I Need A Hooker Like You Wouldn't Believe...

[Newb]

Rookie Wallabies prop Pek Cowan could be forced to play hooker

By Bret Harris
September 15, 2009

He has never played the position in professional rugby, but rookie loosehead prop Pek Cowan will be the Wallabies' reserve hooker for the Test against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday if Tatafu Polota-Nau is ruled out with a rib injury.

Australia coach Robbie Deans revealed the twice-capped Cowan was on standby as the back-up hooker.

There are only two specialist hookers in the 30-man Tri Nations squad: Polota-Nau and Stephen Moore.

The other options were former Australia hookers Adam Freier and Sean Hardman, Brumbies number two Huia Edmonds and Australia under-20s captain Damien Fitzpatrick.

But Cowan has been training to play in all three positions in the frontrow since his call-up to the Wallabies squad in July.

"The reality is that Pek would cover it," Deans said. "We have been doing a lot of work with him, scrummaging and throwing.

"The motivation behind that is versatility is good. It doesn't pertain just to him. Across the board we are constantly looking outside the square at ways we can maximise our versatility.

"Being an ex-professional golfer, he has good eye-hand (co-ordination). He's got an ability to throw the ball and he has taken to it like a duck to water.

"It's an easier transition to make, going from prop to hooker, than the other way. The scrummaging side of it, props take to hooker pretty easily compared to hookers to prop."

With Polota-Nau and winger Lachie Turner (rib) likely to be passed fit on Tuesday, Cowan will have to wait for another opportunity to pack down at hooker but he is a long-term project.

If he can master all three frontrow positions, Cowan will be Australia's answer to South Africa captain John Smit.

"It was put to me pretty much as soon as I made the squad that I would have to be able to cover more than just one position," Cowan said.

"That was one of the reasons they put me in the squad because I can cover loosehead and I'm still quite young and willing to learn.

"I'm not saying I can cover all three right now, but it's something we have been working on."

Cowan said that tighthead prop was the hardest position to play in the frontrow.

"Tighthead is in high demand because it's a tough position to play," Cowan said.

"It's basically a two-on-one for the whole game. The tighthead is packing on two guys, which is why it is very, very hard. It takes a toll on your body.

"Loosehead has a little more free rein. You can miss the hit and sacrifice that, but still be included in the scrum.

"Hooker is a little bit different altogether. It's probably physically a little bit less demanding than both loosehead and tighthead, but technically you need to know what you are doing with both shoulders.

"It's basically trying to find a balance between giving the loosehead enough and giving the tighthead enough as well as looking after yourself.

"As long as I feel comfortable in the scrum, I think it puts you a long way towards getting that confidence to play."

Cowan described his lineout throwing as "on and off".

"It's one of those skills that you need to fine-tune," Cowan said. "Thankfully, I can throw. It doesn't come naturally because it's not the most natural of actions. But I can throw, which is a positive.

"For someone who hasn't been throwing all that long I'm fairly confident of hitting most of the targets."

Cowan made his Test debut against Italy in Melbourne in June and came off the bench towards the end of the Wallabies' 21-6 win against the Springboks in Brisbane two weeks ago.

But the highlight of his brief Test career would be playing against the All Blacks in his birthplace, Wellington, on Saturday.

"I've been getting a few texts from family and friends," Cowan said. "My mum and half-brother and half-sister still live there. Most of my dad's family are still there. They support me, which is great.

"I'll definitely be excited if I do get the opportunity to go over. To play New Zealand in Wellington where I was born is a bit mind-boggling at the moment."

Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga was a family friend and the young Cowan played touch football with him in the backyard.

"There was an affiliation with Tana, believe it or not," Cowan said. "We used to get looked after by Tana's sister.

"A few times he popped over. He is a really nice guy. As a young kid growing up in New Zealand, Tana was a pretty big figure. To meet him on a regular basis and play touch with him was fantastic."

 

[louie]

one question. Whats the point? Damien Fitzpatrick or Huia Edmonds would be a much better fit. this isn't helping anyone.

 

[Ash]

Lousie, surely you're kidding. Fitzpatrick or Edmonds being thrown into a Bledisloe in NZ? No thanks. I feel safer with Cowan. Surely you'd call up Freier or Hardman for a one-off, though?

What's the chances that Cowan plays hooker for the Force next year, with Dunning, Nic Henderson and Fairbrother as props?

 

[Lee Grant]

Geez this old geezer knew what he is talking about on another thread.

Too late for 3N now but some clever coach sometime should cross-train Pek Cowan as a hooker.

