Who makes the cut in Wallabies backline?
Roar Pro By Keagan Ryan, 17 Jun 2012 Keagan Ryan is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Adam Ashley-Cooper, Digby Ioane, Rugby Union, wallabies
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Injuries to Wallaby stars’ Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale and James O’Connor has given Australian selectors a chance to experiment and trial new combinations ahead of the inaugural Rugby Championship.
Players like Berrick Barnes, Pat McCabe and Rob Horne have been handed greater responsibility against the Welsh with promising results.
McCabe and Horne have been thrust into a like-for-like centre pairing; both defensive, tackling machines with less flair than their backline counterparts.
Barnes on the other hand, has been able to orchestrate the backline magnificently during the Welsh series. Pinpoint passing mixed with the occasional ball carrying burst has enabled the Wallabies to continue producing attacking flair in the absence of their superstars.
Barnes’s kicking game has also been exceptional, making him a constant threat in attack.
The question remains, with a clean bill of health to choose from, what is the Wallabies best starting backline?
Halfback Will Genia is a certainty, although reserve Nick Phipps is proving a worthy understudy.
The fly half position is more contentious with Cooper, Barnes, Beale and O’Connor all more than capable of partnering Genia.
Based on current form Barnes deserves first crack given his strong performances against the Welsh. Cooper perhaps second in line, coming off the bench in the second half of matches to terrorize tiring opposition defences.
The centre combination does not need to be tinkered with just yet. McCabe and Horne have been impressive so far and deserve more time in the 12 and 13 respectively.
It is a toss between Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper for the fullback spot. Ashley-Cooper has been faultless so far in the Welsh series but his versatility warrants him a valuable asset on the bench. Ready to fill-in where he is needed, whether it is wing, centre or fullback.
Plenty of wingers to pick from but Digby Ioane and O’Connor get the nod here.
The selection analysis suggests backline depth is promising in Australian rugby and the debate will generate excitement ahead of an exhilarating Bledisloe series and the inaugural Rugby Championship featuring Argentina.
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- Adam Ashley-Cooper, Digby Ioane, Rugby Union, wallabies
June 17th 2012 @ 5:54am
Johnno said | June 17th 2012 @ 5:54am | Report comment
I would of liked Luke Burgess to stay he was the perfect back up and 2nd half replacement for Genia, and could easily slot in at no 9 to start if Genia is injured.
Joe Tomane too don’t forget. Big man on a dry track he is for me one winger with Ioane , and JOC or Beale I would push to fullback at AAC expense despite AAC showing better form this year.
But for me Ioane and Tomane are the top 2 wingers in Australia right now.
Tom kingston too should be looked at more as with Bernard foley and the big Fijian outside centre over the next year or too.
Adam smith the brumbies outside centre is a classy player too.
And Quade is behind Berrick unless he improves his kicking and tackling,.
June 17th 2012 @ 6:36am
Parisien said | June 17th 2012 @ 6:36am | Report comment
I liked Burgess too, great running game, and good defender, but he did have an erratic pass. He’ll hopefully return from France after a season or two with a stronger all round game.
June 17th 2012 @ 10:41am
Keagan Ryan said | June 17th 2012 @ 10:41am | Report comment
Tomane has without a doubt pushed ahead of Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner. First inline behind O’Connor and Ioane for mine
June 17th 2012 @ 6:32am
Parisien said | June 17th 2012 @ 6:32am | Report comment
The current backline works pretty well, except for Vuna. Quade has to prove he has recovered from the WRC physically and mentally and that he can tackle before he comes back but I hope he does. Barnes is coping well in the meantime. JOC and Mitchell could compete for the wing spot as Vuna has to go. JOC could maybe get a trial at 12 one day if he gets time there in super 15 first, with McCabe moving out to 13. That could be a Horan/Little style pairing. Tomane looked promising on wing but he is still very green.
AAC to stay for a while at 15 as Beale has been charged with assault, otherwise I always liked AAC at 13 with either McCabe, Barnes or JOC at 12 inside him if Quade say was at 10.
Backline for next saturday should be: Barnes, Ioane, McCabe, Horne, Morahan or Shipperley, AAC
Dream backline for the 4N: Cooper, Ioane, JOC, AAC/McCabe, Mitchell, Beale.
