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Wallaby coach Robbie Deans has made some baffling selections since he took over in 2008, and some baffling quotes. But yesterday he out-baffled himself.
“Quade (Cooper) is a huge talent, he showed that last (Saturday) night, we know what he is capable of,” enthused Deans.
And in the next breath added Cooper wasn’t going to be among the final six to be named later today, or tomorrow.
In other words, Quade Cooper won’t be playing against the Lions after showing how to upset the tourists’ applecart at Suncorp.
A stunning decision that could well cost Deans his job. Flair is the only way the Lions can be beaten, they have far too much overall firepower to play safety-first rugby against them.
But Deans didn’t stop out-baffling himself with Cooper. Kurtley Beale was another.
Having categorically said Beale would be one of the six, he later added his inclusion was dependent on how he trained today.
And while there’s been so much conjecture about the make-up of the final six, Deans invited Beale, Rebels newly-signed half-back Luke Burgess, Brumbies inside-centre Pat McCabe, Brumby prop Scott Sio, and Brumby utility forward Peter Kimlin to Caloundra where the squad will train this week, before moving to Brisbane in the week leading into the first Test at Suncorp on June 22.
There’s five new faces, does that mean there’s just one berth left for the ‘big’ six announcement?
And will that be for open-side flanker legend George Smith who is making a rapid recovery from knee surgery?
Or is it for the Force’s utility forward Hugh McMeniman who was limping yesterday against the Waratahs during his comeback game after nine weeks out with a shoulder injury.
Baffling alright.
Frankly I don’t give a rats about selections so long as the Wallabies beat the Lions. That’s all that counts.
Deans knows better than anyone it’s his neck if the Wallabies lose. So to take the bold stance of his way or the highway is to sink or swim.
I have no problem with the selection of Beale, Kimlin, and the 20-year-old prop Sio.
Hopefully an early recall won’t affect Beale’s rehab program for alcohol problems. His health is far more important than playing against the Lions.
Kimlin had a blinder against the Rebels and Sio wasn’t far behind. Nor was Matt Toomua, who has missed out as well.
I gave Ben Tapuai and Kyle Godwin big chances of beating McCabe for the 12, although there’s no argument McCabe has the runs on the board.
But Burgess hasn’t, and he’s only just back from Toulouse where he’s been for the last three years.
He was a pedestrian half-back for the Wallabies and Waratahs when he left, and he showed nothing new for the Rebels against the Brumbies at the weekend.
Burgess is only there by default because Brumbies half Nic White, an automatic selection, is sidelined with a shoulder injury.
But his recognition highlights the lack of quality half-backs, with Will Genia the maestro and daylight second.
So I’ve left Ewen McKenzie’s quote until last.
In a thinly-veiled crack at Robbie Deans, McKenzie said after the Reds-Lions game – “All we did was present a way to put them under pressure.
“Whether someone wants to mimic that – we’ll see.”
Indeed we will.