Quade Cooper and Will Genia reminded what might have been for the Queensland and what they could do again for the Wallabies as they dragged the Reds clear of wooden spoon territory.
In only his second match of the Super Rugby season, Cooper returned from a two-month absence due to a second shoulder fracture this year to orchestrate the Reds’ 32-10 win over the Western Force in Perth on Saturday night.
The playmaker was all class as he scored two tries, set up the other two and bagged 22 of the team’s points, and his combination with former longtime Wallabies halves partner Genia was a treat to watch.
While Cooper and Genia sent a reminder to Wallabies coach Michael Cheika that must be considered for the Rugby Championship Tests and World Cup, the win was just the Reds’ fourth in a tough season and they’re looking for a strong finish against the Chiefs and Waratahs.
“The World Cup is probably not really a focus for me at the moment and it’s not at the forefront of anyone’s mind,” said Reds coach Richard Graham.
“The team has put in a lot of effort and the season hasn’t gone the way we wanted to, but we did start the season with 14 injuries so we’ve struggled to build continuity with a combination.
“This win is a glimpse I guess of what we’ve been attempting to do all season.”
Force coach Michael Foley had impressed with the attitude of his team for much of the season despite just two wins, but he didn’t like what he saw against the Reds and hopes it improves at home to the Brumbies and away to the Rebels to finish a disappointing season.
“Attitude is central to what we want to see and that manifests itself mostly in the attacking contact area, the breakdown and in the line speed in defence,” Foley said.
“If we get that breakdown area right I think there’s enough signs there to suggest we can do something with the ball, but if we are getting slow ball we are running into brick walls and there’s just no point.”
LikesRugby
Guest
HarryT, I'm assuming that the alternative is Phipps-Foley, but if you look at it objectively, they haven't shown in thie Tests together from last year that they can even sustain OK games over the duration of RWC, let alone a higher level of skill over the same period. You can't suggest based on Test (not SR) form that they will do better than Genia-Cooper. You can't blame Genia-Cooper for having appeared on the scene earlier and hence having more off games to gripe about.
LikesRugby
Guest
NB... suggest you rewatch Bledisloe 3 2013, and tell me whether Foley in 2014 did better than Cooper in 2013 against the best team in the World (who incidentally, were unbeaten in 2013 and not 2014). Perfect kicking, drop goal, try-saving tackles, cut-out passes... and in NZ. I will remember that as the match where the crowd stopped booing QC and started applauding him by the end of the match for his work on the field. If Cooper wasn't binned for tackling a microsecond early (we would never have known if the days before HD slow-mo replays) against Wales in 2013, I'm pretty sure he would have been MOTM... In fact you can find many Welsh Compilations of QC's highlights against Wales in 2013. Not so for Foley. Foley isn't bad, but it's a fallacy that Foley defends better than QC or has put in more good performances than QC has. Both have had bad games, but QCs good ones have been so much better than Foley's good ones. Kicking stats also misleading... Foley has not reached his accuracy of last year, but even last year, his stats would be very different if he had to take shots from further out like QC had to when he was in the team.
RobC
Roar Guru
The other prop from City was Phil Kite, who was also excellent. Hes moved to ACT Whatever it is, we need to keep Nick Stiles
Rugby.ftw
Guest
Good team, like the idea of JOC at fullback. Think I would rather go for Higgers at 8 because hes a more dynamic ball runner from the scrum, more in the Read mould, and Timani at 6. I think Timani and Skelton in the same team would be really powerful, and take pressure of each other as the teams go to ball runners, making it a bit harder for teams to shutdown skelton which is gonna be a huge focus for teams playing the wallabies this year.
Len
Guest
Holmes is the best and most consistent tighthead in oz at present.. He is the complete tighhead now .. He is a DEASDSET cert for WALLABIES ..
Len
Guest
Vaea can do Palus job..Give him a crack...