The centre pairings are tricky. Barnes would work well outside Cooper as we saw once or twice, providing extra defense and kicking but then needs a creative 13 outside.
I wouldn’t put JOC at 12 net to Cooper for defensive reasons, but he’d be good outside Barnes, with McCabe/Horne or AAC at 13.
June 17th 2012 @ 6:33pm
soapit said | June 17th 2012 @ 6:33pm | Report comment
so barnes has one passable game and he’s a long term option now.
that the problem with aus rugby, we see people peak and assume they’ll play like that each week from now on instead of how they’ve been playing the other 99% of the time.
he’s a solid backup 10 and half decent 12. there’s no way cooper or beales wouldnt have been able to get through that same gap which was essentially the only points he created
June 18th 2012 @ 12:49am
Parisien said | June 18th 2012 @ 12:49am | Report comment
Barnes has had more than one passable game! Think back. Unfortunately, he’s never had more than two or three consecutive games at either 10 or 12. Sadly, Giteau got all the games that Barnes should have from 2009-10.
June 18th 2012 @ 12:57am
Parisien said | June 18th 2012 @ 12:57am | Report comment
The point is that all the guys I mentioned bring different skills, but the trick is to find the right balanced combination that functions effectively. It also depends on what kind of rugby Deans wants to play and what kind of player he believes can best serve his game plan.
June 17th 2012 @ 7:07am
Josh said | June 17th 2012 @ 7:07am | Report comment
I welcome back O’Conner, Beale etc. They are game changers, like Genia. We need them. Last night’s game could have easily been a loss. Changes would have been demanded.
June 17th 2012 @ 7:25am
Justin2 said | June 17th 2012 @ 7:25am | Report comment
Exactly, had we lost the reality that this back line is stuttering like an old ute would have been discussed. That we won will hurt us more.
As an opposition coaching playing Australia I would be saying “hit the man with the ball, they don’t pass”.
Sometimes it is like watching league with all these one out hit ups.
June 17th 2012 @ 7:55am
M.O.C. said | June 17th 2012 @ 7:55am | Report comment
Absolutely agree – also the role of the individual backs seems screwed up – Ioane runs mid-field like a IC rather than playing on the wing in attack, he is very good at this and his effort is second to none, but he will never offload and set up an outside man. Both centres will not pass and AAC appears to be lacking this skill also. Even Genia with his painfully slow delivery and Barnes with his constant kicking make the backline struggle for any fluency. Sadly, I think these last 2 matches have shown the Wallaby forwards to actually be more of a threat than the backs (perhaps for the 1st time ever!).
June 17th 2012 @ 10:29am
jeznez said | June 17th 2012 @ 10:29am | Report comment
MOC, the comment that the centres do not pass is spot on. I don’t think either McCabe or Horne passed at all last night. AAC is another serial offender with a lack of passing who passed zero times in the first forty but shifted it four times to other players in the second half. Digby isn’t a passer either – that means more than half the backline do not pass the ball or do anything to create for the men around them – diabolical and sneaking under the radar since we are winning.
Similarly our weakness in the scrum is getting ignored while we win.
Gee, is it really 2012? Talking about uncreative centres and a scrum under pressure seems so last year.
June 17th 2012 @ 10:45am
Keagan Ryan said | June 17th 2012 @ 10:45am | Report comment
Thought the scrum was solid until Moore and Alexander came on in the second half when it capitulated.
June 17th 2012 @ 10:56am
jeznez said | June 17th 2012 @ 10:56am | Report comment
It wasn’t just Alexander’s side getting hammered, as the game wore on Kepu got blasted as well. If he came on fresh with twenty or thirty to go I think he’d be fine. Starting the match and trying to play the full eighty sees Kepu struggling as the game progresses.
It is the old Topo line, he didn’t necessarily think he would dominate his opponent from the outset but always backed himself to be working his man over by the back quarter of the game. Palmer has shown at least at Super level a similar ability to improve over the course of a game – unfortunately White often subs him just as he is gaining some scrummaging ascendancy.
