Win, lose, or in the unlikely event of a draw, it is probable Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor and Quade Cooper will be right at the centre of the outcome of the Lions tour.
Robbie Deans nailed his colours to the mast quite some time ago – long before Beale reportedly clocked the other Cooper (Vuna). It was before Quade turned Erin Brockovich at team Wallaby. It was just before the infamous food fight.
The fact is when he took the helm, Deans made all three youngsters a foundation of his coaching platform for Rugby World Cup 2011 and this Lions series.
While not impossible, it is unlikely the three will take to the field simultaneously. Deans seems unwilling to think of JOC instead of Pat McCabe and more willing to start Beale at 10 instead of Cooper for example.
But all surely must figure prominently in Robbie Deans’ plans for the most significant Test series in a generation for the Wallabies.
To suggest otherwise would suggest Deans, arguably the most stubborn Wallaby coach in living memory, is digressing from his master plan.
Just how worried the ARU and Wallabies coaching staff are right now by Beale’s behaviour and O’Connor’s lack of form is anyone’s guess. It is safe to say ‘very’ is a safe one though.
Quade Cooper is slowly returning to form and reigniting his partnership with Will Genia is key. But would Deans have started him anyway?
Should Beale’s latest indiscretion see him suspended for a number of weeks, a player who is heavily dependent on match fitness will have little to none.
Just eight weeks out from the Lions landing on Australian shores, the Wallabies are already in a heap of trouble.
Just how fair would it be for Robbie Deans to throw a Matt Toomua into the hot seat for this series? Probably about as fair as it is likely.
I’ve written before about the selfishness, ill-discipline and lack of morality the Three Amigos have exhibited over the years.
The ARU should have and could have come down like a ton of bricks on each one of them well before now.
But they didn’t.
And so it is written that these three young men will become heroes or villains. While the sadist in most of us would like it to be villains, the patriots in all of us say different.
All three young men are well paid. They are wonderful rugby players. Just ask them. So sooner or later they were going to have to back up all the talk and walk the walk.
The Lions series is the stage they need to do it.
If they can’t, it’s time to feed all three of them to the Lions.
soapit
Guest
in your opinion what is the reason these people dont like him?
soapit
Guest
rapidly improving mitchell. i guess one good game after being dropped is rapid improvement. cummins will go. deans was forced to pick him last year and wont use him if he has other options. it'll be 2 spots for ione/mitchell/joc/mafi/tomane. it depends on what the rest of the team is like. he wont want a whole green backline so if toomua and lelifano get picked on top of mogg who surely must be odds on from here he'll want experience for the rest of the positions. i'd put all those candidates at equal odds to get a spot at this point, mafi and tomane might be playing slightly better but not so much that experience of the others will count for nothing.
Crazy Horse
Guest
So which of the performing wingers would you leave out to let JOC play there? The incumbents Ione and Cummins? The rapidly improving Mitchell? 2013 star Mafi? etc, etc etc JOC is a long way down the list of those who would be on my list for selection at either 11 or 14.
DMac
Guest
Not sure if you've seen much of Ioane this season but he's seriously out of form. His ball security is non-existent. Definitely shouldn't be an automatic selection at this point.
Hightackle
Guest
So how many times has Deans chosen Beale at 10 over a fit and willing Cooper? None. Why McCabe? JOC has played 15 and 14 for Australia and for his club he is moving between 10 and 15. Will they all play together? Imo, prolly not but the reasons you give are not valid. Your analysis isnt based on past selections, if it was you would acknowledge that quite often they played together and Cooper has been preferred to Beale at 10 whenever Cooper was ready to play. In other words, Deans has NEVER chosen Beale over Cooper at 10. Im so sick of people making things up about Deans. It frustrates me. I apologise becuz I doubt you were saying that becuz you wanted to make Deans look bad or worse than he is but most people on here make these ridiculous claims about Deans that are untrue becuz they dont like him. I have no probs with disliking somebody but when people start making up reasons to dislike somebody it irks me.
wre01
Roar Guru
Hightackle So on your analysis Deans will pick Cooper at 10, JOC on the wing and Beale at fullback simultaneously for a test in the Lions series. As I said, possible but not probable based on past selections, form and injuries. I think BS is a little strong!
Hightackle
Guest
"While not impossible, it is unlikely the three will take to the field simultaneously. Deans seems unwilling to think of JOC instead of Pat McCabe and more willing to start Beale at 10 instead of Cooper for example" Ahhh BS. For one thing JOC, Beale, McCabe and Cooper have all played at the same time for Australia in the past. For a 2nd thing, Beale took over after Cooper was injured and in limbo with the ARU and not used ahead of Cooper. For a 3rd JOC plays 10, 12, 14 & 15 and not just 12. In fact he hardly ever plays 12 for his club.
Hightackle
Guest
JOC isnt good enough for the Wallabies? Yeah and Izzy Dagg isnt good enough for NZ. JOC is one of Australias very best players.
Hightackle
Guest
Rubbish hes had one GOOD game this year.
Hightackle
Guest
Genia lead the comp for linebreak assists. A lot of people think that Genia didnt do well in Coopers absence, they are wrong.
Boomeranga
Guest
I wouldn't go without JOC, he's essential in my mind, but Toxic and Punchy probably need time away. JOC is superb and our best goal kicker.
Malo
Guest
I hope they dont make it but I bet all three will make it and have absolute shockers against the Lions like RWC11. Da ja vu.
wre01
Roar Guru
Still miss it I accept everything you say regarding Cooper- it will be a big help having Genia and Horwill behind him. But JOC has done absolutely nothing since I don't know when. Could you really pick him ahead of Mogg at 14, ahead of Tapuai/ Lealiafano at 12 or ahead of AAC at 13? Then on the wings, Ioane mst have one locked down... I'm living in the UK and the LIons are hugely up for this series, moreso that the SA series I think. They will land absolutely primed. We can't afford to indulge JOC and Beale anymore- they moved to Melbourne for their 'brands'. It's not the country's fault it hasn't worked out.
wre01
Roar Guru
Justin, I think you hit the nail on the head there Ironically it was Cooper who labelled the environment 'toxic'. I would suggest that he and his two pals were right at the centre of creating it!
Jock
Guest
O'Connor can perform at top level. Upcoming Rebels games likely without Beale are perfect chance to trial him for Wallabies No. 10 (Robbie please follow thru with D Hill). Cooper is not consistent at top level and doesnt deserve a showing. Too many stuck on his S15 form of 2011. As for Beale, anyone who strikes their own Captain should be sacked particularly given proven track record.
Rebel
Guest
I disagree, I think by underplaying his hand he is a better player. Not every pass has to be a flick pass or behind the back. Just like SBW became a better player when he decided not to off load in every tackle. It becomes more of a surprise and more effective when chosen to be done at the right time. The bloke is a talent but he needs to vary his game, this is when he is at his best.
PeterK
Guest
me too, even before this last indiscretion I had Mogg at F/B because he has such a long kick and can catch the ball. Many better 10's than Beale. IMO Beale will be lucking to make then bench even if he is not suspended, mind you I am talking about Deans so he may pick Beale to start at 10, McCabe at 12, AAC at 13, Barnes at 15 and it wont matter on the wing they wont get the ball.
PeterK
Guest
totally agree. Cooper was restrained and underplaying his hand early. Good solid games. He had 1 poor game against the Canes, and 1 brilliant game against the Bulls. A lot of people ignore that Genia was NOT effective last year at the reds when Cooper was injured. They are like a twin door fridge both need to be there for it to work really well.
Justin2
Guest
Gold!
Billy Bob
Guest
Priceless Andy.