Who will be the Wallabies’ centres?
Roar Rookie By fortheloveofsports, 24 May 2012 fortheloveofsports is a Roar Rookie
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- Australia rugby, Berrick Barnes, Conrad Smith, James OConnor, Ma'a Nonu, robbie deans, Rugby Union, Sonny Bill Williams, wallabies
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Australia's Berrick Barnes (C) attacks the The United States defense (EPA/KIM LUDBROOK)
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So far this season, the Australian Super Rugby backlines have been somewhat mediocre. With that in mind, who will be the Wallabies’ centre pairing when the side is selected?
One of the main reasons the Wallabies were not able to win the World Cup, and have not been able to win back the Bledisloe for over a decade is due to their lack of a solid centre combination.
For years we have seen the likes of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith for the All Blacks. Nonu has always found it easy to get over the gain line and Smith has had arguably the best defensive organisation in the world.
Now with Sonny Bill-Williams in the equation, the All Blacks have even further depth in the centre role.
South Africa have always been known for their size and speed in the centres, with guys like Jacque Fourie and Jean de Villiers giving the Springbok attack not only threats to beat you on the outside, but also the ability to run over the top of you.
What about the Wallabies? Robbie Deans has attempted to provide that needed grunt in the centres with the inclusion of Pat McCabe, with his hard and straight running lines. However, McCabe has been reasonably quiet this season.
James O’Connor is best suited at inside centre, where he can play the role of both a play maker and a ball runner. But his injury means that someone else must step up.
Rob Horne, Berrick Barnes and all the other Waratahs inside backs have been the most disappointing this season, due to the team’s poor form.
But I believe that Adam Ashley-Cooper is still a likely candidate for the outside centre position, as although he hasn’t been in the best form in Super Rugby, he has the uncanny ability to step up, and produce outstanding performances at test match level.
So for me, he would be my pick for outside.
However Anthony Fainga’a must also be considered, as his thundering defence was one of the key factors for the Reds resurgence this season.
Although he still needs work in attack, I would have him on the bench as an impact player to provide some physicality in defence when needed.
As for inside centre, the number of players available for this position is a very worrying sign.
Berrick Barnes has not played to his full potential this season, and is much better at number ten than inside.
Pat McCabe is the likely choice for coach Robbie Deans however another option for the Wallabies is Mike Harris.
Although born in New Zealand, Mike Harris has an Australian born Grandmother and is therefore eligible to play for Australia.
With James O’Connor out, and Pat McCabe being out of form, I believe it would be a good opportunity to give Harris a go, and see what he is capable of in test match rugby.
His solid kicking game, steady defence and good decision making in attack ensures that he could be able to play test match rugby, and play it well.
The centre combination is of the utmost importance for the Wallabies at the moment, as the upcoming matches against Wales could prove decisive in this area.
The Welsh centre pairing of Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies were one of the standouts during the World Cup, and their combination was one of their greatest weapons during the Six Nations victory.
May 24th 2012 @ 3:24am
bluerose said | May 24th 2012 @ 3:24am | Report comment
the most important positions in a team and we dont have anyone to select from apart from the probables and the possibles, injuries have robbed us from seeing CL and JOC, Barnes is out of form and still persists with the ridiculous kicking game, McCabe is courageous in defense but lacks creativity in attack, AAC is a victim of his own versatility, Rob Horne was never a test player, Faingaa like McCabe is courageous in defense but lacks creativity in attack, Mike Harris is undecided about his role in the team, we are seeing some flashes of brilliance but nothing too spectacular, Tapuai is unfortunate to be injured, i gonna leave the selection for Deans and his team because i have no idea who to pick, not too many choices, whoever is picked Good Luck
May 24th 2012 @ 6:57am
Hoy said | May 24th 2012 @ 6:57am | Report comment
Just a thought, but people think Jamie Roberts is one dimensional as well, look how good he is.
McCabe has improved his ball playing this year, and has settled into the Brumbies 12 role better this year than last. I think he is the one to have.
