During the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand Robbie Deans and Quade Cooper found themselves sitting at the window of a coffee shop across from their hotel in Wellington having a ‘chat’.
While not privy to that conversation I would suggest it would have been about rugby, tactics and perhaps growing up in New Zealand.
Nearly fifteen months since those flat whites it would be hard to picture two such polarising figures in Australian rugby catching up for a brew any time soon.
Yet each might actually be the key to the other’s locks in 2013 which is looming to be a definitive year for Australian rugby.
Both Deans and Cooper have ardent supporters and detractors in the Australian rugby community. Despite his recent signing with the ARU, to many Quade Cooper is still a problem that seems too difficult to solve.
To his supporters it is only a matter of time before Cooper replicates his Super Rugby form in the international game. Many suggest the dull conservative Deans game plan is not congruent with the natural talent of the Queensland pivot.
To his detractors Cooper is nothing short of an overrated brat that does not deserve to wear the famous ‘yellow’ jersey.
One thing’s for sure: Cooper loves to play for Ewen McKenzie and the Queensland Reds and this could be a problem for the future of Robbie Deans.
There is little doubt Robbie Deans wants to take the Wallabies to the Rugby World Cup in 2015, yet to ensure his passport is stamped in the ‘Old Dart’ Deans first must convince the ARU he can actually bring back ‘Bill.’
Deans, like a second term government, is starting to get stale with some pundits. They have already begun bickering over his successor.
There is work to be done for the much maligned Cantabrian if he is to be successful in being re-appointed Wallaby coach, with the first step being a series victory over the British and Irish Lions.
Ewen McKenzie certainly would be one of those considered to replace Deans if the position became vacant.
The advantage McKenzie has is that he can extract the best from Quade Cooper. Queensland is a powerhouse in Australian rugby and that mantle has much to do with both McKenzie’s and Cooper’s ability to work together.
Conversely Robbie Deans has never been able to extract the best from Quade Cooper yet, and at some stage he is going to need to embrace Cooper back into the Wallaby fold as he is now an ARU contracted player.
The dilemma for Deans is that he will need to beat the Lions for his coaching career with the Wallabies to progress. Presently it appears Deans does not have the game plan nor the playmaker to achieve that goal.
The brand of rugby the Wallabies played in 2012 was at best willing, at worst woeful; hardly the type of rugby that will defeat the Lions who will bring a power and pace game.
To achieve victory, Deans will need a game breaker in the number 10 jumper which he currently does not have.
Neither Barnes nor Beale have cemented their claim. Each has shortcomings with their kicking games and run too laterally when setting up a back line. Furthermore Barnes has trouble finishing a game and Beale is far from solid in defence.
The potential answer is James O’Connor or an untested Christian Lealiifano, yet while fit there will always be the Quade Cooper option.
The Cooper option is the dilemma. Given the Deans-Cooper relationship it would be difficult to suggest Cooper will be Deans’ first choice, yet as pig-headed as Deans can be, he is no fool.
Deans must recognise that the Beale and Barnes show at fly half and full back is not potent enough. The unsatisfactory choice for Deans might be to actually select Cooper and work with Cooper on developing a game plan to defeat the Lions.
This in itself would be a significant shift in the Deans culture.
If Deans fails and never selects Cooper, the Reds fare well in Super rugby and the Wallabies fail against the Lions Deans can kiss his World Cup dreams goodbye. Olive branch anyone?
The fact is Australian Rugby does have a history of coaches and play makers not seeing eye-to-eye but still getting the job done.
Think of the Alan Jones and Mark Ella relationship. Ella – Australia’s premier fly half retired at the age of 25 citing Jones as one of the reasons. Ella has never been condemned for this, nor has Jones, as each had achieved some wonderful success together.
Deans and Cooper don’t have the Jones/Ella equity with the Wallaby supporters as they have failed to bring sustained success. Cooper and Deans are not in the same class as Ella and Jones as players or as coaches yet each could learn from that history and work together for mutual benefit.
If Deans and Cooper could actually learn to collaborate with each other they might actually achieve their goals and the success Australian rugby starves for. Yet Cooper will have to check his ego and Deans his pig-headedness. Anyone know a good coffee shop?
Nowared
Guest
you can extract what you like from Spiro - he is one of the most negative journos in sport - I am sure he makes it up as he goes
stillmatic1
Guest
without looking at the books, i couldnt give an exact amount. but when their 2012 membership numbers were 30000, but average crowds were only 34000, something is out of whack. a fair indication of seated members would be something like 22000-26000 and even then i would be sceptical. so if we are to believe that there were only 4000 walk ups per match last year (which is not many at all), i think my point remains. unlce, you do know how many kiwis are here dont you? i have been to about 13 games over the last 3 years at suncorp and dont know how you can guess who are sitting in reserve seats and who are not. i am a forever red member also, as i like the freedom aswell as priority tickets to the test matches. re: quade, in september of this year (well after quade had signed with the reds), the reds had just under 7000 members on the books. now have 32000. which of these figures are attributable to quade, or news of quade's return? would his carryings on somehow have been beneficial over the next 3 months (sept-nov)? he still hadnt signed with the ARU, so for all intents and purposes wasnt going to play in 2013. so on what basis were people joining the reds (since it is clear that it wasnt solely for quade)? as you say, people join, for the team, a team that plays well, gives its all, has a bit of gumption and wins. please dont discount this because of one man, nor ascribe undue credit either. will not disagree that he does further enhance the gameplan that the team tries to play with.
