Legendary Wallabies five-eighth Stephen Larkham has defended Quade Cooper and says halfback Will Genia hasn’t missed a beat after rejoining the battle for the contentious halves positions.
Reds stars Genia and Cooper were Australia’s first-choice halves in their big matches at the last Rugby World Cup, but both have both struggled with fitness and form more recently.
They are vying with Waratahs duo Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley for the No.9 and No.10 jerseys heading into the World Cup starting next month.
The two Queenslanders started in the first Test of the year, but Genia missed the last three following knee surgery and has only rejoined the squad this week.
Phipps and Foley started the second and third Tests of the campaign, with Cooper and Nic White filling the run on spots in the last match.
Cooper came in for criticism after Australia conceded 21 points after his tackle on the All Blacks’ Aaron Smith led to him being sin-binned.
Larkham, a World Cup winner in 1999 and now the Wallabies’ attack coach, said he was very happy with Cooper’s overall effort in the heavy loss in Auckland.
“He really only made two mistakes in that game, he threw one pass around the back and he made that head high tackle and that was quite significant in the washup of the game,” Larkham said.
“Including that try (New Zealand scored) 21 points in that ten minutes when he was off the ground, so playing with 14 men against the best team in the world it’s going to be difficult and we certainly hadn’t planned for that.
“But apart from that – and we’ve specifically spoken about the first 25 minutes as being very dominant from our perspective – we were very happy with the way he played.”
He wasn’t overly concerned about Genia not having played for over a month.
“He’s a bit like (former captain and halfback) George Gregan, he gets himself right,” Larkham said.
“He knows what his body is doing and he knows what he has to do to get back on the paddock.
“We’ve seen it this week. He’s come back in from the rehab program now and hasn’t missed a beat.”
Larkham said the Wallabies coaches had a fair idea about their starting halves for the opening World Cup match against Fiji, but would continue looking at different combinations in the leadup, with Matt Giteau and Matt Toomua other options for the five-eighth spot.
“We’ll make a decision on our selection based on whether we think combination is going to be important or whether we think the guys can handle a change week to week,” Larkham said.
He said some players who had participated in every Super Rugby round and Test were likely to be rested for the warmup match against the United States early next month.
“We’re being very careful with our preparation going into the World Cup, making sure the guys are fresh when they get there,” Larkham said.
Mike
Guest
"If you can remove your distorted lenses, you’d have to admit Foley just cannot hack it in Test rugby." So everyone who thinks that Foley CAN hack it in Test rugby (including Michael Cheika, Stephen Larkham and numerous respected commentators) are wearing "distorted lenses" . It must be tough knowing that you are the only sane person in the world... "He is lucky he is Australia with little competition" Good point, although I don't think you thought about that point before making it. "try an explain how Douglas..." Right, you can't hack a debate about Foley so now you want to move on to another player. The choice of lock has some relevance to choice of flyhalf - sure.... Who's next - Timani, Arnold, Alexander?
Mike
Guest
"Saying Foley was just as bad as Cooper in their last outings simply highlights YOUR prejudice." Ahhh, so if someone has a different opinion to yours they are "prejudiced". Thanks for proving my point. And yes, they are excuses which you offer for Cooper only and never for another player. Same old, same old.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I think combinations now have to come into play regarding backline selection. I think they should start with this backline in the opening RWC game, Genia Cooper AAC Toomua Kuridriani Speight Izzy This backline ( save for Tomane ) was our first choice backline on the EOYT in 2013, they played some terrific rugby. I'd have Giteau and Beale on the bench.
RT
Guest
How many test did Henry or Hansen play for NZ. Stupid comment. You don't need to have to have cooked the fries to be the CEO of McDonald's.
Zuluman
Guest
I would suggest a combination of Phipps-Giteau-Toomua for the 9-10-12 axis and giving Genia ,Beale and Quade a chance in the last 15 to open the game up. I see this is where things may end up come the business end
Markus
Guest
We also read that [insert name of any other player beside Cooper] is a much better and more reliable option before, after and during every game Cooper plays, even when said player's recent games were even worse. Both set of comments get old. None of the options have been safe, consistent or reliable. And to be honest that is an issue that has largely plagued the majority of the Wallabies squad for years now, in all positions.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Both were poor. That's all that really matters.
niwdEyaJ
Roar Guru
Yep, I agree that's probably the strongest 9, 10, 12 combo we can put out... I'd have CLL on the bench to come in for either QC or Toomua depending on how the game is panning out... The other strong combo would be White, Toomua, Giteau, again with CLL on the bench or starting with Toomua on the bench... CLL offers so much versatility being able to play both 10 & 12 that it's quite unfathomable that he's been left out in favor or Beale/Foley, neither of whom play 10 or 12 to the same standard.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I think that's the main point. Every candidate has been poor. Nobody has taken their opportunities and made the position their own. That's of most concern for the team. And why we are no closer to knowing the halves combo Still we will always read that it was some external force outside of Quade's control that made him have a bad game. Thankfully he would take responsibility for his own poor actions and know that it has been years since he has stepped up to an acceptable level. Every player has to lift.
Markus
Guest
Larkham personally has been there and won it, he is yet to coach a team there though. So unless he is intending to strap the boots on again and bring Gregan with him, his knowledge of which current players could make the winning 9&10 combo is no stronger than Cheika's.
Machooka
Roar Guru
@ apelu As forthright as your opinion most certainly is... I'm just wondering what level of rugby you played ? I mean... commenting that 'Cheika has no idea' is pretty unequivocal, yeah ??
PeterK
Roar Guru
Larkham has been a great public supporter of QC. I do not believe if Larkham had the only say in the backline that he would pick White, Cll and Toomua as his 9,10,12. IMO it would be White, QC and Toomua, the trio that started against the AB's last up.
apelu
Guest
If Larkham was picking the team, Foley, Phipps and Quade would not made it. He knows which 9&10 combo can work; he's been there and won it. Chieka has no idea; he never played rugby at that level. But he is the one picking the team.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Bernie defending one of his players... novel idea.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Foley was worse against the AB's despite being behind a dominant pack
Markus
Guest
"If you first five can’t manage to clear effectively without making crucial mistakes and lead the team up the field off his boot, running and accuracy of his pass… then he shouldn’t be there." I don't disagree, but if we go solely by a player's last performance this criteria would see Cooper, Foley and Toomua all ejected from the World Cup squad.
niwdEyaJ
Roar Guru
Not "excuses" Mike, I'm offering genuine and legitimate reasons why Quads has struggled so far. Saying Foley was just as bad as Cooper in their last outings simply highlights YOUR prejudice.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Larkham is correct in his evaluation of QC's game, he did not have a shocker as the media and QC haters like to portray.
Chivas
Guest
The rhetoric is strong in this one Luke... Dan Carter played rubbish and it had jack to do with the forward pack. Cooper can only play off front foot ball. So if the team is under the pump, Cooper goes AWOL and is a liability? But if the team is going well then he is a star? If you first five can't manage to clear effectively without making crucial mistakes and lead the team up the field off his boot, running and accuracy of his pass... then he shouldn't be there. It is a pivotal position and excusing playing rubbish because of the forward pack is nonsense. There have been many world class first fives who could tackle, kick and pass accurately regardless of what the forward pack were up to. Cooper can hardly lay his mistakes at the feet of the forwards as Dan couldn't when they played in Sydney. His kick-offs were rubbish as was putting the ball dead from an attacking penalty. What your comment really says is Cooper needs lots of opportunities because his execution is hit and miss.
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
As long as they only play Uruguay