May 24th 2012 @ 10:28am
jameswm said | May 24th 2012 @ 10:28am | Report comment
With Leali’ifano, Tapuai and JOC all injured, McCabe is the only option at 12.
However from next year I think the backline we should be developing is
9. Genia
10. Cooper, we must keep him
11. Ioane
12. Leali’ifano
13. Tapuai
14. JOC
15. Beale
20. White
21. McCabe
22. Mitchell
Enough versatility there for a 5-2 bench split though.
May 24th 2012 @ 11:00am
Rhino said | May 24th 2012 @ 11:00am | Report comment
jameswm – I really like your backline and would love to see it on the field once the 12, 13 and 14 are all fit again. Give them a few years together and they’ll be great come RWC 2015.
By that stage though, young Chris F’Setau (spelling??) may be demanding a spot.
May 24th 2012 @ 12:19pm
jameswm said | May 24th 2012 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
And Kuridrani too. Excellent.
I think the forwards are pretty sorted for the next 3 years too. We need 1 or 2 of Pyle, Nevill, Jones, Douglas, STimani, Carter etc to really step up, and also one of Vaea, LTimani and Fotu to really step up in the next 12-18 months.
Props are better than I can remember, no.7 fantastic, two world class hookers with a few years left in them.
I think the players are there for us to be very good, are we good enough to bring them along.
May 24th 2012 @ 12:26pm
kingplaymaker said | May 24th 2012 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
‘are we good enough to bring them along.’ jameswm I think the question is whether that will happen before the Lions get here…
May 24th 2012 @ 12:39pm
PeterK said | May 24th 2012 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
Agree with this for next year except for Tapuai, for a future team I would look at developing Chris F’Setau at 13.
Genia
Cooper
Lealiifano
F’Setau
JoC
Beale
May 24th 2012 @ 12:43pm
Justin2 said | May 24th 2012 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
Dont rate Taps? I think if you have Cooper you dont need CL outside him.
May 24th 2012 @ 2:32pm
PeterK said | May 24th 2012 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
Taps is probably the best we have right now with Cummins close behind. However I think FSetau has more potential, ie Taps IMO at best would be a good test player, but FSetau at his best could be a very good test player (or better).
I would love to see him start against Brumbies and see how he goes there.
May 24th 2012 @ 2:41pm
Justin2 said | May 24th 2012 @ 2:41pm | Report comment
Sorry KPM, I mean PK – one half of footy and we are making judgements on an 18yr old?
Please… how many matches have you seen him play against adults exactly PK?
May 24th 2012 @ 2:53pm
PeterK said | May 24th 2012 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
Justin – I said potential. 1/2 of a game is enough for me to say give him more time starting so we can evaluate him properly.
I am NOT calling for him to make the team this year or even next year.
What I am saying lets develop him and potentially he COULD be very very good. I have seen enough of Taps to put him well behind the best centres in the world. Not close to Mortlock or Herbert form our recent better centres. Not close to Nonu, SBW etc.
May 24th 2012 @ 4:20am
kingplaymaker said | May 24th 2012 @ 4:20am | Report comment
‘But I believe that Adam Ashley-Cooper is still a likely candidate for the outside centre position, as although he hasn’t been in the best form in Super Rugby, he has the uncanny ability to step up, and produce outstanding performances at test match level. ‘
Very uncanny in that it has been invisible for the past two years! AAC is so past it he could belong to a previous era in rugby history.
Tapuai injured, Faiingaa doesn’t just need work in attack he needs his body re-engineered to be any good at it. He is out.
Harris and Horne no good in attack.
Mccabe ok, certainly a stop-gap.
JOC is too light, and would be crushed.
I would like to see Tomane play at 12 or 13. 100KG, fast, skilled, good in defence.
Chris Sautia will be worth watching too.
Kuridrani made quite an impact.
Whatever the solution the Wallabies need to think outside the box because their centres were appalling in attack last year, and probably lost them the RWC after the forwards.
Maybe Mccabe/Tomane would be an ok starting point.
May 24th 2012 @ 4:30am
Ben S said | May 24th 2012 @ 4:30am | Report comment
How many times did McCabe pass to AAC during the WC?
