I’m all for the Wallabies playing attacking, positive rugby. But by the looks of the squad Robbie Deans has picked for Saturday’s Test, they’ll be doing a lot of kicking.
This is especially reflected in the selection of Barnes ahead of the more dynamic but unpredictable Quade Cooper.
Cooper is a great player, but Barnes is the in-form option right now.
His kicking game is solid, and will suit the tactics the Wallabies will probably adopt of trying to tire out the All Blacks, and Richie McCaw in particular, as he, along with several of his senior team-mates, are getting noticeably slower around the field.
Unfortunately, much of the Wallabies attack will break down with Anthony Fainga’a in midfield, as he’s not known to pass the ball.
Instead, the Wallabies will probably keep the ball in tight, and won’t run it much out wide, which is a shame because Digby Ioane is probably their greatest attacking weapon.
The real mystery for me is how 9 Waratahs players made the squad, despite having a terrible Super Rugby season. It shows that we still lack depth in our rugby teams.
They weren’t good enough to get their Super team across the line, but somehow they’re now good enough to represent their country?
Anyway, to win, the Wallabies have just got to go out there and play their own game.
The All Blacks are a very different side from that which won the Rugby World Cup. And there’s now a lot more pressure on them, whereas, the Wallabies have got nothing to lose.
They just can’t afford to turn the ball over against the All Blacks. With great players like Carter, McCaw and co, you can’t afford to make too many mistakes.
So the selection of Barnes is a wise one.
He’s more consistent and a better tactical kicker and defensive player than Cooper, especially under pressure. Also, with Beale back and Ioane, we have two great finishes in the game.
But will they get the ball?
The addition of Rob Horne suggests that the Wallabies will put a lot of emphasis on their defence.
But I hope they remember that they still have to score tries. Our defence is good but our attack must be better so we can keep the All Blacks on their toes at all times.
In big matches, the All Blacks always turn up, so let’s hope that the Wallabies, with the extra rest, will show us what Deans has been doing with the team and we get to play the way we know they can play.
After the defensive RWC, entertaining rugby is what the fans want to see. It’ll be a truly fascinating match.
Incidentally, after last week’s article, a few replies were about why I say a lot about coaching in Australia. The reason I am now in South Africa is that I was not allow to coach in Australia!
joeb
Guest
"George Smith and Giteau were great, yes agree, they were turfed too early" Would be good to see Giteau return to Super Rugby, back to the Force, or even to NSW where he could partner Barnes, i.e. Barnes (10), Gits (12).
joeb
Guest
"Picking 9 Waratahs reveals the politics of Australian rugby." True, too true.
joeb
Guest
"Whether we win or lose, all I can think of is how boring it is to watch Barnes at 5/8. Like QC or not, he is great to watch." When he runs it, as Kafe suggests he should more often, he's a quality 5/8th, imho. If Quade is right to go next Saturday, I'd like to see Barnes retain the 10 jersey with Quade at 12, considering his brilliant hands. KB on that performace has to go to the bench. If he doesn't, Deans should be benched.
Dexter William
Roar Guru
Whether we win or lose, all I can think of is how boring it is to watch Barnes at 5/8. Like QC or not, he is great to watch.
SandBox
Roar Guru
agree completely Red Kev. As Campo was a waratah blue blood, no surprises he backs this team. Even if we win, still the wrong team, as we will never know how QC and Ship would have gone. This is worse than when the Kangaroos would be stacked with NSW players from a losing SoO side Campo was a risk v reward player too. Lets not forget the "own goal" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOCN4dkyvp4
Red Kev
Guest
I watched that last night and what stuck out for me was the lack of quality journalistic intent from the Rugby Club panel. It was a blatant friendly soft-ball set of questions. Deans said that Cooper had a broken season and not enough rugby and so wasn't selected. Yet no-one pressured Deans regarding the obvious double-standards around selecting Drew Mitchell. Cooper has played 5 Super Rugby matches (should have been 6 but for a dodgy suspension) since his return from injury, whereas Mitchell has only played 4. Perhaps more damning is that Cooper has looked good since his return, playing quality rugby, whereas Mitchell has looked decidedly off the pace in all of his games. Okay so Deans would like JOC on that wing, and Tomane is out injured, and Speight is not yet eligible, but Shipperley is in form (leading Australian conference try scorer) and a quality winger (very good defence, speed and safe under the high ball) who for mine looks like developing into Australia's Cory Jane. Mitchell's selection puts the lie to Deans spin in stark relief, it is favouritism plain and simple. (It is worth noting too that if A.Fainga'a fails to recover adequately from his rolled ankle Deans will shift AAC to 12 and Mitchell will start the match). The darkness will take this match in a canter. My dream scenario is that Deans so thoroughly bottles this Rugby Championship campaign (one win only - against the Pumas on the Gold Coast) that the ARU is forced to sack him and install McKenzie as interim coach for the final Bledisloe on October 20 at Suncorp Stadium. The only problem with that scenario is that both McGahan and Schrivener are canny coaches and may well succeed with the playing group in covering up Deans' blunders.