Well, he may be wrong - it may not be too late.

If we had another decent THP I'd like to see Ben Alexander trained as a hooker too. Both Cowan and Alexander are mobile. I wouldn't bother with Fat Cat because he is as close to a world class LHP as we are likely to get and he should stay there. I'd cross-train Sekope Kepu too - and also Greg Holmes if he comes good in the next Super14. He can shift.

The point is: that hookers get chances to create mayhem after they throw the ball in because they can be on the run in a set move. If they are the defending hooker and standing in the tram tracks then they can run through after the ball if the delivery to the opposing scrummie is off target.

So, who is the reserve prop who can play tighthead going to be? - not that Cowan had any THP pedigree when he was reserve prop. IIRR teams have to have 5 players who are trained to play in the front row - but am too lazy to look it up.


PS - Don't think Cowan was ever a golf pro, but he had a scholarship at Long Reef (where I walk my dogs) when he was 15 - and was off a 4 handicap.

 

[Scotty]

Good work Lee.

 

[Scarfman]

So we could be in the situation where a guy is throwing into the lineout in the Bled because he has "good hand-eye coordination." I've got fucking good hand-eye coordination, AND I'm fat, give me a shot.

 

[Part of the union]

Just when our scrum problems seemed over Deans goes and invents one. Did the Kiwis put him up to this?

 

[Thomond78]

Just when our scrum problems seemed over Deans goes and invents one. Did the Kiwis put him up to this?

If they did, this is so clumsy and blatant that Agent Dingo is in danger of blowing his cover.

Smit had played as a tighthead before he converted of late, and did cameos long since to keep his hand in. Converting from prop to hooker is vastly more difficult than going the other way, and don't let Dingo claim otherwise. You scrummage differently, the loads on your neck are vastly larger, you don't use your arm at all and the impacts are different. It's easier to be a prop because, if it comes to it, you've an escape route; hooker, you're stuck in there, so amongst other things, you have to learn to fall differently.

This, gentlemen, is a bad idea, and one that worries me.

 

[Pfitzy]

I agree with the leprechaun.

Lousie, surely you're kidding. Fitzpatrick or Edmonds being thrown into a Bledisloe in NZ? No thanks. I feel safer with Cowan.

Without putting too fine a point on it: yer an eejit. If three of them were sitting on the bench I'd hand the shirt to Fitzpatrick without a moment's hesitation - he may not have played a Test, but at least he IS a hooker.

Converting from loosehead to hooker in a game situation without him even having played there in club land is suicide. Better off putting your THP there because at least they're used to being surrounded and stuck in the dark but it still won't help. Going from loosehead to hooker is bloody difficult speaking from experience. Going from tighthead is marginally easier.

 

[naza]

Geez this old geezer knew what he is talking about on another thread.

Too late for 3N now but some clever coach sometime should cross-train Pek Cowan as a hooker.

Throw enough shit at a wall..some of it will stick.

Tell us again how good Kurtley is ? :lmao:

 

[Spook]

Geez this old geezer knew what he is talking about on another thread.

Too late for 3N now but some clever coach sometime should cross-train Pek Cowan as a hooker.

Throw enough shit at a wall..some of it will stick.

Tell us again how good Kurtley is ? :lmao:

He is 23rd man...so Deans obviously rates him

 

[Ash]

I agree with the leprechaun.

Lousie, surely you're kidding. Fitzpatrick or Edmonds being thrown into a Bledisloe in NZ? No thanks. I feel safer with Cowan.

Without putting too fine a point on it: yer an eejit. If three of them were sitting on the bench I'd hand the shirt to Fitzpatrick without a moment's hesitation - he may not have played a Test, but at least he IS a hooker.

Converting from loosehead to hooker in a game situation without him even having played there in club land is suicide. Better off putting your THP there because at least they're used to being surrounded and stuck in the dark but it still won't help. Going from loosehead to hooker is bloody difficult speaking from experience. Going from tighthead is marginally easier.

You'd hand a starting jumper to a 20 year old hooker in a Bledisloe who probably hasn't even played 80 minutes of S14? That's the most stupid thing I've heard on this board. And Naza has said plenty.

Fitzpatrick would get eaten alive all over the park (including the scrums) and be a passenger. I'd still feel safer with Cowan, at least he could contribute in other areas. Edmonds should and would be selected before Fitzpatrick anyway in that case, you have some serious Tahs blinkers on there. Fitzpatrick may be a future star, but geez, he's a not fully matured 20 year old hooker who has barely played any S14. What sane person would even consider it?

