With Brumbies battering ram Pat McCabe likely to miss the game after re-injuring his shoulder, Barnes’ selection wont be at Coopers expense.
This week Deans publicly backed the fly-half despite his confused and desperate effort against the Springboks, but who’s to say what Deans would do if McCabe – who he clearly favours in the midfield – had been fit and firing?
Cooper is a special player when given the time and space to operate, but a quarter final showing which included a charged down kick, some errant passes, poor kicking and repeated misfires when running the ball, will see him targeted even more than usual – by both the 15 All Blacks on the field and the 60,000 around it.
Speaking of time and space, Cooper may yet have plenty of both.
Deans may be forced to start him at fullback, if, and please join me in praying this doesn’t happen, Kurtley Beale’s hamstring doesn’t come good in time.
Wherever he plays, it’s clear that the mercurial yet inconsistent Cooper needs a cool head alongside him.
The influence of Barnes in the backline is as pronounced as David Pocock’s in the pack – when either is off the field, the Wallabies look a lesser side. Barnes operates well under pressure, and he’ll take some of that pressure from Cooper’s shoulders.
His deft kick into the corner in the dying minutes against South Africa led to the penalty goal that put them back in front. If Australia persist with the field position tactics that saw them dubbed the ‘Dullabies’ over the ditch, and saw them win, then who better to make sure it works.
The host nation also have their selection issues.
With Dan Carter out, and replacement All Black fly-half Colin Slade aggravating a groin injury against Argentina, 22 year old third string playmaker Aaron Cruden will likely don the number 10 this week.
To put that selection into perspective, little more than a week ago, Cruden was kicking back in Palmerston North, drinking beers and skateboarding. He still has the grazes on the knees to prove it.
He could well be overawed by the occasion, but outside him lie arguably the strongest centre pairing in the competition.
In a poor first half against Argentina, Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith stood out, taking the Pumas on in the midfield. Aside from Piri Weepu, Nonu was the standout for the men in black. He and Smith will again guide the black back line, and that means direct and powerful midfield running, something that the league educated Barnes knows only too well.
Let’s hope that we see some of the aggressive running rugby that the Wallabies can produce. It’s happened between these sides before.
However, in a stage of the tournament where tries are scarce and the four teams left are painfully aware of the consequences of an error, Sunday’s semi-final could well be a tough, defensive kick-fest, with a try or two and the winner decided on penalties.
With Weepu in stellar goal kicking form, field position will be paramount and poise under pressure will be needed. Barnes can provide both.
Emuarse
Guest
I suspect that Horne is a bit of a risk for this particular game. He has not played a top level test this year nor much in Super 15. For that reason I'd prefer to see Anthony Fiang'aa as O/C
mother teresa
Guest
na,not horne
Mike
Guest
Horne at outside might not be a bad choice, under the circumstances.
Behind Enemy Lines
Guest
Deans will pick the following backline: Genia Cooper Ioane McCabe Horne O'Connor AAC
Pillock
Roar Rookie
Seen TPN play Super 15 and the odd test and he is great when fit at Super 15. But if you want to call him world class he has to perform against the better teams SA and AB and he has not done that yet. I would rate Kieran Reid a lot higher than TPN. Would you be happy if I said TPN has been cod ordinary this tournament.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
The only problem with that is the arms are free and there will be a very hungry israel Dagg on the shoulder waiting for a gift 5 pointer under the sticks.
10yearsold
Guest
Yesterday, I think I wrote in an article that I'd prefer Barnes at 10 and McCabe at 12. I think I've changed my mind. I would prefer Quade at flyhalf and Barnes at 12. Cooper seems to play more structured at 10 with Barnes outside him. And in my opinion he plays best when his structured. I also think Barnes is better at 12 because he can still show off his playmaking skills and his ability to break the line by stepping is less predictable at 12. The only problem I have with Barnes at 12 is he's not good at dominating front on tackles. In the end he ussually makes them but he doesn't hammer them.
jameswm
Guest
TPN is coming back to match fitness and hasn't been at his best this WC. Is this the only time you've ever seen him play? Fit, he's as good as or better than anyone, especially Moore. Brutish at the scrums and in general play, great skills. There's still time this tournament anyway. Kieran Read's been ordinary this tournament too. Is he not world class either?
El Gamba
Guest
Do you doubt the paternity test?
Pillock
Roar Rookie
Who is the second world class hooker? Polota has been cod ordinary.
Pillock
Roar Rookie
That's the problem they did not take another open side flanker so McCallum or Higginbotham are the options. I think Hodgson went as a replacement for Palu but a big ask for him to step up to first rep game for a few months in WC semi. Higgers offers more in attack than McCallum so considering the style of game ie knock out, why wouldn't you go with the bloke who scores a few tries. The last time McCallum went over the chalk was when he played for the U13's.
formeropenside
Guest
McCabe is more of a 13 than a 12. Plays a bit of 15 too. Not really a 12 before Deans decided he was his long-lost love child.
