All Blacks legend Andrew Mehrtens has urged Wallabies selectors to “100 percent” back Noah Lolesio as their No.10 for the 2023 World Cup, while saying James O’Connor is short of being “world class”.
Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday, Mehrtens said the selection of Quade Cooper to play against South Africa on Sunday “highlights the sad state of No.10 depth in Australia”.
The former New Zealand flyhalf turned pundit, warned Australia fans not to expect too much from 33-year-old Cooper after fur years out of Test rugby, but refelected that Cooper’s comments have shown he has a relaxed mindset ahead of his much awaited return.
But Mehrtens said he did not believe Cooper was a realistic candidate to wear the No.10 at the next World Cup.
“It appears James O’Connor will be gunning to be the side’s No.10 at the 2023 tournament but a growing collective initiative in the Wallabies, which involves thinking on their feet rather than reverting to structure, will suit Noah Lolesio’s game better,” Mehrtens wrote.
James O’Connor. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
“If executed, it could result in a more dangerous and unpredictable team by 2023.
“That’s not to say that O’Connor can’t play that game but realistically, Lolesio is the future and I’m sure Rennie will be letting the youngster know that.
“Wallabies coaching staff should be telling Lolesio he’s their guy. They need to be 100 per cent honest when giving feedback but back him 100 per cent.”
Mehrtens said he expected Lolesio to have a break after playing in the six domestic Tests so far, adding “a lack of depth meant he couldn’t be managed through that period.”
And Mehrtens was dismissive of O’Connor’s claims on the jersey for 2023.
“Is O’Connor actually world-class? You would have to say probably not,” Mehrtens wrote.
“He has been lauded for his new-found maturity in the No.10 position in recent seasons but of all the tier-one nations in the world, I’m not sure how many would swap their No.10 for O’Connor.
“Under O’Connor is Lolesio, who oozes talent, but is still a work in progress. Then who?”
Mehrtens said Matt To’omua and Reece Hodge are potential stop gap measures while Waratahs duo Will Harrison and Ben Donaldson have to have more games to prove themselves as options.
Meanwhile New Zealand coach Ian Foster was unsure what impact Cooper would have on the field, when asked to comment on Friday.
“To be fair, I haven’t spent too much time thinking about that, but I’ll try to come up with an adequate answer for you,” Foster said.
“He certainly creates a lot of interest, particularly over here [in Australia], but I haven’t really seen Quade play for two or three years, so I’m really not too sure how to comment on that.
“I know the Quade of old has a lot going for him and, from what I hear, he’s done really well in their camp, so I’m sure they’ve picked him for a reason.
“In some ways, when you’ve lost a few, you are looking for a little bit of a change in seasoning in your squad to add a different flavour, and he’ll certainly bring that.”
New Zealand Herald columnist Phil Gifford, meanwhile, was scathing of Cooper’s selection in a story titled ‘Wallabies with Quade Cooper seem destined for disaster.’
“You’re the Wallabies playing South Africa on Sunday,” Gifford wrote.
“The most realistic summation of how things just went for you against the All Blacks came from your best back, halfback Tate McDermott. He said “we’re pretty soft.”
“South Africa have big ball-running forwards, who are basically cinder blocks in boots. They especially like to run the channels close to the breakdowns and scrums.
“So you pick Quade Cooper at first-five?
“In what universe does that make sense?”
Gifford added: “If you’ve ever seen him in a boxing ring there’s no question about the man’s courage. His tackling limitations are therefore something of a mystery.
“But one thing does feel more certain. If defence was a shaky area for him in his 20s, nobody in the game would suggest that in his 30s a couple of seasons in the relatively relaxed arena of Japanese club rugby will have sharpened things up.”
Carole Ford
Guest
Andrew Mehertens is a Kiwi. therefore like Robbie Deans did to the Wallabies, he is going to give the worst case scenario. Example he is going to push for Lolisia, because he knows he has no flare and will NOT be successful at the world cup. We have no depth at 10. so we must use Quade or James. Harrison or Donaldson before Lolisia.
