3rd 2009 @ 8:30am | Report comment
  
  Agreed he is a 13.
  
  Reply
Terry Kidd said | November 3rd 2009 @ 8:50am | Report comment

I agree with Dean P. Why are we even contemplating playing more people out of position? Hynes and Ione are wings. Leave them there. What is wrong with playing Giteau and Cooper at 10/12, interchanging as was expected with Giteau/Barnes? ACC is a 13 and the only other person who should even be contemplated at 13 is Mortlock when he is fit. In the meantime, we have to find a 15 to cover for at least one test. The likely candidates are Turner, Mitchell or Beale.

Therefore the backline should look something like this:

15 – Beale/Turner/Mitchell
14 – Hynes
13 – ACC
12 – Cooper
11 – Ione
10 – Giteau
9 – Genia

Bench – Burgess, Turner/Mitchell/Beale

I accept that there must be a weakness somewhere due to the injuries but that is no excuse for playing people out of position where you simply compound the problem. As much stability as is possible must be the first thought of the selectors to give any new selections the best possible chance of success on field.

Reply
- Armchair-critic said | November 3rd 2009 @ 8:58am | Report comment
  
  Having Beale, Turner or Mitchell at fullback is definitely NOT going to provide stability. Those 3 and JOC are not safe enough in defence or under the high ball.
  
  I would much rather shift Ioane to centre (where he successfully played all year for the Reds) and have one of the softies on the wing with AAC at 15.
  
  Or put Tyrone Smith in at 13… Against Jonny Wilkinson we cannot afford to have a weak link at fullback which is why i would go with AAC
  
  Reply
- Conor said | November 3rd 2009 @ 11:02am | Report comment
  
  I disagree,
  Ashley-Cooper is a utility back, he’s had his best games at 13 but is still the best option for fullback, as we have no other decernt options there, as opposed to 13 where we do have good, (or at least better) options
  
  You suggest we shouldnt play people out of position and then recommend two wings and a flyhalf for full back as well, when ashley-cooper has had more or just as much experience playing fullback. Also Ioane showed during the S14 that he is more than capable playing 13, although S14 form isnt the same as a wallabies, i would be willing to back him, as he was the most destructive (aus) back this season.
  
  But, that is still a good back lline you suggested and i agree with giving Q.Cooper a run at 10/12. Hes showed he can be electric in a decent team (which obviously doesnt include the reds, sigh). I would probably like ioane at 13, and ashcoop to 15.
  
  Reply
Rah Rah Rasputin said | November 3rd 2009 @ 9:08am | Report comment

Right now he is our best 13 and 15.

Stephen Hoiles said on Foxsports after the game that he think AAC plays his best rugby at 15, which I tend to agree with.

I think the outside centre position is a hard graft and requires alot of grunt work up the middle, both in defense and attack, especially when you consider that he would have giteau and barnes inside him. This is the role mortlock has done for years.

I just think it is a waste of such a brilliant and well balanced runner.

It is the lack of credible alternative that will see AAC remain in the centres. As well as the fact that Giteau is reluctant to give up his precious no 10 jersey (if he wasn’t happy giving it up for Berrick, imagine the tanty he’ll have if he has to play outside Quade) and that while the selectors think 12 is JOC best position, he is not big enough to carry the defensive load.

I would actually like to see Tyrone Smith and AAC team up in the centres for the rest of the tour. He is far more dynamic then Cross, excellant runner in traffic and can give a pass to the outside man. Given his pedegree, I don’t think he would be out of his depth at test level.

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- Bay35Pablo said | November 3rd 2009 @ 9:28am | Report comment
  
  Play Gits at 10 and Cooper at 12 as a 2nd 5/8. When they interchange, Cooper will outperform Giteau, and Deans can then point to the replays and tell Gits he’s 12 for the next game.
  
  Reply
Terry Kidd said | November 3rd 2009 @ 9:08am | Report comment

Ok Armchair, thats your opinion. My opinion is that continually swapping players from position to position has not produced any results so far in 2009. We have continually complained that their is no cohesion or understanding in the back line. I do not believe in playing players out of position.

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- Armchair-critic said | November 3rd 2009 @ 9:16am | Report comment
  
  I agree with you on that which is why i want to see AAC put at fullback and left there. Beale, Turner, Mitchell, JOC are not fullbacks.
  
  However we do have replacement 13s which are actually 13s.
  
  I dont know the stats but from what ive seen AAC has played more first class rugby at 15 than centre
  
  Reply
  - exile said | November 3rd 2009 @ 11:12am | Report comment
    
    He has played more at 15 than at 13 due to the presence at the Brumbies of one S Mortlock.
    
    I think he has probably played more at 14 than 15 however since Gerrard moved from wing to fullback. However he has allways been marked as the 13-in-waiting, and has played there when Mortlock has been injured, without any real loss to the back line.
    
    Reply
Rah Rah Rasputin said | November 3rd 2009 @ 9:18am | Report comment

I’ll also say that O’Connor has showed phenomenal improvement over the season. He has never let his mistakes or set backs get the better of him. I think he showed in Tokoyo that he has worked hard on his game since Wellington, contesting the high ball well and making an excellent tackle on Cory Jane in the last line of defence. That tackle in particular show the maturity in his game. He stood off, showed him the side line and drove in hard with the shoulder. Textbook, I thought.

For my money, I’d pick:

Genia
Giteau
Ashley-Cooper T.Smith

Ione Hynes

O’Connor

Res: Burgess, Cooper, Mitchell

Reply
- Armchair-critic said | November 3rd 2009 @ 9:23am | Report comment
  
  Yeh they could very well go for that.
  
  I’d be happy enough for this game.
  
  But if Tyrone Smith plays well i would like to see him kept in the midfield with Mortlock when he returns and AAC revert to fullnack with JOC to the bench. Would be a big ask of him to start every game on tour (Although i do agree he has shown good character to keep bouncing back and improving – i cant imagine how daunting it would be for an 18 yr old to be coming up against the ABs as the last line of defence)
  
  Reply