May 24th 2012 @ 7:32am
formeropenside said | May 24th 2012 @ 7:32am | Report comment
How many times did McCabe pass to anyone during the WC?
May 24th 2012 @ 7:43am
Ben S said | May 24th 2012 @ 7:43am | Report comment
That’s kind of my point. It strikes me as overly simplistic to lay blame on AAC when he is playing outside a dysfunctional 10-12 partnership, and when the 10 is unsure of what tactics the head coach is trying to implement.
May 24th 2012 @ 8:28am
Brendon said | May 24th 2012 @ 8:28am | Report comment
you could say the same about barnes at tah land…
May 24th 2012 @ 9:24am
Ben S said | May 24th 2012 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Agreed.
May 24th 2012 @ 8:54am
Shungmao said | May 24th 2012 @ 8:54am | Report comment
No idea but we need some…….
May 24th 2012 @ 9:07am
kingplaymaker said | May 24th 2012 @ 9:07am | Report comment
Shungmao it’s suprising that Australia has produced almost no centres recently, but then that applies to other backline positions. JOC and Beale are really 10s playing out of position. So Australia has only produced one wing, no centres or full-back, in the last four years.
As I say Deans will have to look in the most remote corners to find talent to fill the nightmare problem centre positions.
May 24th 2012 @ 9:13am
Shungmao said | May 24th 2012 @ 9:13am | Report comment
Maybe left field but play tomane at 12 & Horne at 13. But they will go McCabe and Horne
May 24th 2012 @ 9:33am
kingplaymaker said | May 24th 2012 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Shungmao that’s not so left field when considering that Deans put an outside back in Mccabe at 12 last year. I think it’s a very good idea.
Tomane 12 and Sautia 13 is left field!
May 24th 2012 @ 9:14am
Brett McKay said | May 24th 2012 @ 9:14am | Report comment
“McCabe has been reasonably quiet this season” What??
FTLOS, I’ll grant you McCabe had a quite night against the Hurricanes, but both sets of centres did. Up until then, and especially with Lealiifano at 10, McCabe’s been in very good form for the Brumbies this year. His limitations of last year have been replaced by an attacking game too.
That all said, who is picked in the centres largely depends on who is picked at flyhalf, in my opinion. If the concern is that Cooper’s not quite ready, or that Beale would be weakening a strength at 15 (which it would be), then Barnes almost certainly has to play 10. And that being the case, he will want a flat running 12 like McCabe or Ashley-Cooper. I’d argue that McCabe is in the better form of those two, and has shown more in attack this year than Ashley-Cooper. Ashley-Cooper would be well suited to 13, though, but then anyone of Ioane, Anthony Fainga’a, or maybe even Horne would be fine too..
We may even see two completely different contre combos in the Scotland-Wales Tests in the first week..
May 24th 2012 @ 9:35am
kingplaymaker said | May 24th 2012 @ 9:35am | Report comment
Brett AAC….come on…..it’s been two years since he lost his attacking mojo.
May 24th 2012 @ 10:23am
Brett McKay said | May 24th 2012 @ 10:23am | Report comment
Read what I wrote, KPM, I’ve named AAC for a particular role for a particular flyhalf, and even then suggested there is someone else better for that role anyway.
And regardless of how you see him, the Waratahs have looked better in attack (despite the Cape Town kickfest) with Barnes-AAC-Horne in midfield. Surely you’ve noticed that too..
May 24th 2012 @ 10:33am
kingplaymaker said | May 24th 2012 @ 10:33am | Report comment
‘better in attack’ it’s all relative. I don’t remember him doing anything at international level for the past two years.
I find it bizarre that someone as young as him suddenly lost his attacking prowess. It’s not so long ago I remember him running the ball back from 15 and bashing through much of the New Zealand team. But then around 27-28 it happened to Giteau, Sivivatu, Rokocoko, so maybe after several years at the top of the pro game it is tough for an outside back to keep the edge, or rather a player who relies greatly on speed.
