JOC’s no-show gives Faingaa his chance
By Jim Morton, 23 Aug 2011
- Tagged:
- Anthony Faingaa, James OConnor, Rugby Union, Rugby World Cup, wallabies
James O’Connor’s unforgiven blunder has handed tough-tackling centre Anthony Faingaa his big Rugby World Cup audition in Saturday night’s Tri-Nations decider against the All Blacks in Brisbane.
O’Connor was on Monday night suspended until August 28 for failing to attend last week’s Rugby World Cup squad announcement and team photo, the ban also ruling the goalkicking winger out of the Australian Barbarians’ clash with Canada on the Gold Coast on Friday night.
A repentant O’Connor was also slugged with a $10,000 suspended fine.
His axing sparked a backline reshuffle to be announced on Tuesday and it appears Faingaa will be the big beneficiary with a promotion to outside centre and Adam Ashley-Cooper shifting to O’Connor’s right wing.
That’s where they lined up before the media were shut out of a Ballymore training session where O’Connor was running with Barbarians players.
Even before the Australian Rugby Union was to bring down its judgment on O’Connor, coach Robbie Deans seemed to have his mind made up.
Speaking on Monday morning, seasoned hooker Stephen Moore admitted a one-match ban would hurt the Wallabies’ prospects of ending a 10-year Tri Nations drought.
“We’d love to have James playing on the weekend,” Moore said. “He’s an important part of our team, that’s for sure, on the field. You’d rather have him on the field than not.”
Alas, the 21-year-old is out and Faingaa looks in, with the Queensland midfielder and defensive linchpin having already put himself on the verge of a cherished start with an excellent cameo off the bench in the 14-9 defeat of South Africa in Durban on August 13.
A strong display, cutting down the world’s best centre-pairing of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith with his trademark low tackles, would put the 24-year-old in calculations for a start in the World Cup opener against Italy on September 11.
Faingaa played at both inside and outside centre during the Reds’ Super Rugby-winning campaign but Deans looks set to leave Pat McCabe at No.12 against the All Blacks.
The versatile Ashley-Cooper has been a Mr Fix-It since he made his Test debut in 2005 when Eddie Jones pulled him out of the Subiaco Oval crowd to replace a dazed Elton Flatley.
His utility value, and proven big-match ability on the wing, has saved Deans an awkward call to bring in World Cup omission Lachie Turner as a specialist finisher.
Ashley-Cooper was out of sorts in a variety of positions for the battling Brumbies this year but has enjoyed his return to the Wallabies at No.13.
However he admitted there was a lot riding on Saturday night’s clash for him, with the World Cup just a fortnight away and specialist outside centre Rob Horne making his comeback for the Barbarians.
“It’s important for me this week as history’s shown selection is never guaranteed, so it’s a very important game for me leading into a World Cup,” said Ashley-Cooper, who has a knack of scoring tries against New Zealand.
“The squad has been boosted by a few returning from injury and Rob Horne is an excellent outside centre so he’s certainly going to push the boundaries there.”
Ashley-Cooper and McCabe were overwhelmed by Nonu and Smith in the 30-14 defeat in Auckland this month and the 55-Test utility back warned of the All Blacks midfield, particularly with Sonny-Bill Williams expected to be on the bench.
“You certainly have to be on your game defensively to shut the likes of them down,” he said. “They’re dangerous no matter what.
“We have to be at our best to compete with the best.”
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
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- Explore:
- Anthony Faingaa, James OConnor, Rugby Union, Rugby World Cup, wallabies
August 23rd 2011 @ 7:23am
formeropenside said | August 23rd 2011 @ 7:23am | Report comment
Shame that Faingaa gets his chance like this, but he should have had a first shot at 12 or 13 over McCabe in any event.
August 23rd 2011 @ 7:51am
Geoff Brisbane said | August 23rd 2011 @ 7:51am | Report comment
I thought JOC was a local legend probably in his own mind anyway. Not like there is a lot of other cattle to choose from I guess
August 23rd 2011 @ 11:12am
Short-Blind said | August 23rd 2011 @ 11:12am | Report comment
No Geoff Rugby is a minor game in Australia so cattle are thin. I just don’t get kiwis continual bagging of our depth – its a Joe Obvious point resulting from the sports popularity in this country and lack of lower competitions like the ARC was. Kiwis should just be glad that AFL and NRL dominate in this country because if they didn’t, the major crutch of the kiwi nation would be threatened a lot more frequently.