June 17th 2012 @ 11:09am
Markus said | June 17th 2012 @ 11:09am | Report comment
That’s how I saw it too. Robinson and Kepu were both starting to tire by the time Moore came on.
Even if the Waratahs frontrow combo had stayed on for the full 80 mins, I suspect the end result in the scrums during the latter stages would have been near identical.
June 17th 2012 @ 11:14am
PeterK said | June 17th 2012 @ 11:14am | Report comment
tpn is a better scrumager than Moore. He leads / manages the scrum far better.
June 17th 2012 @ 12:05pm
jeznez said | June 17th 2012 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
Pete, Jenkins was getting under Kepu as the match progressed – that isn’t the hooker’s fault. I’d suggest that as he fatigued Kepu became less accurate and Jenkins’s class shone through.
I agree that Polota-Nau is the stronger scrummaging hooker but don’t think there is a huge difference in this facet of play with Moore. The scrum woes for mine are directly attributable to the props and Palmer should be starting with Kepu on the bench next week. I’d also like Timanie brought back in.
June 17th 2012 @ 1:44pm
PeterK said | June 17th 2012 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
jez – Then sub kepu he gets tired. He should be on the field longer than Palmer since his is almost as good in the scrum, and a lot better all round. If he starts having problems in the scrum in the first 50 mins that is another matter.
June 17th 2012 @ 8:16am
The Bush said | June 17th 2012 @ 8:16am | Report comment
I strongly disagree with any suggestion that the centre pairing is decent. I forgot McCabe was on the field last night, that’s how quiet he was. Horne has his moments, he can tackle when he makes them, but he really adds very little around the park – if he hadn’t of scored last night would you be singing his praises?
As others mentioned above, it’s a very boring backline; other than a wrap involving Genia (and a forward) it was all “hands” and hit ups.
Beale has to move straight into fullback, Vuna has to go, our centres must off load and whoever plays fly half needs to understand that playing so deep gets you nowhere and can’t be compensated for by hitting the line – you need to also deliver the ball at the line.
June 17th 2012 @ 8:26am
Justin2 said | June 17th 2012 @ 8:26am | Report comment
Its even bigger than all that Bushy – I watched a few times last night and in attack you could have thrown a blanket over nearly the entire team.
There is no width, little pattern or pace to the gamelan either. Sometimes it was like watching under 8s on a Satdy morning – one kid grabbed it with 14 others in pursuit and he runs til he is tackled then they do it all again!
Last night was perfect conditions for a great game of rugby, unfortunately neither team wanted to chance their arm at all. Really disappointing. I dont know what the coaches do during the week but I cant see it coming out on the pitch…
June 17th 2012 @ 10:10am
The Bush said | June 17th 2012 @ 10:10am | Report comment
It all comes back to the fact that Deans has no plan. They just go out there and throw it around willy nilly. Deans is saved by having talented athletes like Genia, Ioane, Pocock, Higgers and a few others to provide spark.
June 17th 2012 @ 9:36pm
Dassie said | June 17th 2012 @ 9:36pm | Report comment
YAWN. Coach bashing is boring: current series Wales 0, Australia 2
June 18th 2012 @ 8:10am
Justin2 said | June 18th 2012 @ 8:10am | Report comment
Well you’d hope so considering they haven’t won here for forty years!!! We did lose to Scotland though…
June 17th 2012 @ 9:50am
M.O.C. said | June 17th 2012 @ 9:50am | Report comment
Just for fun, The Bush – take a look at David Lords’ last two articles and my back and forth with him regarding his high opinion of McCabe. I am glad someone agrees with me – I was beginning to feel a bit self-conscious!
June 17th 2012 @ 10:11am
The Bush said | June 17th 2012 @ 10:11am | Report comment
McCabe tries hard and it’s his fault he’s picked, but he sure adds next to nothing at this level…
June 17th 2012 @ 12:59pm
formeropenside said | June 17th 2012 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
I’d prefer McCabe at 13 over the useless Horne. And yes I know he scored a try last night. All he had to do was catch and not fall over.
June 17th 2012 @ 4:38pm
Aaron said | June 17th 2012 @ 4:38pm | Report comment
….and have the foresight, initiative and speed to be in the right spot to score the try.
