Vuna replaces injured Tomane for Wallabies
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Former Newcastle Knight Cooper Vuna will become the latest league convert to make his Wallabies debut after a training injury ruled Joe Tomane out of Saturday night’s clash with Wales.
Fellow code-switcher Tomane was rushed to hospital for scans during Thursday afternoon’s training session after hurting his left ankle at Ballymore.
The scans revealed he had suffered a syndesmosis injury and is expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks.
It ends a miserable week for the tackle-busting Brumbies flyer who made his international debut in Tuesday’s shock 9-6 loss to Scotland.
Tomane, who switched codes after stints with Melbourne and Gold Coast in the NRL, had limited opportunities in the wet against the Scots but showed great pace to save a try and good signs of his potential.
“We thought he did very well in his first outing,” coach Robbie Deans said before Tomane’s injury struck.
“He made a lot of constructive contributions. He showed the capability he has in terms of speed and strength and evasiveness, and he’s accurate.
“We see a bright future for Joe.”
After struggling in defence in his debut season with the Melbourne Rebels last year, Vuna has been in strong try-scoring Super Rugby form and will join fellow New Zealand-born winger Digby Ioane in the backline.
Vuna, who will become the 860th player to represent the Wallabies, ran on the right wing with the starting side in training after Tomane’s injury.
The injury news follows a disappointing medical report for Western Force No.8 Ben McCalman who has been omitted from Australia’s squad as he will undergo shoulder surgery and is expected to miss at least the next two months of rugby, if not the rest of the season.
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The Crowd Says (30) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
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- Cooper Vuna, Joe Tomane, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
June 8th 2012 @ 9:04am
Harry said | June 8th 2012 @ 9:04am | Report comment
I wish Cooper Vuna all the best for his debut, he is an exciting runner and strong tackler (when he actually gets into the right position to make a tackle).
However IMO there is no way this guy is ready for test rugby and should be picked for the Wallabies. His positional, kicking and handling skills just aren’t good enough. He is poor off the ball – kick chase, clean/out at the ruck for example. He’s prone to giving away silly penalties and has precious little experience of playing high quality, tight hard international rugby.
Better alternatives among the available (i.e. fit) players … Shipperly, Morahan, Cummins, Gerrard, Mitchell (I know still returning from a bad injury but a proven performer).
June 8th 2012 @ 9:11am
Jutsie said | June 8th 2012 @ 9:11am | Report comment
I would have liked to have seen gerrard picked, maybe its my rebels supporter bias but I think he is just what is needed to combat the bombs sent down to our back 3 by priestland and co. His tactical kicking, kicking for touch and positioning is up there with the best in aus. He is a bit slow in his old age though.
Mitchell is as ready for test rugby as cooper meaning not at all. He has already had one set back by being rushed into the team he doesnt need another.
June 8th 2012 @ 9:26am
Harry said | June 8th 2012 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Fair enough on Mitchell. I too would have gone with Gerard, or Morahan.
June 8th 2012 @ 9:30am
Jutsie said | June 8th 2012 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Yeah they’d be my options too, or I’d put harris at FB and AAC on the wing, Harris may not be exceptional in attack but I think he will be solid and I have more faith in his goal kicking than barnes’
June 8th 2012 @ 1:54pm
Phil said | June 8th 2012 @ 1:54pm | Report comment
Yep or Foley at fullback with AAC on the wing. Agree with Gerrard comments, his kicking game is outstanding and would be great in a tight test match. Even Kingston ahead of Vuna. He’s a proper, hard working, fast winger. Or Jesse Mogg. Vuna doesn’t have a rugby brain.
June 8th 2012 @ 2:03pm
Jutsie said | June 8th 2012 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
I am surprised foley hasn’t had a look in. He certainly has the “x-factor” that has become the buzz word for aus coaches.
He would even be handy on the bench.
June 9th 2012 @ 11:56am
TembaVJ said | June 9th 2012 @ 11:56am | Report comment
Gerrard still has the x-factor, I wont think twice to put him in any of the back 3 spots. He brings what my father calls “surprise rugby” something he believes modern players lack. This combined with pin point kicking and high ball skills… why not, deans has had over 4 years for building depth, time to start winning.
June 8th 2012 @ 1:36pm
colvin said | June 8th 2012 @ 1:36pm | Report comment
Well whatever.
But Cooper Vuna scored an absolutely cracking try against the Hurricanes a few weeks ago. This fellow has the X-factor and if handled right could become a superstar WB.
June 8th 2012 @ 1:52pm
kingplaymaker said | June 8th 2012 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
colvin be careful it’s dangerous to say the truth on here sometimes.
June 8th 2012 @ 1:56pm
Phil said | June 8th 2012 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
I bet you were a Wendell Sailor fan too!
June 8th 2012 @ 1:56pm
Riccardo said | June 8th 2012 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
That’s fair Colvin. It was a nice finish.
I’d be interested in your assessment of his game from then on in that same match, though.
June 8th 2012 @ 1:57pm
Red Kev said | June 8th 2012 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
I seem to recall he also let in an absolutely soft try as well.
June 8th 2012 @ 2:01pm
Jutsie said | June 8th 2012 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
He does have x-factor, your right. And he seems like a top bloke, definitely a fan favourite at the rebels.