August 23rd 2011 @ 11:20am
Geoff Brisbane said | August 23rd 2011 @ 11:20am | Report comment
Short-Blind AFL and NRL are great sports in their own right, can’t see the lack of cattle only as a result of this. Do agree the need for a similar ITM or Currie Cup comp would improve the cattle immensely. So why hasn’t it happened???
August 23rd 2011 @ 1:50pm
soapit said | August 23rd 2011 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
August 23rd 2011 @ 8:25am
IanJt said | August 23rd 2011 @ 8:25am | Report comment
Perhaps JOC should consider playing rugby league with Lote.
August 23rd 2011 @ 8:45am
reds fan said | August 23rd 2011 @ 8:45am | Report comment
This is going to cause headaches for Deans. Faingaa is much improved this year and will do very well at 13.
August 23rd 2011 @ 11:32am
RedsNut said | August 23rd 2011 @ 11:32am | Report comment
He will, if McCabe actually passes the ball instead of dying with it in an isolated position
August 23rd 2011 @ 9:10am
jacko said | August 23rd 2011 @ 9:10am | Report comment
I’m sure if any of us had been selected none of us would have missed the photo and RWC squad announcement. JOC – you goose – you missed the experience of lifetime that none of us will ever get to participate in.
I think Faingaa might just be the man for the job in this test to keep a pretty lethal centre pairing in check. Defence is what’s needed on Saturday night and there’s still plenty of flair about though out the backs. I reckon Faingaa will do a great job.
August 23rd 2011 @ 12:50pm
joeb said | August 23rd 2011 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
“I’m sure if any of us had been selected none of us would have missed the photo and RWC squad announcement. JOC – you goose – …”
Right on.
Good on the ARU for their decisive action.
August 23rd 2011 @ 9:16am
snowman said | August 23rd 2011 @ 9:16am | Report comment
If Faingaa plays well, maybe JOC should be kept on the bench with a total alcohol ban to back it up, if he drinks he is gone – it is becoming clear that stars are going to his head. That goes for anyone else implicated in the Paris incident – no grog, it is clear they can’t handle it.
August 23rd 2011 @ 10:22am
sph45 said | August 23rd 2011 @ 10:22am | Report comment
I think Faingaa is a fantastic player and deserves to be in the run on side. My only concern is his rush up defense, which can be an asset and a liability. When it works it is outstanding and game changing (e.g. his tackle on J.P. Pietersen last week). When it doesn’t it is an opportunity to score tries (vs NZ last year – was it TriNations 2?). It’s a fine line – but a year on Faingaa is a much more mature player. Should be a fantastic battle in the centres.
August 23rd 2011 @ 10:36am
Emuarse said | August 23rd 2011 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Any idea as to who goes onto the bench replacing Ant there?
August 23rd 2011 @ 10:38am
sixo_clock said | August 23rd 2011 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Agree with the sacking, perhaps it could have been even stronger. JOC does seem to place his own interests above the teams which is the exact opposite of what Rugby demands. The Rebels do not need another Cipriani!
Another worrying development is Stephen Moore’s defence of him. It stinks of the ‘player power’ that infected the Brumbies and trashed a good coaches career along with the teams S15 chances. Maybe he should be given an opportunity to explain himself to a couple of hard heads and get to the root of his thoughts. Discipline is vital and if a player lets down his team individuals have to be strong enough to concur with the outcome of the disciplinary process no matter what side they are on. Stephen is looking quite wimpy in my view and he could be the next casualty, just give him enough rope and watch.
August 23rd 2011 @ 10:55am
Bring Back Rucking said | August 23rd 2011 @ 10:55am | Report comment
JOC is but one man ( almost a man)
time to move on …you do the crime you do the time.
It could actually be a blessing, AAC on to wing and A. Fainigaa to centre
Bring Barnes into reserves
I think the whole thing has a good balance and a chance for AAC to redeem some average performances with a little more space????