Wallabies vice-captain Adam Ashley-Cooper is hoping the ARU’s decision to free up elite overseas-based players for Test selection allows Matt Giteau to join one of the most exclusive clubs in Australian rugby.
Ashley-Cooper is among only five Australians to have earned more than 100 Test caps, having famously posed in cricket whites in the Wallabies’ team photo before raising his bat against the All Blacks last year.
The versatile back joined George Gregan (139 Tests), Nathan Sharpe (116), George Smith (111) and David Campese (101) in reaching his century and is delighted to be one of the big beneficiaries of the ARU’s policy change.
The 31-year-old stalwart could finish 2015 with as many as 115 Tests under his belt before potentially adding even more to his tally while enjoying life in Bordeaux after the World Cup.
“I said long before even the speculation about these change of rules, that I’d put my hand up to play for Australia,” said Ashley-Cooper, currently on 104 Tests.
“Whether or not I’ll be fast enough or sharp enough to do that, that’d be up to me in years to come.
“I certainly wasn’t expecting for any of those rules to change, but I see it as a great reward for guys who have given either seven years or 60 caps of service to the Australian Rugby Union.
“In the end, I think you’ll see that it will actually retain young players and give them that incentive to reach that criteria and give them an option later on in their career.
“It’s a win win for the player that’s reached that goal and also for the ARU that’s going to be able to conserve a little bit of money to put into the youth of Australian rugby.”
Above all, Ashley-Cooper is chuffed at the prospect of three of Australia’s finest players rekindling their international careers – possibly as early as the Rugby Championship in – and most notably Giteau.
The midfield playmaker has been stranded on 92 Tests since being controversially overlooked by former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
“There’s a few guys there that are eligible – George Smith, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, all close friends of mine that I’ve spent many years with, many Tests with, many tours with,” Ashley-Cooper said.
“So that could be a special moment.
“But I think obviously highlighting Gits’ career, it gives him a really good opportunity to reach that 100 Tests that he deserves.
“So I think it’s up to him now. The ball’s in his court to be playing well and performing well to granted selection in the World Cup squad.”
AUSTRALIA’S MOST-CAPPED WALLABIES:
George Gregan – 139 Tests
Nathan Sharpe – 116 Tests
George Smith – 111 Tests
Adam Ashley-Cooper – 104 Tests
David Campese – 101 Tests
Matt Giteau – 92 Tests
Bfc
Guest
Agree that a centre pairing of Kerevi and Kuridrani is worth a shot, especially if the QC/Toomua is not possible for whatever reason...Kerevi has great hands and has shown he not just a 'bash it up' centre. His footwork against the Canes was excellent. Am bemused that AA-C thinks anyone 'deserves' 100 caps, and Gits is way past his prime and only playing club rugby. Hardly conditioned for Test rugby... But maybe AA-C has a line on selection policy a-la 'player power'...?
MARTO
Guest
So we want another midget in the backline??? .NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How many times did Barnes play NZ and SA at 10 though? In 2008 and 2009 Giteau was generally 1st choice 10. In 2010 and 2011 Cooper was. in 2012 it was Beale. Barnes played a handful of games at 10 in that period, rarely against the top teams. By 2012 he was actually used primarily at fullback. Even when Quade was suspended in 2010, Giteau moved to 10. Barnes record at 10 would be primarily comprised of RWC pool games against minnows in 2007 when Larkham was injured, and a Wales test series in 2012 with only tests against NZ or SA in case of injury. Certainly wasn't a bad player I agree Mike. But not the type of player to be very influential at 10. Would work well behind a dominant pack, but unable to create many opportunities.
Mike
Guest
Which also describes Cooper for much of his career. He has improved a lot in that area in recent years but that does fairly describe him during 2009-2011. Until last year Barnes had a higher winning percentage as 5/8 than Cooper did. He wasn't a bad player.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No he wasn't. He made far less errors. But most people don't make too many errors standing deep in the pocket and not challenging the defense.
Westie
Guest
Then why do you keep appearing?
piru
Guest
My apologies - 2011 (would you believe I actually correct that to 2013 thinking the world cup can't have been that long ago?). I agree he's not been too bad since he came back from injury (still far from great and far from Aussies best) but better players have been shown the door for lesser atrocities than 11. It's a pity Barnes had the concussion issues he had, he was a far better 10 than Cooper ever was
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That's because 2013 wasn't a disaster. In 2013 Cooper showed he actually was a test 10. But most importantly, he'd addressed his weaknesses. He showed strong test form despite the team struggling against SA and NZ in the last away games. Cooper was poor for about 20 minutes at Eden Park in 2011, and people taint his whole career as being like that. (He also did have average performances in 2012).
piru
Guest
Agree re: Giteau - I'd take him as a utility back up - there's no position he is 1st choice for in the Aussie backline.
piru
Guest
It's astonishing how quickly people forget that Cooper is not a test 10. He's great against weak sides, but put him under any sort of pressure and he collapses in upon himself, running sideways (if not backwards) and throwing flick passes to no one. The fact that he is even still in the discussion after the disaster of 2013 is.. well, astonishing.
Karl Knuth
Roar Pro
Wouldn't just blame Foley, Phipps was pretty horrible as well.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Mike, you'll find NB's recollection is generally fictitious in some way. He rarely supports his claim with a little research (which can easily be done by just looking at espnscrum.com.au) but tries to pass it off as fact.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Mike, it's highly likely that any coach would pick Foley right now. He's at the very worst, the 3rd best 10 option. That's the worst, saying that Cooper and Toomua could be better. Personally I think he's our 2nd best option. If Cooper is not fit and able to show form, then he's our best option. I have an objection to anybody saying he should be an automatic selection by virtue of his 2014 performances though.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You can go 2 ways with your 12. You can do what the Top 5 teams do and have a big 12. Or you can do what France do and have a small 12. Which way seems to work better in a successful team?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Ireland played South Africa 2 weeks before they played Australia.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I'm saying the year that saw him dropped from the starting team. Which is the year AFTER he was nominated, as he was nominated in 2009. Beale was nominated in 2010. He was also nominated there playing 10, which he has since shown to be unsuitable at.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
It's ok. We just all wished he was there rather than Beale. I honestly believe McKenzie picked Beale for those 2 games because Foley was rather mediocre at France and he thought he needed more out of our 10 to win games. After those 2 I'm sure he realised that Foley was in fact the best option at the time and he was going to need to work with that going forward. As for possession, that's my point. There's mostly a correlation. You could not point to an isolated game, but when there is a trend of it, it's more than likely the pack has achieved ascendency.
Mike
Guest
Looking over the stats, I've got Cooper playing at 12 for most games on the 2009 EOYT, with Giteau at 10. Then he plays every test in 2010 at 10, with Giteau at 12. With the exception of two tests where he was suspended for trying to use Morne Steyn as a tent pole, so Giteau shifted back into 10. "Yes Cooper can be top class and yes he can be inconsistent if he isnt injured." Yep.
Mike
Guest
Sorry, I thought you meant selecting him at test level.
Fin
Guest
Yep the Brumbies have clearly gone down hill since then.