GWS
Guest
Fluid dingo ...
GWS
Guest
Digbys try. First set piece wbs try since Italy rwc. Argies against abs in arg. Crusaders do it well
GWS
Guest
Exactly. I don't care if we're tenth. As long as we're fearless
Handles
Guest
You are just trolling Mark, aren't you? Quade takes the ball into contact just as often as Beale, and is much more precise. He is undoubtedly the bravest runner of the ball we have had at 10 since Bernie. Barnes is the one who throws the "don't tackle me" passes.
Chivas
Guest
You might know your baby pooh but do you know all the decisions behind everything else or are you surmising like the original post.
Malo
Guest
It is the QLD state bias siege mentality syndrome. NSW can criticise their own but Qlder cant are loyal to the end and bring in all sorts of statistics to defend the undeniable. QC has played crap since Qld took the SR title. Lets blame Deans for everything garbage.
Malo
Guest
2nd or 3rd is not that bad if it was good rugby we were watching. We dont have to be No1 to enjoy supporting the wallabies, its the style and character that fans want.
Chivas
Guest
Quick one for you then, can you list the good things he has done. Still don't buy the whole NZ/SA argument. If we put out our third team the players would be playing them bums off and the coaches would be doing their darndest. Your point regarding tries and a wind-up. Well too marks for entertainment :-). I haven't a come back :-). Regards Tapuai. He is not JOC an automatic selection. McCabe was doing a job quite well. Sure has his deficiencies, but he's tough and solid. Tapuai would have been back. but since he is the trainer, injury manager, coach for Australia he may have chosen to train him when he had a chance to look at the jigsaw puzzle and selected when he wanted to bring him in. Coincidences don't represent fact anymore than perceptions :-)
Red Kev
Guest
I guess you missed my "the Wallabies don't have the depth myth" article for the backs where I state that McCabe has a genuine chance to be our answer to Conrad Smith (a poor man's version but better than nothing). Others posted in response that he'd be better on the wing. He's utterly useless at 12 though.
Chivas
Guest
We are cool, just as long as they don't field a fully fit team for more than 1 or 2 games :-). And hopefully they didn't build up too much courage and self belief.... because the I would have to refer them too all the negative comments on here... That should work (tongue firmly in cheek) :-)
emuarse
Guest
The equation is quite simple really. Will Ginea plays well. Quade Cooper plays well when he is playing with Will. Ewen McKenzie coaches well when he has those two halves to evaluate tactics together. In other words, strategically, these three work well together. They are the base for a successful back line. remove any one of them and it loses the magic, the X factor. I'm not saying McKenzie is a brilliant coach, but he DOES know how to gel with his halves, inspirationally and strategically. . That's where Deans falls down, and so too the Wallabies. I won't say the obvious, work it out for yourself.
dcnz
Guest
Thats a rough call and a bit of a generalisation about the Kiwi collective. Alot of Kiwis that left for the lucky country don't have that chip on their shoulder. It is a bit embarrassing. Those that really love rugby know that the Wallabies are a threat, more so if you get a real international coach. That would be scary.
Rob from Brumby Country
Guest
The Lions series will come too soon for Lealiifano, but we should get a good look at his international prospects anyway. The Lions are playing the Brumbies on the 18th of June, and I have a feeling that Jake White will be prepared to risk his A side.
Rob from Brumby Country
Guest
Careful, Mantis. Saying anything positive about McCabe around Red Kev is just asking for trouble.
Worlds biggest
Guest
Great piece Uncle, Cooper is a necessary evil for the Wallabies. Agree if Dingo wants to go through to the World Cup he will likely need to call on the class clown next year. I really like the look of Leifano however do you throw him into a Lions Series on debut ? Leifano runs straight and takes it to the line with vigour,he would be a great link with Taps. Cooper and Beale first instinct is to crab. I am of the view that Dingo must go no matter how next year plays out.
Not convinced it has. From what I have read over the past few months from the Aussie supporters are that they want to see entertaining rugby, so it will have to be entertaining stuff that draws more bums on seats. I don't think Quade Cooper has won fans over with this debacle, I would dare to suggest he has got some convincing to do over the next season.
Blue Blood
Guest
Agreed. Deans has had ample opportunities over 4 years to blood depth through rotation and also through his bench. Instead he flogs his favourites until they break and only then is someone else given a chance. Many top Super players have been denied strong international careers by that man. He selects on favourites before form and refuses to blood the talent needed to avoid Phipps like situations. Appalling selector and appalling player manager.
manipulated. I provided undeniable stats across the entire history of test rugby including the amateur and professional era. The wallabies have scored plenty of tries under Deans. Not this year mind you but his win ratio is still above par. His win ratio against NZ is terrible but against SA it is so far ahead of every other era it is not funny. Against the 6 nations combined it is extremely high as well. He has blooded more debutants in his 5 years in charge than the previous five years before his tenure. This is a good old fashioned anti anybody with a different passport head hunt and I wish not to be a part of it.