Wallaby coach Robbie Deans doesn’t need a weakened Quade Cooper tonight for the Tri-Nations opener against the Boks at the ANZ Stadium. After last Saturday’s wake-up call from Samoa in the Islander’s 32-24 dismantling of the Wallabies, Deans needs a full-strength lineup on duty.
But Cooper missed yesterday’s final training session with a stomach bug, the versatile James O’Connor slotting into number 10.
Make no mistake, O’Connor would make a huge fist of the job if Cooper can’t front tonight.
But such a late, and dramatic, change can destabilise the Wallabies. And they are wobbly enough without an extra negative.
So the positives need revisiting.
* Seven front-line selections missed either most, or all, of the Samoan debacle, but will be on deck tonight: David Pocock, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Will Genia, Cooper (hopefully), O’Connor, and Kurtley Beale.
* Deans will have one of the world’s best scavengers, and possession-pinchers, in flanker Pocock.
* The world’s best half-back – Genia.
* Three goal-kickers – O’Connor, Beale, and Cooper.
* The Reds’ proven locks and line-out jumpers – Horwill, and Simmons.
* And the pure magic generated by Genia, Beale, and O’Connor – with Cooper the bonus if he plays and is strong enough.
The extra bonus will be the centre pairing of Pat McCabe and Adam Ashley-Cooper – both Brumbies.
McCabe is the new boy on the block for his third cap, thanks to the vision of stop-gap Brumbies coach Tony Rea who saw in the fullback a future mid-field.
And it worked a treat in the latter part of the Super 15 in a side having the worst season in its 15 year history.
The vastly experienced Ashley-Cooper was caught up in that mess, close to suffering from pneumonia on the wing. So nobody would have given a thought to McCabe and Ashley-Cooper being the Wallaby centre pairing a couple of months ago.
Tonight is litmus test time, but all the signs are positive. It’s now up to them to cement their spots.
If Boks coach Peter de Villiers is toying with the idea of running at the new combination to rattle their cage, think again. Both are very solid defenders.
de Villiers has enough problems of his own, with 23 of his players still at home injured, or “injured”.
More than half his run-on side tonight are still wet behind the ears.
Props Werner Kruger and Dean Greyling are making their debuts, as is No 8 Ashley Johnson.
Centre Juan de Jongh (6 caps), wing Bjorn Basson (4), flanker Deon Stegmann (4), wing Lwazi Mvovo (2), and lock Alistair Hargreaves (2) gives de Villiers just 18 caps between eight of his side.
His saving grace will be world rugby’s most capped captain, John Smit (102), flanker Danie Rossouw (54), half-back Ruan Pienaar (32), and one of rugby’s all-time great goal-kickers in Morne Steyn (25), along with the exciting pocket-rocket full-back Gio Aplon, with his 13 caps.
Steyn can really hurt the Wallabies if they are ill-disciplined. The No 10 could conceivably pinch the result on his own.
But on paper, the Wallabies should return to their winning ways, especially against such an inexperienced side.
Anything less, and last week’s humiliation will seem like a drop in the ocean.
WayneO
Guest
PDV is a fool. That was unacceptable for any team that wears the green and gold. The A or B team discussion does not bear mentioning. You pick a sub standard team you get treated the way you should for not respecting the importance of test rugby. It happened to Aus a week ago, and us now. Wait for the next game in NZ. That team will lose by 100! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Scoreline flattered the Boks. Should have lost by 60 today. Wallas blew 5 other tries. Bok B team is useless.
Suzy Poison
Guest
You Right Pot, I think the difference was the Boks had A Team, tight 5 that day. Wow wasn't last night dismal form the B team, no defence, no set piece and the rain held off, to let the Wallabies sparkle. Credit to them, probably best backline in World Rugby right now. Too bad the B team didn't offer any contest in the forwards at least. Also Morne Steyn hopefully has played himself out of the Bok 22. Lambie looked so much better when he came on, but you never know with P Divvy.
WayneO
Guest
As a Saffa, the most impressive aspect of Australia's game was their continual play without giving away a penalty. That was impressive. As for the Boks, we disrespected our national team and what those colours mean, and got dealt with accordingly. I dread to see what comes next weekend. You pick the best possible team, or do not pick one at all.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Overall it was a good first hitout for this configuration of the team. They need to just slow it down a little bit in attack and be patient. Many times when they threw the 50/50 if they had held it for another phase or two they could have really put the Boks to the sword.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Yes, I thought Aplon should have been given a 10 minute break. While he could have argued that he was trying to charge the ball down at no stage did his arms raise to do so. He dropped into Beale, it in my opinion should have been a penalty.
DJW
Guest
Thought Genia was brilliant, great to have Horwill back. Thought it was a good showing. I will judge when we play the All Blacks in a couple weeks but some great signs. Coopers slap pass for AAC try was awesome. Anyone else think it was a penalty when Beale got taken out? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Aggression in the forwards and the ability to pass the ball to the backs wins rugby games ... who could have guessed ?
Johnno
Guest
i think the The aussies were samoa to the boks tonight. And this win should not be blown out of proportion just like samoas win last week was blown put of proportion. Last weekend feels like a lifetime ago now. South Africa were rusty had not played in 3-5 weeks just like the aussie team last week was rusty, and they had to miss more training sessions than the aussie this week as there ovals were closed down, and had there preperation stuffed up with haveing to arrive a day late due to airline problems.
Derm
Roar Guru
MS Word spell checks automatically and auto-capitalises too. Tsk, tsk.
Derm
Roar Guru
Spell checking wouldn't have made any difference to the Boks' performance. Their grammar, syntax and punctuation on the pitch were simply execrable.
Johnno
Guest
i no i have to write these blog comments in word mate as i can edit faster , .
Lorry
Guest
agree! Love kurtley, and he can tackle now!
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Johnno, You make good points, but spellchecker, mate, spellchecker.
Johnno
Guest
This week Australia was south Africas Samoa. i am happy that they won as this put the samoan match into context. The south african players had not played for 3-5 weeks like the aussy players, the reds players that din't play were fresh after a 2 week rest. not playing fo r2 weeks is different to 3, and they were tired and needed it the reds players. So Australai were made to looked better than what they were tonight.by a court rust South Africa. Still lots of doubts and selection experimantion to come before RWC. And the same goes for all 3 teams. so in a RWC year tri-nations form is not an accurate indicator if we will win Bill.
p.Tah
Guest
It's not intentional, they've had a horrible run of injuries remember.. And they'll all make a remarkable recovering just in time for their home games... When SA get the ticket sales...
p.Tah
Guest
Hilarious posting name Blinky! Love it.
sledgeandhammer
Guest
If I was Channel 9 I would be half happy with tonight's game. Some great moments, but why make so many changes during a test match? Australia stopped playing at 60 minute mark.
Derm
Roar Guru
You recall wrong, Suzy. People said the Boks were vulnerable in the team they fielded against Ireland - as the game proved as it went on, and only O'Gara's late conversion prevented the game ending in a draw. Ireland's first game and they did not play well and would not have deserved to win.
Droppa
Guest
So to win well . Is that by 5 penalties or 10 ?