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Quade Cooper’s lack of combination with Pat McCabe was a prime reason for the Wallaby playmaker’s downfall at the Rugby World Cup, according to past mentor Michael O’Connor.
O’Connor, who first identified Cooper’s talent as a little-known 13-year-old schoolboy, felt he paid the price for the left-field selection of Brumbies fullback McCabe at inside centre.
With Cooper unable to reproduce the form of his stellar Super Rugby season with the Queensland Reds, the Australian backline never fired at the World Cup.
The Wallabies forwards couldn’t provide the attacking platform in big matches against Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand, but O’Connor also felt too much decision-making was left in Cooper’s hands.
The dual international, and current Australian sevens coach, thought the exciting five-eighth would have coped better with either Reds teammate Anthony Faingaa or long-time playmaking partner Berrick Barnes outside him at No.12.
He pointed to the well-grooved 10-12 combinations of Michael Lynagh and Tim Horan in 1991 and Stephen Larkham-Horan in 1999 as proof time together was integral to success.
“He didn’t have his happiest tournament, there’s no doubt about that,” said O’Connor, who helped fast-track Cooper into the Australian and Queensland rugby systems.
“A backline is a sum of parts and it was a relatively inexperienced centre combination outside him.
“Whenever we’ve gone into World Cups and been very successful, we’ve had good backlines and those backlines have been together with their combinations for at least a year out and we didn’t have that going into this World Cup.
“Pat McCabe has played most of his footy as a fullback and we’ve put him in at inside centre.
“I can understand why (coach) Robbie (Deans) did that, but that repetitive nature of having those combinations and knowing each other’s games I thought probably wasn’t there.”
After unseating Matt Giteau, McCabe had four Tests beside Cooper, winning three as Australia claimed the Tri Nations crown, before the World Cup kicked off in September.
But Faingaa, who was used predominantly at outside centre, and the benched Barnes both had two full Super Rugby seasons playing outside Cooper for the Reds.
Like Cooper himself, Deans and All Blacks superstar Dan Carter, O’Connor said the 23-year-old’s game would improve due to the tough times on and off the field in New Zealand.
“I think Quade’s going to be better for the experience,” he said.
“He brings a lot of pressure to himself and he needs to learn to defuse that a little bit.”
“I was a selector in 2007 and we took Berrick as basically our last player for that World Cup and he got an enormous amount out of being in that Wallabies squad.
“He showed (last month) there’s nothing like experience at a World Cup.”
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.