I’d hate to have you in the backseat while driving if this is your only insight into rugby
June 17th 2012 @ 5:31pm
Justin2 said | June 17th 2012 @ 5:31pm | Report comment
Let’s not make it out to be anymore than it was please. Standard fare, though he had to take an average pass off his hip.
June 17th 2012 @ 7:32pm
soapit said | June 17th 2012 @ 7:32pm | Report comment
there were a couple of other players who also had enough of that to be there alongside him. barnes could have picked any of them. nothing special from horne on that one.
June 17th 2012 @ 10:48am
Keagan Ryan said | June 17th 2012 @ 10:48am | Report comment
I’ve got a theory that this pairing plus the inclusion of Beale and O’Connor would provide perfect back line balance. Use them to get over the advantage line and get quick ball for Beale/O’Connor/Ioane in broken play
June 18th 2012 @ 3:02am
Stanley grella said | June 18th 2012 @ 3:02am | Report comment
Agree completely, with Beale back at fullback and JOC on the wing, McCabe and Horne are gonna provide a lot of opportunity for second phase play. I really hope they all get fit and get some serious game time together to get the combo going.
June 17th 2012 @ 8:56am
sixo_clock said | June 17th 2012 @ 8:56am | Report comment
The elevation of Genia to indispensable is a big mistake. His increasingly selfish game will be hounded and pounded by the ABs and Saffas. The sooner he is dropped to the bench while White, Phipps are given a shot the better. In support of that is the fact that his kicking game has no virtually no threat or purpose. Also he insists with no Rugby reason to hold the ball at the base allowing the opponents to get into position, have a breather. Front foot ball requires a quickness of mind which apparently he wants to avoid or does not have. He will be exposed when the stakes are raised.
Agree with anybody above who thought the game was dull and a poor example of our code.
June 17th 2012 @ 9:44am
stillmissit said | June 17th 2012 @ 9:44am | Report comment
Sixo’clock – totally agree re Genia on bad days (ie yesterday) he plays like Gregan. We don’t want other good halfbacks picking up splinters whilst he holds the untouchable spot that Gregan held for years, regardless of how badly he played.
Nobody is indispensable and that is why I think we should cut Cooper until he can tackle.
June 17th 2012 @ 10:23am
sixo_clock said | June 17th 2012 @ 10:23am | Report comment
Cheers,
TPN over Moore, huh?
Horne over Ant Faingaa , double double huh?
Benn the only LHP? I don’t believe that is true.
No up and coming locks, Fardy instead of Higgers wha…?
Vuna favoured over Mogg, Foley, Shipperley.
There is a logic here which escapes me. As you intimate rotation should be the norm and not merely forced by change. DIngo has undoubtedly helped increase our depth and then not to use it as a management tool? Wallabies are infamous for dropping into their shells, the Samoan game 2011 recently commented upon was a great example.
If Dingo has any fault, and I rate him for what he has done, it is he is too nice, too mindful of their feelings. Why he didn’t drop O’Connor for longer last year for that team photo embarrassment, or been in the back of the minds of Beale, Quade when out partying (a scientifically proven rehabilitation treatment) is indicative that he is not being tough enough for the job as Wallaby coach and he is tough, so what is holding him back? Very curious.
June 17th 2012 @ 6:57pm
Blue Blood said | June 17th 2012 @ 6:57pm | Report comment
I agree. The complete lack of real consequences for appalling behaviour is a disgrace. I can’t believe they Beale is even in camp after his recent antics. Cooper needs a serious timeout too. I’m sure if they were marginal Wsllabies they’d make an example of them and then never select them again. But not the 3 untouchables. Poor management.
June 17th 2012 @ 9:07pm
sittingbison said | June 17th 2012 @ 9:07pm | Report comment
ARU sanctioning Henjak springs to mind
June 17th 2012 @ 9:27pm
p.Tah said | June 17th 2012 @ 9:27pm | Report comment
There has to be more to the story than what we know. The ARU are usually pretty strict on indiscretions. It’s not as if we need Beale for the next game and they’re bending their protocols to get him out there.
