Quade Cooper will again turn to soul mate Sonny Bill Williams to find a way back to the Wallabies after his devastating Achilles tendon injury in Mendoza.
The most certain thing is Cooper not letting this be the final chapter in his story after slumping to the turf in pain during the 41-26 victory over Argentina.
The Wallabies had started the second half better but still trailed 19-10 when Cooper was felled by an invisible bullet to the back of his left calf.
What role he plays for the Wallabies next year must still be clouded because his injury instantly cedes another nine Tests of experience to his likely successor Noah Lolesio or James O’Connor.
The smooth playmaker will devote himself to the long rehabilitation needed after upcoming surgery and turn to Williams for advice.
Cooper seemed ready for the challenge with his tweet after the Wallabies’ excellent second half rally in Mendoza.
Williams suffered his own Achilles tendon tear at the 2016 Rio Olympics when his rugby sevens adventure crashlanded. He took eight months to return and was playing Test rugby again in 10 months.
Cooper’s timeline is far more condensed. The Wallabies only have a five-Test lead-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
It’s not simply a matter of getting back physically for that five-Test period but rediscovering the confidence to step and dart and play his game to the full.
It’ll be tight but the 34-year-old is still a class above Lolesio as a No.10 option. He adds subtleties to the Wallabies’ play that Lolesio hasn’t even thought of yet.
Jim Tucker joined fellow Roar experts Brett McKay and Harry Jones for an Instant Reaction podcast after the Wallabies’ win. Listen here or on your podcast app
Take the Wallabies’ opening try. His double-pump pass meant Jordie Petaia was put into a gap, from the blind wing, with perfect timing.
Just after half-time, Cooper took the quick lineout throw that sparked the counter-attack that debutant Jed Holloway nearly finished off with a try after catching a Tom Wright pass at bootlace height.
The Wallabies need Cooper in France next year but it will be a race.
So what to make of this Test? The mess in Mendoza became the miracle of Mendoza when the Wallabies found some rhythm and more precision.
It took way too long but no one should underestimate the passion and frenzy of the Pumas and their crowd. You are playing against both.
The character and the fight to stay in the contest was superb when this Test could easily have been lost from a 13-3 deficit.
Key players stood up when they needed to and emerging types did as well.
Flanker Rob Valetini was excellent with his go-forward gallops when errors and turnovers were being made around him.
That was immense when the Wallabies finally got going.
Instead of conceding a try straight after the Cooper exit, the Wallabies scored a key try.
The Wallabies have wisely embraced the Brumbies’ fervour for the rolling maul and they are good at it.
Flanker Fraser McReight speared over there just as hooker Folau Fainga’a did later on. McReight stepped in late and did an admirable job in place of Michael Hooper, who was back in Sydney for personal reasons.
(Photo by Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)
Just don’t be surprised by McReight. He has always been this accomplished. He’s had to wait behind a better player and no one should have a problem with that. What’s wrong with waiting? Anyone who saw Holloway’s post-Test interview on Stan Sport will know good things are worth all the more after a wait and the extra determination to get there.
And those you pilloried the non-selection of McReight in the Wallabies training squad to face England, please acknowledge that coach Dave Rennie knew what he was doing. He got three strong Australia A games into McReight at the Pacific Nations Cup that paid off in Mendoza.
Fainga’a played one of his best Tests. It’s taken time, 29 Tests in all, to reach a point where he’s powering ahead in general play, looking super-switched-on and nailing his lineout throws as well as doing his rolling maul stuff.
Petaia was very good, Hunter Paisami got better and better and Holloway looked a very good fit for Test rugby.
You had to think Reece Hodge was closer to being on the way out of Test rugby than securing his place.
That was until Mendoza. All his experience and calm were channelled into 33 key minutes as a fill-in flyhalf. He did not overplay his hand. He just did things efficiently and the Mr Fix-It tag still has life in it.
We have all grown heartily sick of hearing how far he can kick goals but never seeing enough go over. One of his clutch conversions to establish the 34-26 buffer was more like the perfect nine iron, with a neat draw, to the pin on a par three at Royal Melbourne.
Nick Frost getting into position to retrieve Petaia’s late cross kick is something that 2.06m locks are not supposed to do. He was central in late lineouts too. He is a beauty.
Prop Taniela Tupou made two late, ripping charges off the bench too.
There were plenty of imperfections to this but sometimes just showing such character outweighs everything. The Wallabies will need to be better in San Juan next weekend.
Adam
Roar Guru
There is an advantage to that. I think back to the Wales game at the RWC and once Toomua came on and played more directly we actually made decent headway. It probably is the way that Australian sides should play...