Carole Ford
Guest
Yes! Discipline is a huge problem for the Wallabies. I've suggested they set tests for the team to see if they know the rules. Also, I suggest they drop the repeated offenders, as Scotland did with Finn Russell, for his night out on the town.
Carole Ford
Guest
Mertens is an ex All Back, and has it in for O'Connor, just like Fisher and McKellar. O'Connor is world class like Quade. Put Tate and O'Connor together. Lolasia has NO flare. The Brumbies have never forgiven James for scoring the winning try. Bernard Foley is a has been. He didn't succeed in the last world cup. Don't forget James can play in ALL of the back line. Quade or Lolisa cant do that. Stop being political, and let the head coach pick the team instead of Fisher and Co.
Carole Ford
Guest
Why are you NOT mentioning James O'Connor for the world cup 2023. You need him to back up Quade.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-phil-gifford-wallabies-with-quade-cooper-seem-destined-for-disaster/RT36PJNCDCLDWL36WDPSV72VQE/# We can be wrong Phil!
PeterK
Roar Guru
HJ - Just a note to say your good article is not accepting any comments
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
hashtag comments that age well
Joe King
Roar Rookie
yeah, yeah
wigeye
Guest
Skeltons a old slow unfit draughthorse you better to blood new
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Tooly, yep Boks will try and exploit Quades defensive "weakness" but surely Quade will have a "minder" on his hip. It truly will be interesting to see how effective QC is and on the players around him.
wigeye
Guest
Yes they knew not to throw him to the lions den allblacks.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Mehrtens sum it up well. The future is Lolisio with Harrison . There is no future with JOC , Toomua or Hodge. Quadie is better than any of them. Deficiencies in defence have nothing to do with lack of courage. You don’t play rugby without courage. I have noticed that light footed agile players are not great defensive player. You can’t have everything.
Fuji
Guest
To repeat myself once again what a poor light this puts the whole rugby set up in Aus that no super rugby teams have developed any fly half’s . Pop gun Foley and no tackle Quad with a couple of NZ players in super rugby. When are we ever going to learn.
Dean
Guest
In 2021 Harrison played behind one of the weakest packs in SR history, was without a SR level halfback for much of the season while Gordon was injured, got injured himself when Gordon returned (which gave Donaldson a chance to shine), then got locked in by NSW COVID restrictions preventing any possibility of joining the squad later like Cooper and Paia'aua did. Hard to man manage these circumstances. But they may yet turn out to be a blessing if it allows Harrison and/or Donaldson a more gradual path to the top level.
matt o'connell
Guest
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: I'm not sure how many reading this will know what you mean, JJ!
Lara
Guest
Wasted years. Got in early, given plenty of opportunities n now it is all to late. JOC is not World Class in any position, but good in a number of them. The timespan in sports is very short n that can be very cruel .
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
"probably"???
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
He won't be defending in the 9-10 channel Haydo. I can see him and MK swapping in defense. Unfortunately its window to the past, but can't see it working any other way.
Bate
Guest
1. Slipper 2. Latu 3. Alaalatoa 4. Skelton 5. Arnold 6. Salakaia-Loto 7. Hooper 8. Wilson 9. White 10. Cooper 11. Korobiete 12. Kerevi 13. Petaia 14. Vunivalu 15. Hodge 16. Uelese 17. Bell 18. Tupou 19. Rodda 20. Naisarani 21. McMahon 22. McDermott 23. O’Connor Starting to come together
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
You are not quite alone. JOC is a fine rugby player and there's a lot to like in his personal story. He can play at 10, but he doesn't have the complete skill set, nor does he have, in my observation, the instincts of a true 10. Mehrtens is not just one of the greatest 10's I have seen, for all that he likes to stir the pot a bit, he is a thinker on the game and reasonably articulate. I don't always share his views, but I always find them comprehensible. I am lock step with him on this. I find the man management of some our young 10 candidates absolutely mystifying. We look hell bent on repeating the disasters of Pat Howard, Scott Bowen, Matt Toomua with Lolesio. We look determined not to give some measured, incremental exposure to the likes of Harrison (who I think played 10 to Lolesio's 12 in the very successful Under 20's side of 2019) and some other similar potential candidates. Dismal and never ending.