June 17th 2012 @ 7:37pm
soapit said | June 17th 2012 @ 7:37pm | Report comment
jennings was dropped from first grade nrl for having a beer while rehabbing.
theres a fair difference in professionalism expected in the two codes
June 17th 2012 @ 9:11am
Bakkies said | June 17th 2012 @ 9:11am | Report comment
Not sold on AAC at fullback. It doesn’t suit his natural game and he looks ackward at kicking the ball, which is a key aspect of being a full back. Beale is more solid with the boot. His pending criminal charge is a big concern
June 17th 2012 @ 9:34am
Rabbitz said | June 17th 2012 @ 9:34am | Report comment
“His pending criminal charge is a big concern”
Nah, he is a national sporting icon.
The courts would not dare….
June 17th 2012 @ 9:39am
stillmissit said | June 17th 2012 @ 9:39am | Report comment
If Cooper can get away with Burglary then Beale can escape a punch up with a bouncer. Great examples to our youth who want to get ahead or an arm or a broken jaw.
June 17th 2012 @ 3:03pm
Kuruki said | June 17th 2012 @ 3:03pm | Report comment
It’s ok to act the fool kids aslong as you are good at sport.
June 17th 2012 @ 9:36am
stillmissit said | June 17th 2012 @ 9:36am | Report comment
In the current situation I would throw Cooper to the wolves. Tell him he either tackles or joins the boys on their skateboards. We have genuine options at 5/8 with Barnes and Beale and regardless of his outrageous talent he ain’t one of them until he can stand in the D.
O’Connor is our 12 no question and maybe Horne will live up to our expectations at 13, Beale is FB/5/8 depending on injury or opportunity at 5/8. Ioane one wing Shipperley the other.
So :- Genia, Barnes, O’Connor, Horne. Ioane, Shipperley and Beale.
June 17th 2012 @ 9:45am
M.O.C. said | June 17th 2012 @ 9:45am | Report comment
I would replace Horne with AAC at centre.
I think Genia, Barnes, O’Connor, AAC, Shipperley and Beale – with instruction to Genia to speed up, Barnes to pass first, kick second and Ioane to be patient and let the centres give it to him rather than have him take all the mid-field ball, thus effectively stealing the centre’s attacking roles.
June 17th 2012 @ 9:51am
M.O.C. said | June 17th 2012 @ 9:51am | Report comment
As an AB tragic, I would be a bit worried about the ABs facing this backline.
June 17th 2012 @ 11:17am
stillmissit said | June 17th 2012 @ 11:17am | Report comment
I’m happy enough with that L/Up MOC but who can talk to Genia re this HUGE issue?
June 17th 2012 @ 3:15pm
Lorry said | June 17th 2012 @ 3:15pm | Report comment
why have you guys forgotten about Mitchell?
One of the best wingers in the world for the last 5 years straight….
He dominates any other winger in Aus, except O’Connor
June 17th 2012 @ 10:30am
stu said | June 17th 2012 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Can’t agree about Brand.
On a kg for kg level he is a great defender, but JOC couldn’t stop Mccabe in the rebels brumbies game – how is he going to stop JDV or SBW? and how come all these international number 12′s have 3 letter monikers?
I’d like to see:
Genia
Beale
Cummings
AAC
Mitchell
JOC
Gerrard
June 17th 2012 @ 10:37am
stillmissit said | June 17th 2012 @ 10:37am | Report comment
stu: I forgot about Mitchell he is a must on one wing with Ioane on the other.
Beale has the most promise as one of Australia’s greatest 5/8ths (possibly eclipsing Ella) but at the moment it is all promise and not enough exposure to hone his skills.
June 17th 2012 @ 2:17pm
stu said | June 17th 2012 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
@Still
bugger i dropped ioane – maybe i should drop gerrard and put AAC at fb and put ioane at 13….
June 17th 2012 @ 3:20pm
Lorry said | June 17th 2012 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
stillmissit
why do you think that about Beale?
He can’t pass left to right very well.
That ability was something Ella, Lynagh, and Larkham (our 3 greatest 5/8s) could all do well.
