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The big news in Wallaby-land is James Horwill being dropped as captain for the upcoming England game and, presumably, the series. But the flashpoint is Quade Cooper being named as vice-captain.
Since Cooper seems to wear targets that attract all of our attention – some put there on his own, others media-erected and more still created due to the nature of his game – we’ll start there before looking at the bigger picture.
The obvious thing to say is Cooper does indeed have a chequered past when it comes to on-field and off-field maturity.
He’s shown some poor judgement in how to air his grievances. He hasn’t been the most consistent player in the way a leader on the field should ideally present themselves.
But the key to that paragraph is a single word: past.
Ewen McKenzie has seen Cooper accept the punishment of being dropped and a large fine and what he has done to deal with and move on from that.
We, as a rugby viewing public, have also watched how he has dealt with it. Some of us watch that with the baggage of his past firmly in frame, others tend to put it firmly in the past.
Here’s why I’m not bothered by him being made vice-captain.
Cooper has made obvious improvement on and off the field since he received his punishment from the ARU.
Off the field Cooper has been more responsible, down to little details like being articulate and open about his team during interviews while accentuating the positives.
He hasn’t been caught in compromising situations in public and has generally been one of the quieter ‘stars’ around rugby this year – especially compared to his past.
On the field Cooper was the lynchpin of the Reds this year along with Will Genia (whom Cooper was selected as vice-captain over) and James Horwill returning from injury.
Another key to his maturity has been learning to play – or underplay – his hand in a measured manner.
This season he was criticised for not making things happen for the Reds at times, and they were valid. Other times it seemed he was in everything, good and bad. As the year has progressed a balance has been found.
Against the Lions, where Cooper was captain, the Reds played an expansive game and relied heavily on him to put the ball into space, again and again.
He was on point for the majority of the night. A few mistakes marred the performance for some people, and that is the balance.
Fast forward to the third Bledisloe Test and Cooper had returned to the Wallabies helm.
The game plan was obviously to move the point of attack regularly, getting the ball to the likes of Israel Folau, Tevita Kuridrani and Adam Ashley-Cooper.
During that game he was sublime without being overbearing. The right players got the ball at the right times, including the second playmaker, Matt Toomua.
Cooper was a huge factor in the much-improved Wallabies attacking display.
The progression from erratic showman to maturing Test-quality player has been there for all willing to see it this year. It isn’t complete but there’s too much change to ignore.
Now, onto the bigger picture.
The Wallabies are a team in flux right now and McKenzie is desperately searching for people to be his agents of change in the side.
Horwill hasn’t been the same since he returned from a huge hamstring injury this year. That is probably a baseline reason for dropping him as captain, you need to be playing well.
I think the second reason for relieving him of captains duties is McKenzie isn’t happy with how Horwill has adjusted to change.
On the field Horwill hasn’t been as much of an influential leader. He has been more of a passive guide, rather than a force for change.
The Wallabies need change. Right now, the best person for the job of setting a culture and delivering McKenzie’s change is Ben Mowen.
Hands down the most brilliant part of Ben Mowen’s resume is the fact he was Jake White’s right-hand man for the project of quickly turning the flailing Brumbies around.
That achievement of leadership stands out more than any personal playing achievement or skill.
Once the state of flux around the Wallabies culture, style and personnel is resolved will Mowen still be the captain of this team?
Probably not.
No offence intended, but he’s just not a good enough player to guarantee that he earns his own selection on the kind of Wallabies XV McKenzie will have to mould if he has sights on winning a World Cup or Bledisloe Cup.
Who are the first players picked in a Wallabies side?
Will Genia, Stephen Moore and Adam Ashley-Cooper are the absolute locks. According to McKenzie’s patterns you can probably include Quade Cooper, Israel Folau then Michael Hooper.
After that is Mowen even the next man picked? Again, probably not.
Word is, barring injury to Rob Simmons, Horwill would have rode the pine against England and the locks would have been Simmons and Sitaleki Timani.
So you’d have to think Simmons is a high priority pick for McKenzie too.
You get the picture. Mowen is good but he’s not ever going to be a first-type captain.
Once David Pocock and Scott Higginbotham return (Wycliff Palu too, if he wasn’t always injured) Mowen is going to struggle to keep his place in the side at all.
Right now, in a funny sort of way, Australia and Mowen are in a serendipitous window where a good player maximising that potential, who has excellent leadership abilities, is exactly what is needed.
If that mix of needs occurred two years ago Mowen wouldn’t be ready. Two years from now there’s no telling if he would even be in the squad.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.