It wasn’t a perfect 10 out of 10 performance by James O’Connor in the Wallabies’ (60) monstering of the Barbarians (11) at Twickenham. More like an 8 out of 10.
There was a pass that went astray in a planned move and occasionally the youngster took the ball into heavy traffic instead of feeding his outside backs.
But O’Connor did enough, more than enough I would argue, to establish his claim as the future Wallaby number 10 up to RWC 2015. The nuggety, quicksilver stepper with the flair to make a dazzling break or put in an astute chip kick (although I hate to see them) has the potential to be the true successor of Stephen Larkham and Mark Ella.
There are no obvious weaknesses in his game.
He has the confidence that all fine ball-players need to boss their team around the field. He has all the skills, handling, passing, kicking and tackling (unlike you know who!) He is rarely injured. He enjoys the combat aspects of the game almost as much as the running and passing parts.
He kicked seven conversions, a penalty and a field goal which somehow went over, even though the ball in flight looked like a pheasant that had been savaged with a direct hit. The field goal was shrewdly taken when the Wallabies needed points at the time.
In sum, then, he has the complete package of skills. All he needs now is the experience in the role of a play-making number 10, for the Wallabies and for the Melbourne Rebels.
This assessment, of course, means that Quade Cooper’s posting as the Wallaby number 10 is over.
Let’s be straight about one thing about Cooper. He is a brilliant ball-runner and he has magical passing skills. At his best he is a gold-plated match-winner. But … he doesn’t tackle. He cracks up under pressure, or at least he did during RWC 2011. He doesn’t seem to take advice. And his commitment to rugby union and the Wallabies is suspect.
This last proviso is damaging for Cooper as far as his future with the Wallabies is concerned. He has signed a contract, after delaying to gouge out the best terms he could (and this is understandable), that ends in 2012. All the talk is that he and Sonny Bill Williams will be offered as a package to a NRL side for 2013.
If their asking price is too high, there is the possibility that the Cooper/Williams package will be offered to a rugby union club, presumably in France where the money seems to be these days.
From a rugby point of view, Cooper remains a brilliant player who you would want in your team. The best position for him with the Reds is clearly at number 10. But in Test match rugby where the marking is tougher and the play less open than in Super Rugby, I reckon that Cooper should be played on the wing for the Wallabies.
He is a brilliant broken field runner, probably the best since David Campese. He can come into the line when the Wallabies are on attack, much like Shane Williams. And on the wing, he would not be confronted too often with big forwards charging down and through his channel as he is at number 10.
As for the Wallaby performance against the Barbarians, you would have to say that this was a splendid and record victory.
The Barbarians, after all, were coming off victories against the All Blacks in 2009 and the Springboks in 2010. They were coached by Robbie Deans’ bete noir, the avuncular Graham Henry.
A few minutes before half-time the score line was 13 – 6 with the Barbarians turning down several kicks at goal and also bombing a couple of tries. Then there was a Wallaby try just before the break to give the visitors some clear air.
This try came from a stupid kick down field by Isaia Toeava. And was one of several by Barbarians players, including pathetic efforts by Danny Cipriani, a player who looks as if he has lost any spark of rugby genius he might have had.
Berrick Barnes was guilty, too, of kicking away the ball with Waratahs-like aimless kicking. This instinct to kick rather than run or pass that Barnes has acquired since he started playing with the Waratahs is the reason why I no longer rate him as a contender for the inside centre position with the Wallabies.
I know that Mark Ella is a Barnes fan. But Ben Tapuai’s direct running seems, to me at least, to be a better fit for an attacking Wallaby backline, going forward (literally and metaphorically).
Henry made seven replacements in the Barbarians line-up. The changes did not work. The Wallabies scored four tries in 13 minutes and ran away with the game.
Still, as the adage says, you can only play as well as you are allowed to play. The Wallabies were slightly rusty to begin with. And Will Genia occasionally allowed the ball to sit for too long under the feet of the forwards at ruck time in the Luke Burgess manner. But once the Wallabies got their patterns going they played some irresistible attacking rugby.
What I liked about their play was the enthusiasm they brought to their running. Even Lachie Turner was geared up to race away whenever he got a chance.
We want this high-speed, high-skill, hard-tackling and committed play on and off the ball to be revealed again next Saturday against Wales.
And with, hopefully, O’Connor in the box seat running the attacks, we should see another convincing victory to mark the end of an occasionally triumphant (the Reds winning the Super Rugby title and the Wallabies the Tri-Nations) and sometimes disappointing (third place in RWC 2011) rugby season.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
It seems Henry is unable to face the responsibility even of that.
Mike
Guest
"Notwithstanding the 2 top teams they knocked off in 2009 and 2010, the recent floggings handed out to the BarBars suggest the concept is weakening." If we want to look at 2009 to 2011, BaaBaas have actually had their best three years ever, During this time they have beaten: All Blacks, Boks, Wales, Ireland and England (twice). All Top-10 teams. They have only lost to England and Australia (twice). Its a bit of a stretch to call the loss to England a flogging - 35-26. Its just that for some reason the Wallabies have done a Patton on them each time, but that's only two matches out of nine. And hey, they might not have packed out Twickenham, but 50k fans is still good for a non-test match. With the TV earnings, they are still paying their own way.