June 17th 2012 @ 11:55pm
Bearfax said | June 17th 2012 @ 11:55pm | Report comment
Why on Earth would you waste Beale at 5/8 when you have Cooper and Barnes, and Beale has been one of the most explosive full backs I’ve seen in years.
I could see McCabe for Horne and yes O’Connor is too small for the centre but too talented to leave out..He’d be on the wing opposite ioane. The fly half situation I really think can be solved with a little imagination as to how you use Cooper and Barnes. Both have genius but both have flaws. We know Coopers defence is a little lacking so play him at inside centre when defending and 5/8 when attacking. But dont be too rigid with that either because if Cooper is being rushed he’s more prone to mistakes. Switch Barnes back if that happens. But I would ensure that you have your most freakishly talented players in Genia, Cooper, Barnes, O’Connor and Beale in the one team.
ps Any time you want to send Cooper over to League we’ll be waiting. I suspect he could draw a $600,000 a year contract easily.
June 17th 2012 @ 11:23am
Dandaman said | June 17th 2012 @ 11:23am | Report comment
Centres are the problem. Not international standard IMO. Cooper in fly half Barnes at inside centre and AAC at outside. Beale at full back and ionane and o’connor on the wings. This is what we should be aiming for as our back line for the upcoming internationals later this year. On the bench is McCabe for his versatility and one or two young guys being developed.
June 17th 2012 @ 8:17pm
Xman said | June 17th 2012 @ 8:17pm | Report comment
Harris is ready and is a classic centre. Why isn’t he there?!
June 18th 2012 @ 8:13am
Justin2 said | June 18th 2012 @ 8:13am | Report comment
He’s a plodder
June 18th 2012 @ 7:47pm
Student said | June 18th 2012 @ 7:47pm | Report comment
The current Wallaby philosophy seems to be “shoe-horn all our best players into the backline, it’ll work”. The biggest problem the wallabies face in the backline is that there are few specialists. As evidenced on this page. Ask any fan to write down the AB’s or Bok’s backline. It’ll take a minute. Everyone will write the same backline (except for nonu vs SBW for the AB). Their backlines are settled. Each player can develop in the position they’re selected. Contrast the Wallabies. At any given time there are three or four players that could play a position in the backline. And usually, all three or four get a shot at the position over a 4 week period. Deans needs to pick a backline and stick to it.
A second problem with this is that there are waaaay too many playmakers in the wallaby set up. Too many players going off in too many directions. Balance is required. With this in mind:
9. genia (because he’s the undisputed best in this position).
10. Barnes. (cooper’s best plays come from later phase play and out wide. 10 is just too close to the forwards off set pieces and having someone really creative that close to the traffic wastes their ability to an extent. For my money, I pick Barnes to take the ball flat and put in a pinpoint pass to the more creative types out wide, where the space is)
The centres are the most probable soft spots (as mentioned above). I pick:
12. Mccabe (as a crash ball option should Barnes run into trouble. Also, he showed in the first Welsh test that he’s capable of running great lines and making line-breaks.)
13. James O Connor (Gamebreaker. Use in 13 to tie up cover defence and to break the line to create space for outside men)
Wings:
11. Digby (if it aint broke…also, combo with Genia for the shortball)
14. AAC (Great runner. Not as creative as others but I think he adds sanity here. Also safe under the highball)
15. Beale. Best postion for him
I put Cooper on the bench for impact.
June 17th 2012 @ 11:25am
Adam-15 said | June 17th 2012 @ 11:25am | Report comment
at the moment i still rate fainga’a above horne at outside and tapuai even higher. Depending on your flyhalf, id have two centre combos. Cooper, mccabe, tapuai or Barnes, JOC, Tapuai. I think barnes is definitely the better option atm so here’s my backline. Genia, Barnes, Tomane, JOC, Tapuai, Ioane, Beale. Bench: nic white, McCabe, Leali’ifano
June 17th 2012 @ 11:32am
glacier said | June 17th 2012 @ 11:32am | Report comment
Keagan
Nic White (not Nick Phipps) has been on the bench these last 2 tests against Wales.
June 17th 2012 @ 12:32pm
Keagan Ryan said | June 17th 2012 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
Didn’t say Phipps was on the bench. Just see him as more reliable under Genia. Again, personal opinion