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The ARU and Toulon have come to a common sense agreement that Wallaby Quade Cooper can play three international sevens tournaments and qualify for the Rio Olympics.
Even though Cooper will be a marquee sevens rep with all that extra space to accommodate his speed and slick passing, there’s no way his inclusion alone can win Olympic gold.
In fact, the Australians will have big problems beating Fiji, New Zealand, South Africa and England.
They need Israel Folau and Kurtley Beale to bridge the gap to make Rio gold possible.
Their inclusion will not impact on any Wallabies fixtures in 2016, so they will be available to retain the Rugby Championship, regain the Bledisloe, and beat England in the three-Test series in the June window.
But the inclusion of the talented twosome will clash with four Waratahs fixtures.
March 4, Brumbies at GIO clashes with the Las Vegas Sevens. April 16, Brumbies at Allianz clashes with the Singapore Sevens. May 14, Bulls at Allianz clashes with the Paris Sevens. And May 20, Crusaders at Christchurch clashes with the Twickenham Sevens.
So there’s some soul-searching to be done by both the ARU and Waratahs to slot in Folau and Beale. Can the Waratahs regain their Super title without Folau and Beale for four games?
Big question, it is a tough call.
But it’s also worth repeating – no Folau and no Beale in the sevens squad means no Rio gold.
Apart from the flying Pama Fou, who has chalked up 75 international sevens tries, Henry Speight, and skipper Ed Jenkins, who is a bit of a cowboy like cricket’s Glenn Maxwell, the current Australian men’s squad is pedestrian.
They constantly throw lob-balloon passes, and there’s rarely snap or vision in their play.
Cooper, Folau and Beale would provide plenty of snap and vision, that’s the way they play their 15-man rugby.
The Australian women proved far more professional and slick in winning the Dubai Sevens by comprehensively beating Russia 31-12 in the decider, with Ellia Green named player of the final, and selected in the tournament’s rep side.
They were really impressive, and have been installed as early Rio gold medal favourites.
On the other side of the coin, interim head coach Scotty Bowen summed up the men best.
“Last week in Dubai we created enough chances to make a real impact, but couldn’t execute when it counted most,” he said.
They were beaten in the quarter-final by Fiji 19-12, and by South Africa in the Plate final 19-14 in extra time, and while both scorelines look close the Australians butchered so many chances it was cruel to watch.
One stat that will keep the sevens format knockers quiet are the rugby fans who are voting with their feet.
In Dubai, there were 100,000 spectators over the two days, and for Cape Town this week 110,000 tickets have already been sold.
Like it or not, the sevens are here to stay, and it’s high time the ARU recognised its importance on the rugby calendar.