James O’Connor’s unforgiven blunder has handed tough-tackling centre Anthony Faingaa his big Rugby World Cup audition in Saturday night’s Tri-Nations decider against the All Blacks in Brisbane.
O’Connor was on Monday night suspended until August 28 for failing to attend last week’s Rugby World Cup squad announcement and team photo, the ban also ruling the goalkicking winger out of the Australian Barbarians’ clash with Canada on the Gold Coast on Friday night.
A repentant O’Connor was also slugged with a $10,000 suspended fine.
His axing sparked a backline reshuffle to be announced on Tuesday and it appears Faingaa will be the big beneficiary with a promotion to outside centre and Adam Ashley-Cooper shifting to O’Connor’s right wing.
That’s where they lined up before the media were shut out of a Ballymore training session where O’Connor was running with Barbarians players.
Even before the Australian Rugby Union was to bring down its judgment on O’Connor, coach Robbie Deans seemed to have his mind made up.
Speaking on Monday morning, seasoned hooker Stephen Moore admitted a one-match ban would hurt the Wallabies’ prospects of ending a 10-year Tri Nations drought.
“We’d love to have James playing on the weekend,” Moore said. “He’s an important part of our team, that’s for sure, on the field. You’d rather have him on the field than not.”
Alas, the 21-year-old is out and Faingaa looks in, with the Queensland midfielder and defensive linchpin having already put himself on the verge of a cherished start with an excellent cameo off the bench in the 14-9 defeat of South Africa in Durban on August 13.
A strong display, cutting down the world’s best centre-pairing of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith with his trademark low tackles, would put the 24-year-old in calculations for a start in the World Cup opener against Italy on September 11.
Faingaa played at both inside and outside centre during the Reds’ Super Rugby-winning campaign but Deans looks set to leave Pat McCabe at No.12 against the All Blacks.
The versatile Ashley-Cooper has been a Mr Fix-It since he made his Test debut in 2005 when Eddie Jones pulled him out of the Subiaco Oval crowd to replace a dazed Elton Flatley.
His utility value, and proven big-match ability on the wing, has saved Deans an awkward call to bring in World Cup omission Lachie Turner as a specialist finisher.
Ashley-Cooper was out of sorts in a variety of positions for the battling Brumbies this year but has enjoyed his return to the Wallabies at No.13.
However he admitted there was a lot riding on Saturday night’s clash for him, with the World Cup just a fortnight away and specialist outside centre Rob Horne making his comeback for the Barbarians.
“It’s important for me this week as history’s shown selection is never guaranteed, so it’s a very important game for me leading into a World Cup,” said Ashley-Cooper, who has a knack of scoring tries against New Zealand.
“The squad has been boosted by a few returning from injury and Rob Horne is an excellent outside centre so he’s certainly going to push the boundaries there.”
Ashley-Cooper and McCabe were overwhelmed by Nonu and Smith in the 30-14 defeat in Auckland this month and the 55-Test utility back warned of the All Blacks midfield, particularly with Sonny-Bill Williams expected to be on the bench.
“You certainly have to be on your game defensively to shut the likes of them down,” he said. “They’re dangerous no matter what.
“We have to be at our best to compete with the best.”
The Bush
Roar Guru
It's a shame that because of pride, an awkward World Cup Selection omission and a young man's silly decision, we are left in the ridiculous position of having Ashley-Cooper on the wing. I'm a big AAC fan and I hope he finds form soon, but I also want to win the Tri-Nations. However silly selections like this hamstring our team and thus their ability to win tournaments. Why doesn't Robbie suck it up and throw a bone to Turner. He is a specialist winger who has played there all season and was in pretty good touch. I know AAC played their most of the season too, but he's out of form and struggling. I'd even prefer Mitchell on the wing. He's going to be playing there all tournament anyway and he's fit enough to play for the Barbarians, so why not throw him straight into the frying pan...
mikeylives
Guest
O'Conner is the quickest off the mark there is. He smoked Billy Slater in the Rexona 40 m sprints. At top pace he is not so fast though.
