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As Justin Marshall joined All Blacks coach Ian Foster in demanding respect be shown to the Wallabies ahead of their Bledisloe series, dual-international Jeff Wilson once again expressed his surprise that Quade Cooper continued to wear the No.10 jersey.
Following the Wallabies’ first-up loss to the Springboks in Pretoria, Wilson, the former New Zealand cricketer and All Blacks winger turned pundit, said Cooper wasn’t the man to turn around the country’s fortunes.
“Quade Cooper’s not the answer at 10,” Wilson said on Sky’s The Breakdown.
“If they want to go forward, if they want to go to a new era and play a different way Gordon’s got to be at 10. They couldn’t control the territory and if you can’t control the territory against the Springboks you’re going to get hurt.”
Following the Wallabies’ narrow 34-31 loss to Argentina in Sydney, Wilson once again expressed his surprise Jones was persisting with the 35-year-old, who has played just a handful of games since rupturing his Achilles during last year’s Rugby Championship opener in August.
“I still can’t understand, why is Quade Cooper running this team because he’s not delivering and we know he doesn’t deliver against the All Blacks?” Wilson reiterated on The Breakdown.
“How can he be wearing the 10 jersey in two weeks’ time, seriously?”
Quade Cooper’s return in 2023 hasn’t been as successful as his comeback in 2021. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
After Mark Nawaqanitawase ran 95 metres to score a stunning intercept try to give the Wallabies a late lead, Cooper’s high tackle in the 77th minute allowed Los Pumas to kick for the corner where they scored through back-rower Juan Martin Gonzalez to steal the Test.
It was another frustrating moment in Cooper’s career, with defence plaguing the playmaker throughout his entire career.
The incident occurred after a perfect night from the kicking tee, while Cooper was also instrumental in two of the Wallabies’ four tries.
But his performance was somewhat overshadowed by Gordon’s encouraging cameo, where the rising 22-year-old Melbourne Rebels playmaker, who was compared to Butch James by Eddie Jones ahead of the TRC, took another step forward by holding his own in the unfamiliar position of inside centre following Len Ikitau’s injury.
Just who replaces Ikitau in the No.13 jersey and how Jones configures his backline remains up for debate, with Tom Wright also under huge pressure to retain his position following two crucial errors in the second half.
Andrew Kellaway is available for selection after recovering from a hamstring injury and is pushing to play club rugby, while Jordan Petaia is racing the clock to be fit after his wrist injury in Super Rugby.
Jock Campbell, who wore the No.15 jersey against Tonga in Australia A’s poor 27-21 loss last Friday, is another option. As is Ben Donaldson, who has been unused by Jones.
While Jones considered naming his World Cup squad well ahead of time to be settled for the Bledisloe series, those plans appear to have been shelved and the Wallabies are expected to name their squad for the two-Test series later this week.
After consecutive defeats to start the year, few are giving the Wallabies a chance of pushing the All Blacks, as the trans-Tasman rivals meet at the MCG on July 29 for the first time since 2007.
Jones, however, got on the front-foot and issued the All Blacks with a word of warning following their loss on Saturday.
“Whilst it seems like it’s doom and gloom at the moment, beating inside here is a fair bit of optimism that we’ll be able to change fairly quickly in the next couple of weeks. If I was the All Blacks, I’d look out,” Jones told reporters following the Wallabies’ loss in Parramatta.
Ian Foster agrees with Eddie Jones that the All Blacks have to be ready for the Wallabies later this month. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Asked about Jones’ comments, All Blacks coach Ian Foster, who has relieved some pressure across the ditch following two impressive victories to start the year, said the Wallabies were dangerous.
“He’s probably right,” Foster said.
“We should look out because they will be hurting.
“No one likes to lose their first couple of Tests. They’re a very proud nation, and I’m sure they will be working really hard to come at us strong.
“We can’t wait to go to the MCG. We’re expecting a home crowd, just about. It’s a special occasion, and this game is perfect for us because it’s these occasions we’ve been craving.”
Former All Blacks skipper Marshall described Jones’ comments as “mind games” and added that his former side couldn’t take the Test for granted.
“Mind games first of all from Eddie. I know him well, he coached me and that’s right down his ally way,” Marshall said on The Breakdown.
“It’s also the tools that he needs to get his team in a position to be able to cause an upset. So beware All Blacks because they will come up with the unpredictable.
“That’s the genius in Eddie Jones. When his back is against the wall, when everyone’s writing them off, whatever team he coaches, they come out and win.”
Former All Black Jeff Wilson has questioned Quade Cooper’s worth for the Wallabies while also urging Ian Foster to not pick a second-string side for their Bledisloe opener. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Wilson said the All Blacks would be wise to ensure they win the Test and lock up the prized silverware before experimenting ahead of the World Cup.
“They should select their strongest side and they go over there and get it done,” he said.
“You bank the Freedom Cup, you bank the Bledisloe, the Rugby Championship and then you use Dunedin for whatever you need to do find out.
“But you have to respect the Wallabies, [who] will look at the Bledisloe and they can turn their season around in one game. And Eddie will know that.”
Foster, who was Steve Hansen’s assistant when the All Blacks were upset in the 2019 World Cup semi-final by Jones’ English side, agreed with Wilson’s sentiment.
“History tells us you can never write them off, that they’ve got the ability to turn up and bite us. We’re really respectful of their capabilities,” Foster said.
“I know they probably haven’t got the results they want, but sometimes when you’re setting things up, it takes a little while to get that familiarity. But I’m sure a win over us at the MCG will solve a lot of their issues. We’re really aware of that.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.