May 24th 2012 @ 11:07am
Brett McKay said | May 24th 2012 @ 11:07am | Report comment
so do I, for what it’s worth, but you’re right it’s not uncommon around that age.
‘Better in attack’ isn’t relative at all, the Waratahs have literally been better in attack with the Barnes-AAC-Horne midfield.
Regardless, AAC has shown glimpses in the last month, and I’d certainly suggest he’s playing better now than this time last year. But last year is last year, I’m only worried about what we’re seeing now and this season..
May 24th 2012 @ 11:12am
Turnover said | May 24th 2012 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Everyone needs to move past AAC. He can’t just slot in and be expected to deliver. It doesn’t work. He was such a mess on the wing against Italy in the world cup. He should be picked in the centres for a full season next year and then if he is going well, bring him in.
I like JOC at 12. He needs more consistent game time there though and obviously he’s injured. McCabe is a great player and will do the job very well in the meantime.
Horne started the season poorly but he is getting better each week. I think he deserves first crack at 13 on the back of what seems like his first major injury free season.
12. McCabe
13. Horne
May 24th 2012 @ 9:17am
Sam said | May 24th 2012 @ 9:17am | Report comment
Mitch Inman has been top notch since moving from the Force to the Rebel. He’s defensively sound and fast for a big man. Great crash-ball exponent, he could come on from the bench and really smash things up.
May 24th 2012 @ 11:28am
Justin2 said | May 24th 2012 @ 11:28am | Report comment
Has potential Sam, I think he needs more experience in defence reads though. Often comes in and can be exposed on the outside.
May 24th 2012 @ 11:53am
Phil said | May 24th 2012 @ 11:53am | Report comment
I concur Justin. He seems a little enthusiastic where at test level the defence needs to maintain its structure. I’ve read some other comments further down the page about Kurtley and JOC being too light for modern 12. Inman wouldn’t have a problem in terms of size and strength. If he can learn a thing or two from Mortlock, he could be a player of the future.
May 24th 2012 @ 11:57am
Justin2 said | May 24th 2012 @ 11:57am | Report comment
Phil – plenty of people knocked the Rebels for getting Stirling but he provides so much for the young guys around him and is still a terrific footballer (if a little slow in the legs these days). Inmana will learn so much from him. Give him another 18 months or so.
May 24th 2012 @ 12:00pm
kingplaymaker said | May 24th 2012 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
Justin2 it doesn’t matter what Mortlock does as a player anyway: he’s obviously a superb and inspirational captain and is behind the Rebels turnaround rather than Cipriani departing. Mortlock returning was the key to the change.
May 24th 2012 @ 12:05pm
bmwwilliams said | May 24th 2012 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
hmmm – Inman was thoroughly outplayed against the Brumbies earlier this year, but then so was the rest of the team so perhaps that is unfair.
Give him some time and see how he goes.
May 24th 2012 @ 9:34am
JIM said | May 24th 2012 @ 9:34am | Report comment
the centres are only as good as the coach and the players around them, especially in the set piece. Australian coaches seem to have forgotten about the basics that they keep talking about. One of the best sights in rugby is a good set piece in attack, which takes good coaching, good ball skills and a bucketload of practice in combination to make it work. The slight of hand that is backline set piece play should be a reliable go to option whenever it is presented. But at last years World Cup it looked like they were making it up as they went along.
For the upcoming tests they need Faingaa to start. Why would you finish with a defensive expert? You start with solid defence (Faingaa creates a lot of pressure at the breakdown by getting the player off his feet quickly). Then late in the game, when the opposition are tiring you bring on player with broken field attacking capability.
May 24th 2012 @ 9:40am
kingplaymaker said | May 24th 2012 @ 9:40am | Report comment
Sorry JIM Faiingaa is the worst attacking player to play for Australia since…in fact I can’t think of a worse attacking player. He is a defensive stop-gap, nothing more, and should only be played in the absence of anyone else which sadly is not an improbable scenario.