Jay
Guest
They are both decent enough players but a pairing of McCabe and Faingaa is hardly going to terrify anyone.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
O"Connor got the feather duster treatment, I agree with his suspension but the fine is a clayton's fine its suspended until next year. Gee I bet that hurt a fine when there is not a fine. good on you ARU stick the boot in (more like a ballerina slipper) O'Connor will be laughing all the way to the bank. He misses a rugby match "Boo Hoo" in his eyes he can sit in the stands and have a good night. He doesn't care about the Team he just is concerned with O'Connor and his brand. Life goes on another example of pandering to the stars I'll bet some others in the team are not impressed with the preferential treatment dolled out by the ARU
joeb
Guest
i don't like to see 'mr fix-it' AAC moved around so much either.... McCabe's been going well at 12 though, and has kept Barnes from starting. See how it goes on Saturday. Faingaa played well at 13 just recently, but his brother was at No.2, and they know each other's game too...... we're looking okay, and presumably Rocky will play off the bench allowing Higgs to start.
soapit
Guest
michael aussie in NZ
Guest
In fact the more I think it about it it seems to be a NZ coaching obsession to put back three players out of position in the centres just in time to ruin a world cup team. Deans did it in 2003 with McDonald while he had an example to follow with Cullen in 1999 and then Henry and Co kicked on with Muliana in 2007. What can we do to stop Deans bringing the affliction over the ditch?
michael aussie in NZ
Guest
what the xxxx is McCabe doing at inside when you have such a great player as Faianga who has a background of linking in with Cooper and Genia! Put Faianga at inside leave ACC at outside where he plays best and McCabe on wing where he belongs!
joeb
Guest
"I’m sure if any of us had been selected none of us would have missed the photo and RWC squad announcement. JOC – you goose – ..." Right on. Good on the ARU for their decisive action.
joeb
Guest
We’ll be better served with Anthony Faingaa and Rob Horne, and hopefully Drew Mitchell is right to go as well. So kicking duties revert back to Quade and Kurts it appears. Good.
joeb
Guest
We'll be better served with Anthony Faingaa and Rob Horne, and hopefully Drew Mitchell is right to go as well. So kicking duties revert back to Quade and Kurts it appears. Good.
Rugby Reg
Guest
i dont know about JOC being slow. Top ends yes but off the mark he is quicker that two dads. JOC needs to pull his head in, i have been disapointed from him after mid super season. His contract negotiations stink of another gituea. Sure he has talent, but so did Mcalister, and look what happened to him!
RedsNut
Guest
He will, if McCabe actually passes the ball instead of dying with it in an isolated position
Johnno
Guest
This is a blessing in disguise in my opinion. JOC is not a winger he is to slow, AAC accelerates faster he is a natural wing or full back. A.Faianga will do the job good defender.
Geoff Brisbane
Guest
Short-Blind AFL and NRL are great sports in their own right, can't see the lack of cattle only as a result of this. Do agree the need for a similar ITM or Currie Cup comp would improve the cattle immensely. So why hasn't it happened???
Short-Blind
Guest
AAC must be a Dean's favourite. He is (still) out of form and should not be starting- whether on the wing or centre. The problem is that we don't have an Currie or ITM cup to throw him to to find form - club land in OZ just doesn't cut it (look at BB scoring 20 points a game for Syd Uni every weekend). Finding form should not be done in major tri-nation's test matches. I'd put Morahan,Turner or Davies (that order) on the wing, Ant to 13 and BB on the bench.
Short-Blind
Guest
No Geoff Rugby is a minor game in Australia so cattle are thin. I just don't get kiwis continual bagging of our depth - its a Joe Obvious point resulting from the sports popularity in this country and lack of lower competitions like the ARC was. Kiwis should just be glad that AFL and NRL dominate in this country because if they didn't, the major crutch of the kiwi nation would be threatened a lot more frequently.
Bring Back Rucking
Guest
JOC is but one man ( almost a man) time to move on ...you do the crime you do the time. It could actually be a blessing, AAC on to wing and A. Fainigaa to centre Bring Barnes into reserves I think the whole thing has a good balance and a chance for AAC to redeem some average performances with a little more space????
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Agree with the sacking, perhaps it could have been even stronger. JOC does seem to place his own interests above the teams which is the exact opposite of what Rugby demands. The Rebels do not need another Cipriani! Another worrying development is Stephen Moore's defence of him. It stinks of the 'player power' that infected the Brumbies and trashed a good coaches career along with the teams S15 chances. Maybe he should be given an opportunity to explain himself to a couple of hard heads and get to the root of his thoughts. Discipline is vital and if a player lets down his team individuals have to be strong enough to concur with the outcome of the disciplinary process no matter what side they are on. Stephen is looking quite wimpy in my view and he could be the next casualty, just give him enough rope and watch.
Emuarse
Guest
Any idea as to who goes onto the bench replacing Ant there?