Mike
Guest
Also Bokke, Ireland, Wales and England scalps, in the last couple of years!
Mike
Guest
Justin, two months ago I would have agreed with you, but I am just starting to wonder. There seems to be hints that Deans and JOC have both started to think seriously about moving him to 10. Maybe they started to think about this after RWC. This spring tour doesn't prove that - the BaaBaas game was an experiment, and Barnes' near-miss with injury might explain persisting with JOC for the test. But I reckon the 2nd round of S15 is when we will know. The rebels have a bye for the february game. If Deans wants JOC at 10, the Rebels will be 'encourged' to play him there, and I expect they will be happy enough to comply. Too bad for Cipriani if that is the case.
Scot Free
Guest
Speaking of rubbish media reports - here's one from the NZ Herald about last weekend's match. Despite the comprehensive win, it slags the WB's in more ways than you'd have thought possible and doesn't mention a single performance by an AB. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10769108
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Yes, because test match coaches should be teaching test match players how to pass.
shahsan
Guest
Sorry, you are wrong, Sonny. From a Northlands rugby website: "In 1978 Eddie (Dunn) gained selection in the All Black team to tour the British Isles, where he played 9 matches scoring three tries and drop-kicking two goals - one of which being the vital last minute kick that brought victory over the Barbarians." From the match day program for Baabaas vs ABs, 1978: http://www.rugby-relics.com/images/zu/63.jpg
mattamkII
Guest
Bay we could be brothers. I am so over the reactionary nature of rugby writing. I think it started for me when the NRL boys started coming over - Lote, Dell, Rogers etc. It was truly amazing how little thought was put into pieces written about them. Agenda driven writers (both pro and blogger) will have you thinking that these blokes were a waste of time but leave out the part that Lote scored more tries in less tests than some of the players the same writers worship like gods...Rogers won several games for the Wallabies of his own bat and put in 2 or 3 truly amazing Super rugby seasons while Dell scored some amazing solo tries....were these blokes the best? no, but it was silly to think they ever were going to be. Were they a waste of time, no. I digress. I think that era set a tone for the media to write what ever they thought would impress the general population. Remember most people love a drama and hate bloke that dont fit the perfect image of the heros of the past..so now all the bar room and blog talk is that JOC is a better 10 than Cooper...based on one game against a scratch side and a drinking tour of London. Another classic case is Danny Cipriani. I only got to watch the BaaBaas game last night and was (based on internet/press match reports) expecting him to have a shocker....did he play well? no. Did he play so badly the sky was falling like most bloggers were saying? no.....but here is a glam boy...and most of the public loves to bag a glam boy...the media takes every chance to fuel that fire with rubbish reports.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
BTW, I like that I am a Roar Guru, while Spiro is "just" an Expert. In your face Zavos!!! Your decades of real journalism mean nothing in the face of my blogging blather!!! :)
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
I am sick to death of JOC being the 2nd coming already. It was a BarBars team without structure!!! Fakhari rug, I'd probably look good against them. Notwithstanding the 2 top teams they knocked off in 2009 and 2010, the recent floggings handed out to the BarBars suggest the concept is weakening. Throwing a team together at the last minute, and thus lacking combos and structure, just can't compete most of the time with the top teams. Let's see how JOC goes against Wales, who are bound to target him. I am sick to death of the Aussie media, once again, engaging in this manic depressive "analysis" mode (and it is just b=me or has Bret Harris in the Oz gone off the deep end with comments since the RWC?). The Wallabies are going to win the RWC. Oh, no we're not - we're cr@p. Oh yes we are. Oh no we aren't. Quade is better than Jesus. Oh, he's cr@p. No, he's Jesus again. WTF is with the rugby media? Are they on medication or something? Drop the dosage!!!
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Coaches can help. Coaches who face up to the challenge though, unlike Henry. If as an international coach he can't help a player improve then he's not much of one.
Mike
Guest
"QC had an average WC" - Surely you meant "terrible"?????
ohtani's jacket
Guest
If he needs coaching to finish linebreaks he shouldn't be in the team. Besides, what on earth makes you think these things haven't been pointed out to him? Coaches can't do your decision making for you on the field and Fruean's is shocking.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Rather someone like Graham Henry as a top international coach should have been able to teach him how to do so. Perhaps Conrad Smith is watching Fruean make those breaks and trying to work out how it's done.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
He needs "proper international coaching" to finish linebreaks? We should just send him to you.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Perhaps if he had been given some proper international coaching he might have been better. Look too at how excellent he was at making breaks in comparison to the no-breaks-this-season Conrad Smith.
SA
Guest
The Stormers have just signed this kid, 18 years old. Could be South Africa's version of JOC ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYT56lzoMAs
danisrob
Guest
As an All Black fan I would be much more frigthened at JoC playing 10 with QC on the bench covering first five (and maybe full back?). Though I also think BB is a good first five option.
Rowan
Guest
Haha i like how eddie Butler has to settle him down all the time, he seems to struggle to talk properly sometimes eh. Still I think the Aussies are the worst.
fairplay
Guest
O Connor is after the same dollar as Cooper/ Williams he will go to whoever pays the best whether it is League or to Europe , loyalty to a country has long gone with people like this . O Neill and the ARU created this enviroment and we are payning for it now .