Wallaby No 10 jersey - Barnes or Cooper?

[Richo]

Cooper came out and said he had no idea what Deans' game plan was etc. Speaking with a couple of people I know involved with the Reds and Wallabies, it wasn't just Cooper who had no idea what Deans was going on about.

Deans doesn't strike me as the kind of guy to hold a grudge like that. Say what you will about him, I just don't think he's that petty. The situation with Giteau was very different to Quade making some innocuous game plan comments.

 

[Ruggo]

Cooper to answer the question in the thread title. Our 12 and more importantly their purpose is the bigger question for mine.

 

[Jiggles]

Deans doesn't strike me as the kind of guy to hold a grudge like that.

Really? your not that familiar with his history at the All Blacks then...

 

[Richo]

Really? your not that familiar with his history at the All Blacks then.

Just my view based on his time with the Wallabies. Too loyal to certain players? Definitely. But I can't think of a verified instance of grudge-holding in the last 4 years.

 

[Joe Blow]

Should be Cooper with Barnes on the bench.
Cooper and Genia have a very good understanding of what works for them and the team.
McCabe will be at 12 for now.

 

[waratahjesus]

Should be Cooper with Barnes on the bench.
Cooper and Genia have a very good understanding of what works for them and the team.
McCabe will be at 12 for now.

If you bench Barnes, does he offer impact as a sub? Or would you be better off going with someone else knowing kurtley can slot into 10 from fullback?

 

[Athilnaur]

I'd opt Cooper myself, assuming he was performing well in drills and fitness tests. But I can see the argument for the safer option of Barnes and Deans is a big believer in rewarding players who perform. Which clearly Archie's Dad did.

Wonder if Deans would consider Barnes at 13 instead of 12 if we play Cooper. I want to see JOC (James O'Connor) at 13, but I could see someone with Barnes skills doing well with slightly more room.

 

[Grandmaster Flash]

I think fatprop had the best line up so far:
Genia
Cooper
Ioane
Barnes
McCabe
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Beale

The 2 out of 3 wins against the ABs in the past 11 or 12 or however many matches it has been has been with Cooper at 10. It's the way to go.

 

[Joe Blow]

If you bench Barnes, does he offer impact as a sub? Or would you be better off going with someone else knowing kurtley can slot into 10 from fullback?

Barnes can cover 10,12 and 15 and can be available for an early run on should any particular test need tightening up and/or closing out.
Or you could play Barnes at 12 which would push McCabe right out of the 22.
Deans will not play the latter at 13, which is probably the correct decision until he has had a season there in Super rugby.

 

[rotary hoe]

So Slim,Father of Pat McCabe,now pronounces that we need an inside centre that can run,something that Pat does,very well,at a brick wall.I despair.
Only way we will beat the ABs and Saffas ,as has always been the case ,is by scoring more tries than them.
We need Quade at 10,barnes at 12 and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13,where at the end of the 2010 Autumn tour he was the best in the world by a mile.
.

 

[Richo]

So Slim,Father of Pat McCabe,now pronounces that we need an inside centre that can run,something that Pat does,very well,at a brick wall.I despair.
Only way we will beat the ABs and Saffas ,as has always been the case ,is by scoring more tries than them.
We need Quade at 10,barnes at 12 and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13,where at the end of the 2010 Autumn tour he was the best in the world by a mile.
.

I don't think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s dad would even make that claim.

 

[wikman]

I think fatprop had the best line up so far:
Genia
Cooper
Ioane
Barnes
McCabe
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Beale

The 2 out of 3 wins against the ABs in the past 11 or 12 or however many matches it has been has been with Cooper at 10. It's the way to go.

What about JOC (James O'Connor)???

 

[Braveheart81]

What about JOC (James O'Connor)???

He's out injured for at least the first two tests.

 

[wikman]

He's out injured for at least the first two tests.

So full strength team with everyone fit, would you put him out on the wing?

 

[Braveheart81]

When he is fully fit, without a doubt. Although I think it will be tough for him to break back into the side in the TRC except for maybe off the bench. He will have played very limited football for most of the season once he is right again.

He could even be behind Drew Mitchell for that wing spot by that stage as Mitchell will have had a few more club games under his belt.

 

[wikman]

When he is fully fit, without a doubt. Although I think it will be tough for him to break back into the side in the TRC except for maybe off the bench. He will have played very limited football for most of the season once he is right again.

He could even be behind Drew Mitchell for that wing spot by that stage as Mitchell will have had a few more club games under his belt.

Completely agree about Drew Mitchell, its good to see him playing again after a horrid run with injuries.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Barnes can cover 10,12 and 15 and can be available for an early run on should any particular test need tightening up and/or closing out.
Or you could play Barnes at 12 which would push McCabe right out of the 22.
Deans will not play the latter at 13, which is probably the correct decision until he has had a season there in Super rugby.

Not having a year at 12 didnt stop Deans playing him there last year.

 

[Slim 293]

So Slim,Father of Pat McCabe,now pronounces that we need an inside centre that can run,something that Pat does,very well,at a brick wall.I despair.
Only way we will beat the ABs and Saffas ,as has always been the case ,is by scoring more tries than them.
We need Quade at 10,barnes at 12 and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13,where at the end of the 2010 Autumn tour he was the best in the world by a mile.
.

Ha....... Interesting response to a post about Christian Lealiifano........

 

[Braveheart81]

I definitely think that Pat McCabe based on both 2012 Super Rugby and June test form is a walk up starter in our backline now.

His play has improved substantially from 2011 to 2012.

 

[Richo]

I definitely think that Pat McCabe based on both 2012 Super Rugby and June test form is a walk up starter in our backline now.

His play has improved substantially from 2011 to 2012.

Totally agree. As someone who was thought he was too limited in 2011, he's made big leaps this year. He will probably never be a great distributor, but the sheer fact that he can now find a man when he makes a half break is huge. To my mind, he has the game to be a 13 and this should start to happen sooner rather than later. I thought maybe not against the ABs but with Smith out it lessens the risk dramatically.