mania
Guest
fox - all good, as longs as you believe it and it makes you happy thats all that matters. excuse me if i dont believe along with you. all those skills you mention are very true of quade. how ironic then that its those same skills executed at the wrong times that get his team into strife. you forget to mention that no one that pivotal to any test team folded that fast (during the WC semi's) except maybe superman @ the justiceLeague headquarters on laundry day. i think QC is a liability but i will admit i'm seeing something different from qc since he came back from injury this season. he has a fire and passion in his eyes and this could be the begining a new and improved qc
guinness14
Guest
Richie slow. Have you seen his work rate? He would play 80 minutes plus.
ANON69
Guest
There will be no chance when Brans is 5/8th. No Skills to break the line. may be an odd break one per match. Wallabies will be Third in this championship. Greetings from California.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Hi Moaman, I'm surmising here just as a lot of you earlier posters are. My take is that Deans wants Cooper to cut out the brain explosions that earn him yellow and red cards, making the Wallabies/Reds minus one personnel and jeopardising the game. I remember the Sharks v Reds game in Durban in 2010; Cooper stuck a leg out and tripped a Shark player as the latter was retrieving the ball from the dead ball line. Just like that.
post
Guest
Of course, if Deans was rewarding good play, why was Harris dropped after delivering a game winning kick?
Broncz
Roar Rookie
By looking at combination Genia play well at the havles with Quade than barnes.I would say barnes is too slow in seeking opportinities around his eyes than cooper.A fearless half like cooper is what the wallabies need..
Banger
Guest
Easily the best combination that we have, the have complementary talents. Coopers outstanding long passing ability, with Barnes's excellent short one, same with the kicking etc. Barnes I feel is more relaxed at centre and Coopers positioning allows him to play a much flatter game which I believe suits him more. However, I am not sure how confident he is playing this game following his repeated headknocks. Unfortunately this combination also demands (due to the inconsistent abilty of the forward pack to secure front foot ball), that there needs to be a 'meter eater' in the centres. I would love to see McCabe eventually develop into this role, and possibly see him become a poor mans Mortlock.
Banger
Guest
Its just while playing for the wallabies, Faingaa rarely gets passed the ball at all
Jutsie
Guest
Damn was under the impression that theyd appear together. Both were very rehearsed in their segments. Best part of the tonites ep of rugby club was what followed it: 1st bledisloe from 2000. Could watch that game on replay for the rest of my life.
stillmatic1
Guest
with all quades "worlds best" attacking threats fox molder, why dont the reds and wallabies score the most tries? throw me on the pitch and i can do a little dance and look like im playing in the schoolyard, but does this get results? wouldnt it be a natural conclusion to the statement? to actually score more tries than everyone else!! he has a good park, touch footy playing style, but so do thousands of other kids out there. he may have more gumption than other full time professional players, to actually try these things, but its hardly revolutionary stuff. gets the crowd all gushy, sure, but also gets shown to be a major weakness aswell. ying and yang, balance and all that. if his teammates dont know what the hell he is going to do, then how can they support his play adequately enough to get the required result? ie: tries.
Broncz
Roar Rookie
Barns is a great chose but he must tried to take the line and chance his hands a little bit,like the all the best attacking flyhalves do,like dan carter and and the best razzle dazzle half in the world Quad Cooper for instance.why can’t cooper be pick?let all the kicking to barns and let cooper take all the attacking play... frustrated Cooper’s fan.. Ben, brianben3@gmail.com
Dave
Guest
Wont be any tough questions now however... You could see the fox sports boys biting their tongues all WC when Cooper and Barnes were not picked together. Now is the time to pair them again, and without the WC pressure, there is zero reason for Deans idiocy (other than 'my way or the highway' for Coopers WC comments)
Jutsie
Guest
Interesting to note that cooper and deans will be appearing on the rugby club together tonite. Cant wait to see what the chemistry is like between the two.
Ben S
Roar Guru
England don't really favour starting over the ball players at 7. The current captain, Robshaw, is basically a 6, but has developed into a 7. He and Tom Johnson had an excellent series against SA in respect of turning ball over. Dan Cole, the tighthead, has become a real threat at the ruck too, albeit he does give away a lot of penalties.