Cooper's defence could be a liability at World Cup: Larkham
JON TUXWORTH
10 Jul, 2011 12:00 AM
Wallabies and Brumbies great Stephen Larkham has floated the possibility of relegating Quade Cooper to the bench at this year's World Cup.
Larkham is concerned Cooper's defensive frailties could be a liability in New Zealand.
Now Brumbies backs coach, Larkham believes Australia's selectors must start Giteau at either flyhalf or inside centre at the September tournament.
The Queensland Reds have been forced to hide Cooper in defence this season, while Giteau is a reliable defender in the midfield.
Larkham also feels Giteau's ability to control a game, plus his communication skills, make him a safer option at No10 than Cooper.
A World Cup squad of 40 will be chosen this afternoon, which will be trimmed to 30 next month.
''It's been suggested you play Genia and Giteau [at scrumhalf and flyhalf] and bring Cooper off the bench as an impact player I think that's one option,'' Larkham said.
''The other option is Genia, Cooper and Gits at 12, and give that combination a chance to breathe.''
Cooper is the incumbent Wallabies flyhalf, and is odds-on to continue his halves combination with Reds teammate Will Genia.
But while his attacking skills are among the best in the game, his defence remains an issue.
''It's pretty inevitable Quade will get picked in the team somewhere, but his biggest fault is his defence,'' Larkham said.
''Queensland have tried to hide him at fullback this year, or wing at times.
''You talk about the next level up and you need someone that will put their body on the line, and Gits will certainly do that for you.
''Whilst you have to pick Quade, it's a big liability you have to cover.''
While he believes Cooper could be a game-breaker from the bench, Larkham insisted Cooper and Giteau could also co-exist in the starting line-up.
Larkham raised the prospect of Giteau playing at inside centre, but effectively playing as a second flyhalf alongside Cooper.
''If he [Giteau] is playing 12, you'd like to see him get his hands on the ball a bit more than a traditional 12 would,'' he said.
''Gitty certainly controls the game a lot better [than Cooper] and communicates a lot better than the players around him, I feel.''
Larkham said Giteau, Pat McCabe, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ben Alexander and Peter Kimlin are ''must picks'' for the World Cup.
Front-rower Salesi Ma'afu will also come into consideration should he recover from a broken arm suffered in May.
Larkham also hoped selectors would show faith in rookie Brumbies No8 Ita Vaea.
''It's Ita's first year of Super rugby, but look at someone like Gits, who never played a game of Super rugby before he made the Wallabies,'' Larkham said.
''He only got picked [for the Brumbies this year] because Hoilsey [Stephen Hoiles] was injured.
''But he not only retained his spot, he was one of our best players all year.
''He's like a Toutai Kefu in the sense he reads the game well and just has a good rugby brain.''
Larkham also backed Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom to make an impact at the World Cup, despite the fact he played just one game for the Brumbies this season through injury.
''The good thing about Rocky is he knows how to get himself right for a game,'' Larkham said.
''I'm sure he has that ability to do that for the Wallabies.''
The Wallabies begin their international schedule against Samoa at ANZ Stadium next Sunday.
