Quade Cooper will be on the plane to England on Sunday in a sign he should play some part of the European tour.
Although Wallabies coach Dave Rennie didn’t elaborate, it appears the Wallabies have won, at least for now, the club vs. country struggle over the No.10, with his Japanese side Kintetsu releasing him to travel, as World Rugby regulations are clear they should.
After four Tests in which Cooper seemed to curb his natural flair for the good of the cause, he produced the best and worst of his repertoire on Saturday, throwing several outrageous no look and behind the back passes but also guilty of throwing an intercept that clearly disappointed his coach.
Also travelling is Reece Hodge despite suffering a pectoral injury that will put the rest of campaign in doubt. He will have scans before a decision is made.
(Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)
Here’s everything Rennie had to say in the post-match press conference
On the performance overall
“Rusty and fairly frustrating,” is how Rennie summed up the victory in Oita.
“We played a lot of good footy but we just didn’t kick the ball enough. There was a lot of space where we could apply pressure but we tended to over play.
“We got some good go forward but almost got sucked in to going more phases when they had no cover in the back field. That was disappointing and we ended up putting ourselves under pressure because of it.
“We played a lot of rugby in between the 10 metres and certainly late in the game we got penalised a fair bit around there and even the intercept we’ve got a four on one, we’ve just to give to the guy next to us.
“We’re happy to win, we will be better for that game and they were a good side. Everytime we gave them a bit of a sniff they hurt us. ”
Rennie was asked if his team got “sucked in” to a running battle when a slower game might have suited his team better.
“I wouldn’t sucked in either because they were blowing. We thought they were out on their feet a number of times,” said Rennie.
“We lacked a bit of accuracy at key times. We lacked patience. But it was a good learning experience. We got pretty good go forward from a lot of carries but it was a different type of game than what we’ve been playing and different from what we’ll face in the next three games.”
He said he was impressed by Japan.
“They’re a good side,” he said. “They have outstanding staff who have developed genuine depth and they’re only going to get better. They’re worthy of where they’re sitting in the world and certainly grateful to be playing a lot of tier one nations now compared to a few years ago.”
On Hunter Paisami’s return for Samu Kerevi
“We were really happy with Hunter,” said Rennie. “He played 80 minutes which wasa great effort. He was strong. He was strong defensively. He’ll be so much fitter for a run. He’s had a really good week of preparation.”
On JOC’s late entrance
“We left James on the bench longer because Jordie [Petaia, who replaced injured Reece Hodge] was on early. They’re a very fast finishing side traditionally. And we didn’t want him on the pitch with 20 to go. Unfortunately it often happens. James was the one left on the pine for a little bit longer.”
On the performance at the breakdown
“We were pretty good early on but I thought we weren’t so great late in the game,” said Rennie. “Some of that comes from over play. Some of it was entry – poor decision making from an individual perspective.
“We’ll tidy that up. We’re just a little bit rusty around a couple of areas, we’ve done a ot of work around our carry clean and we’ve just got to be better.”
jeznez
Roar Guru
There should be a scrum captain, often but not always the tighthead.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Doc, it's almost Goldilocks time for a coach. Get the points but still have something to get them re-focussed and not complacent. Concur regarding the RC, provided of course that they want to be!
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Jez, "Looked like Alaalatoa switched off there." Yep, the only scrum in the game when they were in trouble before or after and I thought at the time it's mental, maybe not just AAA. A bit like the scrum against France. Who leads that when the scrum is forming? Cheers
Rohanski
Guest
Can't really comment. Only have free to air TV. Could not watch the game in full, only a few highlights. Thanks Rugby Australia. If we win every game this NH tour, maybe we can call this team The Invisibles.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
I suspect he might not be ready to start but there is so much versatility across the back five and JOC that a bench spot might be looming, assuming no SK. I have been a big critic of HP and I thought Saturday was a good step forward. Presuming no SK, I would like to see him start against Scotland and add in some more dynamic running as we saw from him against the ABs last year.
PeterK
Roar Guru
You first replied to my saying there was a big difference between just holding the scrum steady and tupou forcing penalties. Yet now you actually defend AAA by saying AAA kept the scrum steady and isn’t as good. So what was the point of injecting when you revert to agreeing with what I first posted?
Oblonsky’s Other Pun
Guest
No one said he was as good? Either way though the THP and hooker need to keep the scrum steady to enable the LHP to win the penalty.
PeterK
Roar Guru
would rather see Perese at 12 after that performance by Paisami , if Kerevi is not available.
wigeye
Guest
He was good with high balls was hunter. Would liked to seen hooper off to give another a decent run. Hooper looked stale and off his game . At one stage it looked as if Japan could have pulled the carpet out from under wallabys unlucky Japan but you done well
Muglair
Roar Rookie
This had to be the game where we risked being moved away from what worked in the last four games and Japan delivered. This was the absolute must win game, the wider public would turn away if we lost, no matter how good Japan was. I can see why DR was happy with HP. First game back and urgently needing to underplay his hand. Defended well, was a breakdown presence when required, linked with 13 with only a couple of poor kick choices (I think there were two) marring it. Even then kicks are sometimes called by supports, not indiscriminately made. Now settled in we need to see some of that dynamic running at 12, although he cannot be expected to replicate SK's positional nous in supporting QC at this stage I think.
PeterK
Roar Guru
not when 1 side is clearly beaten by the the opposite prop. AAA's side was stationary and Bell's side forced a hinge. Either way when Tupou was on his side advanced and forced penalties. There is no way AAA is as good in the scrum as TT.
Oblonsky’s Other Pun
Guest
No master of the dark arts but my understanding it is always a team effort in the scrum though.
PeterK
Roar Guru
the penalties in the second half were against their thp , won by Bell not AAA
Oblonsky’s Other Pun
Guest
Didn’t we win a couple of scrum penalties in the second half? Either way it’s why I wish Uelese was there. If he is on when Tupou is off then our scrum remains a weapon. From memory Nick did an article earlier in the year where we saw Uelese splinter Tupou in the scrum a few times.
PeterK
Roar Guru
big difference to tupou though who forced penalties not just hold the scrum steady
gooch
Roar Rookie
fair enough. I’ll pay that. It was just his attack that was abysmal.
Joe King
Roar Rookie
Apparently Paisami made 12 tackles without a miss. Apparently that's the joint-third-highest without a miss for a Wallabies #12 against any opponent since 2010.
Oblonsky’s Other Pun
Guest
Yes I thought Leota did quite well too and imagine the same b/r may play against Scotland? Philip is one who I think should be somewhat worried after yesterday. Good player but he has not played quite as well this year as last, and Arnold and Skelton are both joining.
gooch
Roar Rookie
“We were really happy with Hunter,” said Rennie. “He played 80 minutes which wasa great effort What!? This is a concerning assessment. Either Rennie doesn’t want to destroy Paisamis confidence or he saw something I didn’t. Since when is playing 80 mins a ‘great’ effort for an inside centre ?
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
That's exactly right Terry. It seems like they thought they didn't have to "earn the right." It was as if the last four matches hadn't happened. Far too loose, complete with a good ol' forward pass! Hopefully that will be a lesson to them.