There’s no argument: Quade Cooper is the Wallaby fly-half against the Lions, but only if Will Genia is the half-back. No other number 9 in the country can get Cooper to strut his stuff.
The two Reds’ pivots were pivotal in the nail-biting 12-11 success over the Blues last night at Suncorp, both around the park and with Cooper’s boot, landing four from five penalty attempts.
Genia was the General for the Reds to get out of jail. He made things happen in a mighty tough night at the office.
They knew they were in for it when the Blues put together 22 phases from the kick-off. It was four minutes before the Reds touched the ball, and eight minutes before they touched it a second time.
Both times they kicked it away immediately they were under the pump
But for a side that has scored 11 tries in their last three games, this was hardly the Reds we know.
Sure they moved the ball along the backline very smoothly, but they went nowhere as the swarming Blues defence consistently mowed them down, more often than not behind the advantage line.
Looking at the stats, you wonder how on earth the Blues lost.
They scored the only try, enjoyed 54% possession, won the rucks and mauls by a staggering 129 to 73, while the Reds missed 22 tackles to 3.
Go figure.
It just goes to prove any side can have an off night, but when push turns to shove, the top sides find a way to win.
It was pure guts and determination in this case, with another bumper crowd of 31,050 proving inspirational.
The result added another record to the Reds’ credit as the only Australian side to win all four Super Rugby games against the New Zealand Conference in the one season – 18-12 against the Hurricanes away, 34-33 against the Highlanders away, 31-23 over the Chiefs away, and last night’s 12-11 home success, scoring 10 tries to 6.
But from a Wallaby standpoint, only Genia, Cooper, winger Digby Ioane, skipper James Horwill, and flanker Liam Gill would have caught coach Robbie Deans’ eye, even though Gill had a quiet game by his normal standards.
So the Reds top the Australian Conference momentarily, depending on how the Brumbies fare against the Force tonight.
There’s little doubt the Reds and the Brumbies will dominate Wallaby selections, and providing there’s not a spate of injuries like last year’s horrendous 35, the Lions are in for a real workout in the three-Test series, and so are the All Blacks and Boks in the Rugby Championship.
There’s an air of confidence building among the top Wallabies that’s been missing for sometime. And about time.
There’s also a competitiveness and hunger that’s been missing since the Rod Macqueen days when the Wallabies won the World and Bledisloe Cups, and beat the Lions – the lot.
Current coaches, Ewen McKenzie (Reds) and Jake White (Brumbies), and to be fair Michael Cheika (Waratahs) as well, are all keen to let the ball do the talking and not the boot, so it’s up to Deans to keep that momentum going and unleash his backline against the Lions.
This can be Robbie Deans’ most successful season if he dumps safety-first rugby for flair.
The jury is out, but waiting to give a thumbs up verdict.
Matt
Guest
Every time they held they ball they turned it over at the breakdown. I was relieved they kicked it!
Robbo
Guest
Fair comment. Unfortunately our pool of talent is sapped by the fixation on mindless rugby league, which has far more players, fans and money. Not to speak of AFL. We still manage to beat you at your national religion often enough to be embarrassing.
Marc David
Guest
put Folau at 13 for the Wallabies
Cattledog
Roar Guru
I agree with you, Adsa. Slipper was strong tonight and surprised this wasn't mentioned by DL.
swifty
Guest
there you go again Jiggles putting facts in the story
Handles
Guest
I wish there was an ignore function for any post with "TembaJV" and "Reds" in it. Reds ran for 465 metres against the Blues, the Brumbies ran for 442 metres last week. Quade passed 21 times last night. Brumbies threw 15 passes from first five last week. Brumbies conceded 16 penalties last week, Reds 9 on Friday. I don't know how you define playing rugby, Temba, but clearly the Reds ran further, passed more, were less cynical at the breakdown, AND THEY WON. I cannot see how any sensible person can say the Brumbies stats were "far better".
Mental
Guest
I agree about Genia and said so in the game thread but was mostly disagreed with. One thing I was impressed with Genia in this match was his spoiler tactics at the scrum. He was right there spoiling the op 9 every time. Normally he doesn't do this so much.
FlickPass
Guest
McCabe will not be 12, period, Deans no longer picking starting teams. Watch for more smarter selections now that ARU Board members are calling the shots prior to Deans' forthcoming departure.
FlickPass
Guest
Exactly who are you to rate his carries weak?? Sounds like you are some kind of "arm chair general" sitting in some room passing judgement on a young athelete, some credentials on your behalf first.
West
Guest
Good lord, David calm down super rugby is all well and good and for an Australian stand point you can only hope that this year is better than last as far as going against AB, a draw is the best they've achieved maybe they might win one that would be amazing.....gee imagine that. Claim the bledisloe back, heaven help us if that happens ...never hear the end oF it, till we get it back the next year anyway. Good luck wallabies. Cooper will be back to his fumbling best cant handle test rugby.
Handles
Guest
underhanded?
Shane
Guest
The canes would have him they dont mind having a first five that can't tackle
Chivas
Guest
I don't know. For the final 30 I watched, he was everywhere and linking with everyone. I was hoping he might have a lie down, because if he did, the blues would have won. I thought he was toxic for the blues and bloody good for the reds. I'm no Cooper fan, but for mine he played pretty solid football in the 30 I saw. If you don't want him, I'm pretty sure the Brumbies, Rebeks and Force wouldn't say no. He can even come across the ditch. I know a few super sides in NZ that would like to have his crap game playing for them at the moment.
Justin2
Guest
Wow, go and get a rugby education fella, that's embarrassing...
Justin2
Guest
And plays in the best team in the world year in year out. I think you understand my point though...
Chivas
Guest
I guess from that I have a few questions.. How do people know who is going to be picked, including McCabe? Do people just love the drama of making big statements... I mean the dramatic effect of making grand statements and disappearing into the ether is pretty common, so I guess it provides some gratification to some folk. Finally with Mehrts and Spencer they were pushed back to counter with there huge punts, obviously Spencer could read a game, was pretty creative and had a turn of speed... some suggested he be a fullback. But what is the reason for Quade to go back, his punt is not spectacular, his pace is okay; he's a bit taller than spencer and I like hi gliding style (reminiscent of that Brumbies first five (not quite the pace of Larkham...I don't understand the reason why? Ewen has coached the reds to a pretty solid position. Just wonder if the fullback is really crap and can't run, cant kick, can't link. Finally, can Quade play the traditional first five role, where defensively you have far less time to prepare and think? He looks like he is stepping up his defence, but I don't know what that means if he were asked to defend in the traditional position. In saying all that I don't think there is anyone within spitting distance of him, but would it be playing him out of position if it were requested of him to play a more traditional role with Mogg having the ability to counter pretty well without QC's help?
Rebel
Guest
2012 IRB player of the year. What do they know.
Chivas
Guest
I think it funny that you think there was an alternative to McCabe. This OTT love in some have with Deans and McCabe all adds to the drama and excitement it appears for some. The team hasn't been picked but Peter knows who it's going to be. As for Cooper defending at 15 for his counter attack, what is the point of having a 15 who can't counter. What can he do? Anyway, that was said a little tongue in cheek, both Deans and Henry were doing it before McKenzie was even thought of as a super coach to save the Reds and the Wallabies. If you give it a m
Dan
Guest
Great, you're quoting espn - an American site with only perfunctory knowledge of rugby. Cooper made a couple decent tackles, and slipped off a dozen more. He did nothing creative and made little impact on the match. It was the reds forwards and genia who won the match
Dan
Guest
Wait, are you seriously comparing Cooper to Carter?