Of course, as I said, I'd call up Hardman or Freier. But then, I'm sane.

 

[Scarfman]

Yep, Hardman or Freier. Only reasonable options.

It almost feels like Deans is under pressure to pick small squads. He keeps leaving himself with precarious cover in some positions.

 

[Pfitzy]

What sane person would even consider it?

Depends - are we measuring "sane" against the opinion of converting someone who hasn't played any games there at all?

 

[Spook]

Look at the Forces hooking stocks. They are pretty low - Mitchell could go along with Deans on this..

 

[Lee Grant]

He is 23rd man...so Deans obviously rates him

Don't mind naza Spook. The only claims I've made about Beale in his schoolboy days is that he would play for the Wallabies one day if he stayed in our sport (since he was a league rep junior) and that he was the best schools player I ever saw.

I'm also on record in 2007 in the other forum at being appalled that Beale was chucked into Super14 rugby on the high veldt after he had just turned 18 and a couple of months out of school - and that the Kiwis would have nurtured him a lot better in their system.

Actually, had he not been injured in the 2008 Super14 Final and missed the whole club season it would probably have been he, and not Cooper, who made the Oz EOYT last year and played in a test match against Italy. Beale had a better year than Cooper in 2008 IMO and though he needs a lot of work on his tackling, the same applies to Cooper.

That's all I've said, but sometimes people misrepresent what you say and not necessarily maliciously. It can be annoying but since it was naza making the comment, it doesn't really offend. I guess people know that I have seen Beale play since he was 13 - and Waugh, for that matter, even younger - and want to take the mickey when they are not up to scratch in their opinion. There's no harm in that: I've taken the mickey many a time.

But if people want to make a serious objection I would much prefer for them to quote what I have said when they do so.

 

[Mainlander]

Pretty good post Lee but although you do a lot of talking about Beale (Again) there is nothing in there about any Hooker that could fill the post titles "Hooker required" vacancy unless your suggesting Beale for that role.... I heard somewhere he had beefed up a bit. :fishing

Personally my own feelings is the reason Beale hasn't made the Wannabies was the fact that a lot of the Dean’s game plan when he was at the Sadders, was based around showing up Beale’s defensive laps when ever the Sadders played the Wahhhs. He's trying to do the same to Nonu in his new role for you convicts.

My only hope is you blokes sack him with enough time for us to replace our current clueless lot with him before the WC.

 

[Spook]

Beale is a superb attacking player with plenty of flair and suprising acceleration/pace. I've not seen enough to convince me he can control a crunch game (yet)e and his defense is pretty awful. However, I think Deans will turn his defense around - he could actually be a dominant defender as he's a big lump. Is his future at 15, 12 or 10? Personally I'd like to see him become that 15 we need...although JOC (James O'Connor) is doing ok!

 

[Lee Grant]

Mainlander

Yeah - it was me that reported on Beale's weight. My son and I saw him at the Penrith v Dragons game last month and he definitely looked too big. But he was called into the Wallabies squad and is travelling with the team to Wellington so maybe he's not as unfit as he looked. It was a pretty odd choice as 23rd man though, though he is playing fullback in club rugby and looked pretty good there in an U/20 warm up game that I saw.

He will certainly have to fix up his defence to fulfill my prediction of playing for the Wallabies one day. When I made the prediction when he was at school defence wasn't a problem because he was a pretty big fella in Yr 12 and often just stood guys up and stripped the ball a lot.

I haven't predicted it since his defensive failings have been showed up in professional rugby but you never know. If Cooper can make it, maybe he can too.

As for the young hooker Fitzpatrick playing in a Bledisloe match: I wouldn't have picked him if TPN was out but I would take him on the EOYT as a development player this year as Freier has been there and done that and there is no other Oz senior player that looks like Wallaby material.

As for Deans: I never got on the bandwagon and won't until I see some consistency from the Wallabies - consistent good play game after game - even if we lose some of them. I don't mind so much losing to the Boks who are a great team but it has pissed me off no end losing to the Blacks when I reckon they are an ordinary team by All Black standards; so where does that leave us?

The Wallabies are on a roll of one game and if they play well tonight and take that into the EOYT then I will get onto the wagon and say: don't touch our Dingo.

Yeah Nonu is not the best tackler either and neither is ROG and neither was Mehrts in his day. Maybe some players like Beale - and Cooper for that matter - can't be taught to tackle. It should be unless it is a lack of ticker but Beale is just 20 and I will see how he goes in 2010 before I write him off. There good signs of tackling from him in the last 3 games of the 14, in the RSA, and Tahs fans will hope that it continues.