El Gamba
Guest
Fair enough, 13 is a pretty tough defensive channel with Smith and Nonu though, may be a big ask with not much form of recent (I do recall him at 13 for the Brumbies now that you mention it and think he made a pretty good fist of it). I like Pillock's below personally, AAC is good under the high ball and will hit gaps and can finish. He's a pretty good broken field runner as well and does sometimes find holes similar to the Beale found last weekend just after the try (If only Moore was JOC!!). There are a lot of permutations though with the versatile personnel available - McCabe (as you point out) 12, 13, 15, 11/14 Horne 12, 13 Barnes 10, 12 Cooper 10, 15 JOC 10, 15, 12, 11/14 (10 is obviously unlikely) Faainga 12, 13 AAC 12, 13, 11/14, 15 Ioane 11/14, 13 Turner 11/14, 13, 15 Samo 8, 11/14 (haha couldn't resist) Some good players there, just getting the combinations right is the trick. I suppose even if KB is declared fit to play a solid contingency needs to be in place for when he comes off - unlikely that you'd go 80 with even the slightest hamstring strain. Was it a clue when Barnes went to 10 and Cooper to 15 on Sunday? I suppose the up-side at this point is that the All Blacks will only have 48 hours to get a game plan together based on the final selection, this won't make it easier for Cruden to focus on a single pattern coming in to the team at such a late stage.
Mike
Guest
Thanks for the article Will. Replacing Cooper with Barnes - yeah maybe. But Barnes' record against NZ at 10 is not a good one. Anyway, I can't see Robbie dropping Cooper from 10, regardless of what we think. Especially after the suggestion that public pressure has been affecting Cooper. Barnes at 12 sounds good, but he is also good as an impact player. JOC at fullback sounds good - he seems more than happy to take the ball up these days.
jameswm
Guest
Backline options, assuming Beale is out. If Mitchell was fit, you'd put him on JOC's wing and move JOC to fullback (ignoring whether Barnes should be starting at 12). OPTION A 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Ioane 12. McCabe 13. AAC 14. JOC 15. Barnes slotting straight in at fullback OPTION B 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Ioane 12. Barnes 13. McCabe 14. JOC 15. AAC OPTION C 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Ioane 12. Barnes 13. McCabe 14. AAC 15. JOC OPTION D 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Ioane 12. McCabe 13. Fainga'a (no Barnes) 14. AAC/JOC 15. JOC/AAC Personally Option C is my preferred option. AAC is safe under the high ball and tackles well, but I reckon you do more defending on the wing than you do at fullback. Plus, he has a very suspect kick return game - in terms of how well he executes and mainly his option taking. He doesn't read it at all well and over-does the kicking. O'Connor also tackles well and I think reads the play better than AAC. He's been alternating a bit between 15 and wing anyway. My only reservation is how well they currently use him from the blind wing to come in where he wants, that we may lose some of this benefit. Overall, being a WC semi, I think you have your 3 best punters at 10-12-15 (no, Genia, you are NOT one of them). It's not like that takes much away from our attack, or our defence frankly. I'm more worried about Kepu's fitness anyway, because he had his best game in a Wallaby jersey last Sunday, and Slipper has been suspect in the scrums. Benn Robinson used to be and Slipper will be as good in the scrums, but it'll take another year or two. I dare say next year will all fit, our front row stocks have never been better - 4 quality props in Robinson, Kepu, Alexander and Slipper, with two world class hookers, and a highly promising one comng through that needs to do some serious work on his fitness (get his shoulders bigger and his gut smaller). I understand there are some quality props coming through our U20s, too. Lock is our issue looking forward - Kev needs mates, and at this stage they'll come from Simmons (too light), Timani (suspect skills), Douglas (has the physical makeup but disappointing last year), Wykes (too soft and small), Pyle (not good enough yet) or Kimlin (too light and injury prone)
Brett McKay
Guest
absolutely Will, contrast that with even as recently as this time last year...
RedsNut
Guest
The Pumas went for the ankles aginst SA time and time again with gtear effect If the Wallabies can do that on Suday, they will reduce the effectiveness of Nonu and Smith. Note I said reduce only - before anyone jumps and reads that as nulify
Emuarse
Guest
I hear that scans reveal that Beale has a slight tear to his hamstring, so he has as much chance of playing as 'a snowball in hell '. So who goes where? I would say that J.O.C. is the logical choice as fullback. He played that position in the Super 15 often enough. He is a reliable receiver of the high ball, and like Beale, is great at running the ball up if given some space. His defence is also probably better than Beale's, and he has the courage to back himself into the back line. McCabe is carrying a shoulder injury and therefore should not be asked to play against Nonu, who would take delight at charging onto that shoulder. If McCabe starts he will not go the distance thus putting pressure on the bench. So Barnes is the logical choice for Inside Centre, with Anthony Fainga'a at outside centre. His defence is spectacular, he has real ability at quickly getting up off the floor after a tackle and playing like a loose forward for turnover possession, and he knows how to play outside of Cooper. AAC to revert to the wing position where we lose nothing. As for Higginbotham, I suspect he might have had some lasting effects from his previous back strain last weekend, because he is definitely a better bench player than McCalman, though Deans might want someone who can also cover for Pocock if he should get injured. Higginbotham doesn't have open side flanker experience.
2many1ndians
Roar Rookie
I really hope Beale plays, I like watching him play and if this game is to be the epic encounter most are predicting, he needs to be out on the park.
Pillock
Roar Rookie
I reckon Beale is gone. Hamstrings don't fix themselves in a week no matter how minor. For mine Faainga to 13 and AAC at fullback, fairly defensive but I don't think it will be a rip roaring throw the ball around type of game. Only time it will be like that is in the last 15 and one team needs a try or 2 to stay in the match. Then you can reshuffle and use the bench so it is important to get your nose in front or at worst stay with 7 to keep pressure on.