Robbie Deans’ promised clean slate for Quade Cooper begins with him being left out of an initial Lions tour squad that will gather in Sydney.
Jim Morton of the AAP broke the story that Cooper had confirmed he wasn’t invited to the two day administration camp in Sydney this weekend.
I don’t quite know what to make of the call to be honest.
Initially it seems like James O’Connor is being groomed as the likely Lions Tour fly-half, and that wouldn’t be completely out of left field. O’Connor played well at 10 for the Wallabies on the Spring Tour in 2011.
He hasn’t really had a whole lot of game time there of late though. It would be a little of a stretch to ask him to front a Lions tour in that position.
Lots of people have said the same thing about Christian Lealiifano and the amount of time he’s spent at inside centre this year.
When I had O’Connor in a hypothetical bench situation that meant he would cover for Will Genia if catastrophe were to strike it wasn’t met with much praise.
Someone even said “JOC cannot pass effectively in both directions as a fly half, what makes you think he could from scrumhalf?”
Plenty of others echoed a similar sentiment.
I don’t think O’Connor is a natural distributor first. That’s a bigger issue to me than how good his pass is.
At 10 he’s still a lot like Beale, or even Foley to a degree.
Running is the first threat before passing. At Test level I think a distribution mindset is even more important than Super Rugby.
We are possibly going to see those particular areas tested in a once in a lifetime Test series.
Can O’Connor pass well, with distance and under pressure, in both directions from flyhalf?
Can he purposefully bring the best out of others around him in the game?
The complete flip side of this is whether it really matters at all.
I’m not convinced of the importance of a two-day administration camp.
It sounds to me like this kind of camp is basically a chance to talk about the tour and mostly do some promotional material for the tour as well.
If my hunch is correct, then it makes a fair bit of sense that Cooper isn’t included in the 25-man group that will spend the weekend being fitted into the Lions tour ads, banners, flyers, emails and match day programs (all in their new jersey).
Cooper wasn’t exactly the ARU’s favourite son last year.
And rightly, they aren’t going to make Cooper the face of the Wallabies without some trust earned back.
I don’t expect to see Cooper’s image next to the Wallabies and Lions logo hanging from a bridge over the M4 anytime soon. Don’t go looking for him in the margins of the next ARU members email that comes your way either.
The Lions have HSBC and Land Rover. The Wallabies have QANTAS* and I wouldn’t expect to see a Cooper side-step to adorn the ceremonial 747 any time soon.
There is also plenty of time for Cooper to win his place back in the team if he really is behind the eight-ball right now.
From a Super Rugby perspective he’s been playing steadily and getting better as the weeks go by. He’s also enjoying his partnership with a now fit Will Genia too.
O’Connor is starting to get a lot more responsibility at the Rebels this year and will probably start to get more chances to take play-making duties as the season progresses also.
Is O’Connor in line to start at fly half for the Wallabies? Possibly.
Is it Cooper being left out of a weekend based on promotions and events? Also a possibility.
We won’t really know until Deans names his first squad of significance on June 2nd. Then he gets to remove 25 players from the next Super Rugby round and take them to a camp where actual rugby things happen.
*Just a quick aside: after googling “Wallabies sponsors”, the first two good looking links don’t work. The third one goes to a list that’s pre-World Cup. The search bar on the ARU website didn’t turn up anything either. Roarers, do the Wallabies still have sponsors?
Sage
Guest
Gotcha. Iran would have been way way nastier. colvin I take my hat off to you. Gotta love this site sometimes. Priceless.
colvin
Guest
Some people asked me where Iran ranked on the list of most friendly countries of the world. They were getting into the least friendly status, ranked 135 out of 140. They would really have gone after Quade. NZ could only be considered amateurs in the field of picking on someone.
Soapit
Guest
Is that actually true? What sample size? (how many tests have they played each?)
Jutsie
Guest
some good news on who has actually been invited to the camp http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wallabies/brumbies-backrower-fotu-auelua-set-to-be-included-in-wallabies-logistics-camp-in-sydney/story-e6frf55l-1226618783075#.UWdR6rVTCuk
Sage
Guest
Justified hate blinded frothing, I understand.
colvin
Guest
You know Sage, the World Economic Forum recently produced a survey which concluded that New Zealand was the second most friendly country in the world (Australia ranked 27). For us friendly types to be hate blinded and frothing, we must have been really wound up; or maybe we weren't so really hate blinded, maybe we were just giving Quade a serve in return for the way he behaved. Just think though if we (no.2) were giving him such a serve maybe he was lucky he hadn't wound up and was then playing in front of the Iranians.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
I agree Kuruki. We've paid a fortune to a few for not very much from them at all, diverting funds from junior and Club development to pursue a long term improvement. Now the money has run out at the same time as the rich boys ramp up their self centred behaviour as a rugby player upper class. The ARU has boxed itself into a corner from which it must select serial non performers (Adam Two-Fathers comes to mind too) because they are being paid lots of loot - only because they are being paid lots of loot, not because they are delivering on the field. I do like the "surprised Beale can run without tripping over his bottom lip" quip. Most apt. :)
Chivas
Guest
Hey. Stop that. There is a code of conduct and you are breaking it. Respond to irrational illogical comments with irrational illogical comments. Only ever apply reasonableness and intelligent debate when responding to I formed comment. Using logic to respond to blind parochialism gives you a completely unfair advantage and is a bit elitist of you, I think I heard someone whining the other day about monitoring responses and then followed y up with a complaint he got monitored. There is always something funny on here. Every day I get a giggle. Thanks for today's :-)
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Horwells very good but you jest!
