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I’m just going to start this by saying, let’s hope for everyone’s sake that the Wallabies win this Lions series.
Like many of us I have reached my personal threshold of vitriol and violence in the season finale of Game of Thrones, it can wait another year. Heaven help us that this sentiment has continued in the media given the nature of the Wallabies’ selections.
The third estate of society is the sporting institutions that surround us; it similarly tracks along political lines.
The Super Rugby franchises represent the respective states and the Wallabies represent all of us. Everyone has his or her vote and beliefs, however it doesn’t necessarily mean that we all agree, or that either one of us a right.
Before the Rugby World Cup in 2011 Graham Henry publicly stated that only Quade Cooper could stop the All Blacks. Robbie took the bait and the rest is history; Sir Graham had the last laugh in the end.
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me – it is unlikely that Robbie is going to be goaded into the same mistake again.
The mind games have already begun. It’s easy for the Lions et al to politic similar opinions at this point in time.
If the Lions win the series, they can largely attribute that to not picking Quade. iI they can manage to lure and bait the Wallabies into playing him they have a greater chance of winning because they can capitalise on the deficiencies in his game.
It’s even easier for the incumbent Ewen McKenzie to take pot-shots afar and defend Quade and the Reds. After all it was the two of them that played a great hand in turning the Reds’ fortunes around. They may have presented a platform to win, but they still didn’t get the bacon.
Catch 22.
This Lions series is not about doing the right things; it’s about doing things right. Robbie Deans has picked a squad to do a job, and it is purely to win.
The reality is that Test match rugby is about the percentages. The mistake that in the first five minutes of a match might cost you an inch, later could cost you a penalty and the match.
Sometimes harsh truths need to be spoken; Quade just doesn’t cut it at the top level. If you were to compare the world’s best, there is daylight between Dan Carter and Quade Cooper.
The likes of Pat McCabe, Berrick Barnes, Ben Robinson, James Horwill, Genia, Ashley-Cooper are worth their weight in gold in a Wallabies jersey.
Given the hullaballoo of Quade’s axing, the likes of O’Connor, Joe Tomane and Christian Lealiifano are flying under the radar. They have that X-factor that the Lions camp fear and are are certainly capable of stepping it up a gear come game day.
Let’s just wait and see if the Robbie gets the last laugh this time, after all the war is turning to the north; Winter is Coming.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.