- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Amid all the upheavals within the Wallaby camp, “Mr Fix It” Adam Ashley-Cooper will play his 100th Test next Saturday at Suncorp in the third Bledisloe Cup clash.
It’s a mighty milestone for arguably the most consistent Wallaby in recent years, no matter where he plays.
As a kid at Berkeley Vale High School on the Central Coast, Ashley-Cooper was a fly-half and inside centre.
Once he cracked the Brumbies and the Wallabies in 2005, he often filled the outside centre, both wings, and full-back with the same passion and commitment.
There’s no point in asking where he’ll be selected next time, it’s a lottery for the now 30-year-old who has worn the 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 jerseys during his career with equal ability.
He’s a very handy man to have on board.
Ashley-Cooper will join the Wallaby centurions – George Gregan (139), Nathan Sharpe (116), George Smith (111), Stephen Larkham (102) and David Campese (101).
Up against him next Saturday will be All Black skipper Richie McCaw, who is honing in on the most-capped rugby international of all time. That honour is held by Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll with 141 – 133 of them for the men in green, and eight for the Lions.
Saturday will be McCaw’s 134th game, and with five end-of-the-year Tests to be played, he will join Gregan on 139, leaving 2015 with the World Cup, Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship to set a caps record that will take some catching.
The closest to McCaw among the current players is veteran teammate and hooker Keven Mealamu, who will be playing his 120th international on Saturday.
Not far behind is champion Bok lock Victor Matfield, who didn’t like retirement, so came back and is still going strong on 117. Prop Gethin Jenkins is also going strong with 112, that includes a record 107 caps for Wales, and five for the Lions.
But Saturday at Suncorp belongs to the Wallaby vice-captain Adam Ashley-Cooper. A win over the All Blacks would be the icing on the cake.