Len
Guest
TRAIN STATION !!!! I`m a bit bewildered that you`d dismiss the only aussie 12 ( KEREVI ) who can bust through tackles on a regular occurrence ??? and get defences backpeddling ( and score tries ) mmm.. Not even tried in the RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ?? but you`d consider the green Stirzacker over the very experienced Genia as third halfback?? mmm interesting.
MARTO
Guest
Still unconvinced on 108 KILO Samu Kerevei TWAS ??
Bfc
Guest
The scrum has been one of the few bright light in a dim season for the Reds...Holmes has been very good, and the young props picked from the NRC (Paraka, Faagase, Talakai..?) have all shown that they can scrum and play with 'ball-in-hand'. Pity the game will not be at Lang Park...the joint would have been packed! Still, I hope the fickle Sydneysiders show up in big numbers...the game, and what is 'on the line', warrants a massive crowd.
Bfc
Guest
Ran out of blue ink...?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Foley would be on my bench. His ability to cover 10 and 15 makes Beale unnecessary. Kerevi is no chance. Lacks versatility, has too many errors and lacks the defensive leadership that Toomua offers. I would not have Timani in the same squad as Skelton. He's more of the same in terms of strengths and weaknesses. His impact also isn't as high as the start of the season it seems. We cannot afford 2 locks who are not strong line out operators and he lacks the work rate of a 6.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well for QC we have 2012, 2013 AND 2014 test matches to look at. For Giteau we do not. Were there any players that played excellent at Super Rugby level, but were nowhere near as effective at test level lately? Only McMahon, Leali'ifano, Speight, Beale, White, Jones off the top of my head anyway. Giteau's is only relevant because there is nothing more recent. And even still. Cooper's 2011 form is far more compelling than Giteau's.
Combesy
Roar Guru
Yeah Timani would be worth a crack peter. He could be added to the hooper/fardy line for impact off the bench. If he impresses then of course consider him for a starting berth. I agree with you that changes need to be made, but it doesn't neccessarily have to be new blood. It can come in new partnerships. I.e new centre pairing, new backrow, new outside backs combination, new bench front row. Unfortunately we don't have the depth to throw too many out.
PeterK
Roar Guru
So the only new blood worth trying is kerevi. Palu seems well off his intl form. I believe it is worth seeing how Timani goes as a similar type of player as Palu except younger and faster, with more endurance.
Utah
Guest
I like that team Jameswm.
Combesy
Roar Guru
For the RC I'd like to see something like this 1. slipper 2. Moore 3. Kepu 4. Skelton 5. Simmons 6. Higginbotham/fardy 7. Pocock 8. Palu 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Folau 12. Kerevi 13. Kuridrani 14. Speight 15. JOC 16. Hanson (don't think TPN will be fit) 17. Sio 18. Holmes 19. Horwill 20. Hooper/fardy 21. Phipps 22. Foley 23. AAC
PeterK
Roar Guru
even better if you have Timani at 6
PeterK
Roar Guru
agree I could Not (be) Bothered
Combesy
Roar Guru
Any team that leaves the most in form tight head (Holmes) and selects Dennis isn't worth taking serious
Brian USA
Guest
I would almost like to see this team in one of the pool games just to see how it would go: 1. Sio/Slipper (I'm torn) 2. Moore 3. Kepu 4. Skelton 5. Simmons 6. Fardy 7. Pocock 8. Higgers 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Horne (form winger in Aus) 12. Kerevi 13. Kuridrani 14. Folau 15. Foley 16. Hansen 17. Slipper/Sio (whichever doesn't start) 18. Holmes 19. Horwill/Coleman/Timani 20. Hooper 21. Phipps 22. Toomua 23. Speight I know it is a long shot to see anyone other than Folau at 15. But I would be interested to see the damage Kerevi and Kuridrani do in the centers. Without the 2nd 5/8, you need another play-maker presumably at 15, which Foley could play. IMO, this could be a solid starting lineup. but I doubt we will see it...