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
The Reds have invested in a number of 15s and young, untested 10s. So they use a strong 15 and kept Stewart at 12 to maintain some stability and continuity in the back line. Sadly, I don’t think Stewart is ever going to get the opportunity to show the Reds or Wallabies what he can do. I have the same fear for Jock Campbell.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Carter in his early days yes but to me he settled into the game manager later on and this to me was Carter at his best. He still ran the ball up but played the percentages more over risky passes. Yes QC is our best 10, just need to keep him on the field. I like Hodge as the alternative 10 because I like the in tighter and direct game he forces on the team. Hate the out the back stuff we have been seeing with the likes of Noah at 10.
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
Olly,not too sure I would agree with you about Carter not being a threat at 10.Perhaps you are right about his game in 2015 WC final,but he was a brilliant attacking 10 in his earlier days.Wilkinson and Pollard,I would agree and believe Hodge filled that role perfectly in his 2 appearances at 10 for the Wallabies. I would still be happier if QC was fit again or one of the younger ones steps up.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Maybe they haven’t. But surely if Stewart was the best option for Wallabies 10 as Tooly claims, he’d have done enough to displace Lawson Creighton at the Reds. We have seen Stewart there though and he didn’t look super rugby level. He’s forged a good career so far as a 12 though.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Who says the Reds have got it right?
Greg
Roar Rookie
99% would be agreeing with you if we lost.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
:thumbup:
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He doesn’t because he’s not considered to be higher than the 3rd best 10 at the Reds
Johnsy
Guest
' but I am not going to declare Rennie a genius or McReight the next Wallaby great from that. He gave away his usual bundle of soft penalties.' Do you just make up stuff because you dislike a player. I just checked on Union Live stats and Fraser made no errors and had no penalties conceded in 76 minutes. A poor look from you.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
But he CAN play 10. Dont think he can’t just because McKay doesn’t play him there. He regularly steps into the roll. I think he does it a lot better now than pre-McKay. Much mor experience than the “young brigade” and a better defensive player than most Aus backs.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
A move copied from the Ella-Lynagh period.
nutter
Guest
Faingaa is lazy and has a bad temperament (and I say this as a hardcore Brumbies fan). He plays well when he's under pressure and needs to impress. If he feels comfortable he slacks off and takes shortcuts. Losing the starting role to Porecki would have shaken him up and bringing Noss and Pollard into the squad (who were hunting him down in Canberra) would have also upped the pressure to perform. Was completely unsurprised to see him unnecessarily involved in the push and shove but pleasantly surprised he kept a reasonably cool head and didn't start giving away cheap penalties. He's got the physical attributes but needs to work on his mental game otherwise he'll just be another Tolu Latu.
Chester B
Roar Rookie
Left field but I think that Wright @10 is a fantastic suggestion to consider for the future. He played 10 at Joeys, was a 5/8 in League for Manly and understands how to ball play at the line. Smart footballer!
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
Valetini was only MoTM by virtue of the same logic that handed Hooper a decade at 7. I know there's bound to be some butthurt around all those who have now been proven completely wrong beyond a shadow of a doubt but there it is.
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
Yep, no issue with Rennie's plan, especially with the players at his disposal. I'm just concerned about various comments re: Hodge as a long-term 10. Hodge is a decent player and seems like a good team-man, but he'll never be a great flyhalf. That's not really a criticism, there aren't many potential Larkhams running around in world rugby, but we need to aim higher than Hodge.
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
Tooly, interesting that you are wanting to build to the 2027 RWC. Not interested in the 2023 RWC? Also the fact you still think JOC and Beale are in the frame to help doesn’t help your argument much.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ Must stop the thinking around part time quade” As one who thinks exactly that way, I respectfully disagree. Quade left the field after creating 7 points, scoring a few himself, and building field position, including a strip close to the line on Argentina’s most devastating runner. Quiet ‘part time’ Quade brings crucial value imo, while we await an assured young ten.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
But Hodge is not there to be ‘special’ Dusty. He knows what he can do, and what he cannot. Rennie did not go into that game with a 6:2 bench without a plan, and Hodge was there to hold up the need for a kicker and inside channel defence. Rennie and the squad got away with it. No one is holding Hodge up as a run on 10 going forward, or if they are they’re deluded imo. White is our back up playmaker atm, and that is a problem because the vulnerability has just shifted, not resolved.
Fumbles
Roar Rookie
Number 10 is our Achilles heel. Is it too late to start looking outside of the guys mentioned here. Quade showed us the gulf between a play maker and a stop gap like NL, JOC or Hodge. Is it too late for Donaldson, Edmend and carter Gordon