May 24th 2012 @ 11:29am
Justin2 said | May 24th 2012 @ 11:29am | Report comment
Did you ever watch him play 12 outside Cooper KPM? If you did you wouldnt be saying that…
May 24th 2012 @ 11:59am
kingplaymaker said | May 24th 2012 @ 11:59am | Report comment
Justin2 yes I did. Sorry that’s just what I think, for all his virtues which include a dominating defensive presence, he is not an attacking player at international level.
That doesn’t mean I don’t think he should be selected in general as Australia have no one at all in the centres, an abyss of quality, so someone has to play.
May 24th 2012 @ 9:45am
AdamLudeke said | May 24th 2012 @ 9:45am | Report comment
The good news is that we have a bit of time to experiment.
The bad news is that not many of those names mentioned have been given a shot and either don’t seem up to it or are past it.
A crafty second play-maker at 12 combined with a big, fast 13 would be my preference. JOC seems the most likely of the current bunch therefore suited to 12… but depth at 13 is VERY thin.
Here’s hoping Chris F’Sautia is the man to step up. He’s young – but a prodigious talent.
May 24th 2012 @ 10:24am
Brendon said | May 24th 2012 @ 10:24am | Report comment
JOC cannot be 12. The worlds centres are getting bigger(nonu, sonny bill, roberts, devilliers etc). JOC is great with his footwork but is far more suited to wing. This allows him to attck and roam. If he is 12 then there is a massive hole defensively since he got easily run over by mccabe and he isnt by far the strongest attacking 12. I like mccabe at 12 this yr, especially since he has developed under jake white. I would look for a 13 or get someone like AAC into form(hopefully). Otherwise mccabe at 13 and tapuai or barnes at 12. This is defensively strong, and can still have hard running presence with mccabe.
May 24th 2012 @ 10:05am
kingplaymaker said | May 24th 2012 @ 10:05am | Report comment
AdamLudeke Tomane 12 Sautia 13 all the way! Though not straight away as they need to be slowly introduced. Genia, Cooper, Ioane, Tomane, Sautia, JOC, Beale.
As this thread is discussing Wallaby centres, can someone please explain why no one has ever suggested playing Barnes or JOC at 13? Why not?
May 24th 2012 @ 10:21am
Shungmao said | May 24th 2012 @ 10:21am | Report comment
Absolutely support JOC at 13, would need to work on his defensive reads though, as for berwick never really considered it to be honest, maybe a bit slow.
May 24th 2012 @ 10:35am
fortheloveofsports said | May 24th 2012 @ 10:35am | Report comment
Could definitely see Tomane in there, he has been outstanding this season. He has reminded me of lelia masanga or tim nani-williams with all his tackle busts. And as for Sautia, I played footy against him last year at schoolboy level, I don’t think he is quite ready to play with the Wallabies. Give him a few years.
May 24th 2012 @ 10:37am
kingplaymaker said | May 24th 2012 @ 10:37am | Report comment
fortheloveofsports anything you can tell us about Sautia then? And for that matter UJ Seuteni if you’re playing at schoolboy level? Best position, strengths etc…
May 24th 2012 @ 11:31am
Justin2 said | May 24th 2012 @ 11:31am | Report comment
Hang about what is going on here KPM? I thought you were the Sautia expert!!!
May 24th 2012 @ 11:45am
kingplaymaker said | May 24th 2012 @ 11:45am | Report comment
Justin2 not expert enough to have played against him-fortheloveofsports must know an awful lot.
May 24th 2012 @ 12:13pm
fortheloveofsports said | May 24th 2012 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
He’s super casual with the ball, nothing seems to phase him. He has the strength and power of a backrower, but he can burn you on the outside. A lot like a springbok centre. He also has really good hands and ball skills, he could play anywhere from 12-15.
May 24th 2012 @ 12:16pm
kingplaymaker said | May 24th 2012 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
Thanks fortheloveof he sounds like superman rather than anything else. Know anything about Seuteni who presumably plays the same QLD school circuit?
May 24th 2012 @ 2:27pm
fortheloveofsports said | May 24th 2012 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
Nah I don’t know of him sorry.