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As the Super 15 season surges along and the Test window draws ever closer, all rugby fans inevitably begin to pick their personal first XVs.
A perusal of the comments on any rugby article on The Roar will offer up a bucketload of different variations, with only Quade Cooper, Stephen Moore, Michael Hooper, Israel Folau and Nick Cummins deemed to be certain selections.
Of all of the possible selection conundrums, I have chosen to focus on the question of just who will fill the famous gold No. 13 jersey come June 7 when we line up against the mighty French legion.
For starters, lets take a look at the men playing outside centre for the Australian Super Rugby sides.
1. Adam Ashley Cooper (Waratahs)
Adam Ashley-Cooper is a proven performer, and has been for a long time now. A strong line-runner and mid-field defensive general with a safe pair of hands, there is little doubt that the old dog would perform give it 110 per cent thrown the job for the Wallabies.
But is 110 per cent of Adam Ashley-Cooper the right fit to link the enigma of the green and gold’s inside backs with the finishing power of Joe Tomane, Nick Cummins and the like?
The resounding criticism of Ashley-Cooper’s game has always been his tendency to tuck and run while ignoring the support and options that present themselves out wide. His 2014 form has been steady but not special, often being outshone by his more creative partners in the Waratahs backline.
Once again, there’s no question that he would do a serviceable job. With the lack of a Sterling Mortlock among the available stock, is serviceable good enough?
2. Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies)
Twelve months ago I was all but certain that Kuridrani was the man to reinvigorate the Wallabies back line from No. 13. Today, I am very, very unconvinced.
There is no question that the big man is (as much as I hate the phrase) an X-factor player. When he’s on, he provides a barnstorming ball-running option combined with destructive defence capable of cutting a man in half. However, when he’s not on, there are too many dropped passes, two many poor lines and far too many defensive breaches caused by his tendency to race out of the line in search of a big hit.
Kuridrani is one of those players who falls into the Cliffy Palu mould of being brilliant to watch when things are clicking, yet frequently infuriating fans, coaches and teammates who lament how damaging he could be if he added an element of consistency to his game.
To be fair, it is likely that he will develop greater consistency as his career progresses and he gets more exposure to international rugby, and a relatively meaningless series against the French may be the best time to further his cause. In saying that, giving a player game time on the basis that they may become a world class talent is only a viable option when there is no better talent available at the time.
Another question for Link to ponder.
3. Ben Tapuai (Reds)
As a Reds fan, Taps is one of the more frustrating things to have ever happened, ever.
When he emerged onto the international scene in 2011 as one of Robbie Deans’ slightly left-field selections, he impressed with his ability to beat defenders with his pace and silky footwork, as well as showcasing strong defensive skills and a strong left boot. For some reason, since then it has largely fallen apart.
Many observers consider him to be far more effective in the No. 12 jersey, where he can greater utilise his playmaking skills as Matt Toomua does for the Wallabies. However, he has definitely shown that he has the skill set to compete (and occasionally dominate) in the wider channel.
Like Kuridrani, Tapuai’s problem is his consistency. For every game where his fancy feet dance their way through defenders like it was the easiest thing in the world, there are another four games where he seems to constantly take the wrong line and misread the play in defines.
Robbie Deans was quick to blame this lack of consistency on the fact that his delivery is coming from Quade Cooper, however this season in the light of greater maturity in Cooper’s play Taps has continued to produce as many rocks as he does diamonds.
Will Benny Taps be a Wallaby this season? Not unless some serious injuries befall a large number of our other outside backs.
Can he be a force for the green and gold in the future? Definitely. As long as he can sort out what the hell changes from his good games to his bad games.
4. Junior Rasolea (Force)
Junior is young, strong as an ox and quick on his feet. He is very early into his career and yet to demonstrate a capability to play outside centre at the international level, however there have been glimpses of the talent that made him an Australian sevens rep in the past.
A work in progress, and likely one for the future.
5. Tamati Ellison (Rebels)
Ineligible. Though we would love to have him.
So of the regular 13s there are two contenders, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Tevita Kuridrani, but for completeness let’s examine some of the other options that Ewen McKenzie could take in his search for a game-breaking mid field dynamo.
1. Nick Cummins
Hard running, fast, tenacious and a bruising defender, but can he read a game well enough to defend in the pivotal 13 channel?
The Honey Badger does have previous experience at outside centre and by all reports loves the position, but lack of game time there in the recent past may make him a liability if thrown in the deep end against the French.
In saying that, the idea of him hitting lines off a Cooper-Toomua back line is mouth-watering.
2. Chris Feauai-Sautia
An incredibly dynamic runner, possessing all the skills to beat a man and set up opportunities for those outside. A solid defender, but not the strongest on this list. Has had immense troubles with injury and as a result has struggled for consistent game time of late.
Definitely a future option if he can get his body right, and is an old favourite of Link’s from his Reds days.
3. Pat McCabe
I know I’m going way off the beaten track here, but hear me out. Formely the most maligned player in Australian rugby, McCabe has reinvented himself this year as a force to be reckoned with, running incisive, cutting lines through opposition defence and (believe it or not) actually using his support runners for a change.
Through the first half of the Super Rugby season, he has arguably been the form No. 12 of the Australian conference, but with Toomua likely to retain the Wallabies gig through solid form of his own, we could do much worse than also move McCabe one spot wider.
His strong running game would perfectly compliment the dual playmaker model that Link looks set to run with Cooper and Toomua filling the 10 and 12 jerseys respectively. The big question mark is over whether he could adapt his defensive game to the key holding role required of a 13, however he is an extremely strong, committed defender and I see no reason why he couldn’t make the transition.
Is it unlikely? Sure. Should it be? Not so sure.
4. Mitch Inman
Similar to McCabe, but bigger and stronger. Formerly suffered from the same criticism that has plagued Adam Ashley-Cooper in that he rarely passed the ball and ran away from his support runners, however since moving to the No. 12 jersey for the Rebels this year he has been playing a more rounded game.
Playing the house down in an otherwise stuttering Rebels backline, and the green and gold could do much worse than throw him his inevitable Wallabies cap now rather than later.
5. Kyle Godwin
know, he’s a 12. And sometimes a 10. But a lot of Force fans keep telling me that he’d be incredible as a 13 and with his hard-running game and brick wall defence I see where they are coming from.
Also provides excellent playmaking skills to link up with his outside men. Another one from left field and on current form no chance of happening, but I am very curious to see him line-up in the wider channel to see if all of the theories are correct.
6. Joe Tomane
See Nick Cummins. Though dare I say less likely.
7. Anthony Fainga’a
Tackles all day, every day. That’s about all there is to say. Not going to happen unless there in a bus crash involving all of the other candidates.
So with all that being said, who do I think will get the nod on June 7?
Adam Ashley-Cooper. His experience, solid (if unspectacular) form and reliability will get him the nod.
Who would I pick?
Pat McCabe. I know, I am stunned myself, but my God that guy is playing well.
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.