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All the talk with the Wallabies of late is who is fitting and the most suited player for number 10.
With James O’Connor, Quade Cooper and Berrick Barnes all having their names thrown around as the best choices for such a position of high importance, and the Australian coaching staff not seeming to know who to pick, someone needs to stand up and make a decision for the good of the game in Australia.
I’m sure by now everyone can see that Robbie Deans has absolutely no idea on how to bring all these youths into the Wallabies and turn them into a team of world beaters.
It is obvious he has a keen eye and can develop these guys individually into their favoured positions, but a Test coach needs to be able to build a team, not just individual super stars. Quade Cooper, I think, has been the biggest example of Deans’ failure to do this.
Ewen McKenzie’s work with Cooper and the Reds over the last two years to spearhead them to the Super Rugby title is the exact leadership this young Australian team needs. However, John O’Neill has made it abundantly clear that the Kiwi will be staying on our shores until after the Lions tour in 2013. As this is the case, I would say the following:
– James O’Connor needs to be selected at either fly-half or preferably inside centre and allowed to have more of an impact on the game, instead of being limited out on the wing. He has shown, in my view, to be the best young player out of this current ‘Gen Y’ crop of super stars in Australian rugby, and needs to be given every opportunity to fine tune his playing talents.
– Barnes should be selected to at fly-half as we all know that unlike Cooper he doesn’t succumb to pressure in big matches, has probably the best general kicking game in Australian rugby at the moment, and also has good defence to go with his tactical nous. The only problem I see with Barnes and something he needs to eliminate from his game is his constant ‘Waratahs mindset’ to kick the ball down the opposition’s throats.
– Quade Cooper obviously isn’t the answer for Australian rugby as our primary playmaker, if you’re going on my above mentioned notes. He’s had some very good games for the Wallabies, however he isn’t the long-term option Australia is looking for at the moment.
I do think, though, that he should still be played in this Australian team as an attacking option off the bench as his ball handling skills would be deadly to a tiring side late in the game when it was on the line. This is of course if he can get more of a grip when the pressure is on and it all counts.
There’s also the problem with the forwards at the moment and their inability to meet the games physical standards for the full 80 minutes with their opposition, though that’s for another day!
While this does have an impact on what your fly-half can do, Cooper knows in himself that there are a lot of other things he has to work on in his own individual game and attitude before he gets a Test re-call. He doesn’t even know if he’ll be staying in rugby or not, but I do hope he does decide to.
No matter what others say, he would be a great loss to the Wallabies in my view and I really do hope that if and when McKenzie becomes coach, Cooper is there with him. It is obvious he has a good effect on the young man; otherwise Queensland wouldn’t be where they are now.
Putting this into a rough sketch and all players fully fit for the start of next year’s tough schedule, my back-line would go: Genia, Barnes, Ioane, O’Connor, Ashley-Cooper, Mitchell, Beale and Cooper on the bench once fully fit.
I see this backline having the desired speed, control and direction to tear any opposition to shreds and is the absolute best Australian rugby has to offer. That is if the forwards (excluding Horwill and Pocock) can pick their game up as well. But like I said, this discussion is far too long to start now!
While the Australian public, media and past greats of the game will all have differing opinions on who should be played where, whose doing a good job and who should be canned tomorrow, I do think this team, given the right coaching, would be in with a very strong chance at the World Cup in 2015.
By then, if sanity prevails, the Reds will have a new coach and McKenzie will have taken over. It’s just a matter of keeping this team together until then and realising what they can fully accomplish.
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.