But he needs alot of work before his ready for test rugby, maybe deans and co can provide him with the tutelage but still he shouldnt be thrown into the deep end against monsters like north and cuthbert.
June 9th 2012 @ 11:37am
Kuruki said | June 9th 2012 @ 11:37am | Report comment
Before superstar status can be achieved first you must nail basic skill-set level 1.
June 8th 2012 @ 9:09am
Riccardo said | June 8th 2012 @ 9:09am | Report comment
Did you see Vuna against the Hurricanes?
Because there is your answer. He struggles even at Super level.
This is an uninspired selection and one that makes you fear for the future of Wallaby Rugby.
June 8th 2012 @ 10:21am
Morgan said | June 8th 2012 @ 10:21am | Report comment
A very poor decision when so many other viable and more experienced options exist. Drew Mitchell would be my bet. He only touched the ball once or twice in the Waratahs match last weekend, but on one occasion he made that customary tear right up the middle. Surround him with some good players and put him in a gold jersey and he’d be fine. Otherwise, I agree with the other combinations suggested herein. All better than Vuna. He may score a try but he’ll cost as a couple.
June 8th 2012 @ 9:13am
kingplaymaker said | June 8th 2012 @ 9:13am | Report comment
Harry the reason Vuna is selected I think is that Beale, JOC, Cooper and Tomane are injured, by which I mean all the serious attacking firepower in the Wallabies backline is missing and so the best attacking prospect around must make try to make it up. Aside from Ioane and Barnes, the rest of the backline is average in attack. Vuna’s defence isn’t good but having someone who can break the line may be the most important thing now.
The Hurricanes by the way have a better attacking backline than Wales by the way, who have no one to compare with players like Andre Taylor, Cory Jane, Barritt, Savea, even Conrad Smith.
June 8th 2012 @ 9:24am
Harry said | June 8th 2012 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Think you are underestimating the Welsh backline a bit there KPM.
SuperRugby aint Test rugby.
June 8th 2012 @ 9:30am
Jutsie said | June 8th 2012 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Your optimism is to be commended KPM.
June 8th 2012 @ 10:47am
Riccardo said | June 8th 2012 @ 10:47am | Report comment
“…even Conrad Smith…”?
You see where I might be going with this regarding your least favourite All Black after Guilford?
June 8th 2012 @ 11:30am
kingplaymaker said | June 8th 2012 @ 11:30am | Report comment
Riccardo thinking about it 5 out of 7 Hurricanes backs would be starting for the Wallabies this saturday! (Genia and Ioane staying probably with Ioane moving to centre).
June 8th 2012 @ 9:33am
kingplaymaker said | June 8th 2012 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Harry the Welsh backline is large and can blast holes, especially on the wings. However, it no longer has the subtle attacking abilities it did in the days of Shane Williams, Gavin Henson, James Hook. Those players offered more than the blitzing of North and without them it has seemed unimaginative and unpenetrating.
June 8th 2012 @ 9:40am
Ben S said | June 8th 2012 @ 9:40am | Report comment
Only North and Cuthbert are large, and they’re wingers. Hook and Henson aren’t wingers.
June 8th 2012 @ 10:01am
Harry said | June 8th 2012 @ 10:01am | Report comment
I very much hope it works out better, but the last time Robbie Deans thrust an ex Newcastle league player who was a good runner into the Wallabies, when he clearly wasn’t ready, was Timana Tahu v Spingboks in 2008 or 2009. Need I remind you all how that worked out.
As an aside, I always thought it was a shame that Tahu didn’t stay in Union as his last few games for the Tahs (in 2009 from memory) were far and away his best games in union – by then he had learnt a bit about positioning and game sense. Skills and experience Cooper Vuna currently doesn’t have.
June 8th 2012 @ 12:13pm
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | June 8th 2012 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
Can’t really compare the two. Tahu’s Bok outting was at altitude and the Boks exposed his lack of positional play. Sadly he demonstrated he was a mentally fragile character on and off the field. I still thought it was a tough initiation from Deans though.
Vuna in Brisbane should go well. Besides he looks and sounds like he is really enjoying his Rugby, whereas Tahu never did.
June 8th 2012 @ 1:51pm
kingplaymaker said | June 8th 2012 @ 1:51pm | Report comment
One difference is that Tahu had played only an injury-ravaged shorter Super rugby season while Vuna although sometimes injured has played two both of which were longer. Inside centre is also a far harder position to defend than wing.
June 8th 2012 @ 2:00pm
Phil said | June 8th 2012 @ 2:00pm | Report comment
He played outside centre not inside.
June 8th 2012 @ 3:21pm
Phil said | June 8th 2012 @ 3:21pm | Report comment
I stand corrected he was at 12 against Springboks.
But I don’t think 12 is harder than the wing, just different. It takes a lot of skill and knowledge of your position and of the game to defend well on the wing. At 12 you don’t have to think about coming up or staying back or positioning yourself for kicks and you are often defending critical plays when at high speed or defending an overlap.
June 8th 2012 @ 10:10am
kingplaymaker said | June 8th 2012 @ 10:10am | Report comment
Harry that’s true: we’ll have to hope his attack makes up for his defense.
June 8th 2012 @ 5:39pm
sittingbison said | June 8th 2012 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
KPM lets hope he gets to attack with Horne and McCabe inside him