Chivas
Guest
Also I only read every third word. I was just looking for something I could take exception to and then give my opinion. And if you didn't say it a poster would and wham I'm in :-). As I said to RK we are all trolls in some degree. Some people use stats and pose them as evidence (lies, damned lies and statistics), some share observations and add logic (sometimes pretty convoluted) and some disperse with facts all together. But at the end if the day you get to laugh, stir someone up, vent your frustration (avoid kicking the cat), open a beer and watch some footie. Go the Tahs :-). Actually this weekend I better support my current home team. Go the Force. Who are we playing again?
Chivas
Guest
EP, don't come here now 257 comments later and try to add sanity. It's uncalled for. You lifted the lid on this and got the outpouring of emotion you knew this would create too many things have been said now. I hate you! On a serious note though, I was reading in the West Australian and they didn't bother with the last part. They left the comment out, but wrote that QC was sitting at home while Horwill went along. The controversy you can create with this thing by omitting details and adding a few of your opinions and pose them as facts by the way u subtly slide them in seemd pretty common practice across Australian media. If you'd written about Morahan leaving for force.,. 2 comments. If you'd started with a few blokes requested to assist with media and publicity for upcoming Lions tour... 20 comments. Oh my god Wallaby squad announced. Quade missing out and feels slighted (a word used in today's West Australian), Deans looking for retribution.... Now you have a story!
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Wee Quade missed out, eh? He bagged the coach and the players, using big words (for him) like "toxic", and then backed that up with ... nothing, other than that no-one spoke to him after the Argentina near loss and that made him feel un-special when he is, in fact, clearly special. What did he or anyone else think would or should happen? ... quite apart from his inability to do the job for which he is paid so handsomely. A good decision.
Chivas
Guest
With respect Sage almost every comment on Quades character and ant-deans hatred is unsubstantiated gossip posing as fact. Since when has blind parochialism cared too much about the facts. Some things I do know as fact is that some Wallabies were disappointed in Quades actions. This does not translate into not wanting to play with him, but it does mean he has lost a bit of respect. Is it a big thing? No of course not but it's an unnecessary distraction which won't be an issue at all on game day. That's why we have coaches and managers. All players are prone to having off days especially highly strung backs. Props not so much... What's for lunch? I also know for a fact the Deans is highly respected and rated by many current Wallaby players. But still we have the haters building a campaign on unsubstantiated gossip. As I say, unsubstantiated gossip is far more interesting than facts. After all if my favourite player doesn't get picked you know there is a conspiracy and it must be either the ARU or Robbie Deans. They are idiots you know. Deans hasn't spent the best part of 60 years of his life living rugby. And how do I know he's an idiot. Because he doesn't read my posts and I'm an authority on all things Aussie and rugby. Ask Campo or Alan Jones. They know. Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi :-)
Elisha Pearce
Expert
As I wrote in the back half of the article, "This is about media requirements, logistics etcetera." - Bill Pulver on Fox Sports Rugby HQ. 257 comments later we might not need to get our nickers in a knot! :P He also said about Cooper missing out that with 8 rounds left he doesn't need to be worried.
Malo
Guest
100% agree Jimmy jam on tackling,most people go thru periods of doubt in defence and can turn it around by attitude and dedication and concentration..
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Horwill would make it. He's better than both Retalic and Romano.
Tatah
Guest
Did a viking from NSW come and pillage your town?
Kuruki
Roar Guru
The only flaky puff player i would have in the 22 to face the Lions is JOC and he would be out on the wing. The Lions will target Cooper ruthlessly and he will crack. I'm surprised Beale can run without tripping over his bottom lip. One amigo is all Australia can afford to play imo.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
The bloke can't perform after getting chucked into 10 against one of the weaker teams in super rugby. What makes you think he will perfom, after spending no time in the position, against one the best teams in world rugby?
Tatah
Guest
OK, so now you're saying the Qld roster was full, so he had to go to another state where there were spots. Where is the problem in this? Are you moaning because the ARU didn't bend the rules for Qld? Is this the same ARU that bailed Qld out when they were either bankrupt or on the verge? How long can you keep convincing yourself that Qld is somehow being victimized at every turn? Surely you must be trolling or oddly thriving of this kind of delirium.