The young gun and the old head: Adam Ashley-Cooper set for mentoring role at World Cup
Adam Ashley-Cooper has been described as a perfect mentor for the likes of boom midfield back Jordan Petaia, with Michael Cheika confident he has an ideal blend of Wallabies to contest the Rugby World Cup.
Midfield backs Ashley-Cooper and Petaia – the oldest and youngest players to feature in any Australian World Cup squad – captured most attention when Cheika unveiled his 31-man group in Sydney on Friday.
Boasting an Australian tournament-record 45 caps per player, Cheika’s Test-hardened group features three centurions in Ashley-Cooper, halfback Will Genia and prop Sekope Kepu. Two others poised to raise three figures in Japan are captain Michael Hooper and lock Rob Simmons.
Ashley-Cooper, 35, is the most venerable and had been widely regarded as a long shot at joining George Gregan as the only four-time World Cup Wallabies.
Cheika revealed the 118-Test veteran was selected because he shaped as a perfect sounding board for uncapped 19-year-old Petaia and more than half the squad who will be making their global tournament debut.
“If you look at the composition of the squad, 18 have never been to a World Cup,” Cheika said.
“We’ll definitely be looking at those other 13 to have an impact. That little bit of extra experience makes younger players who haven’t been there feel comfortable enough to express themselves and go for it.
“Players like Ashley-Cooper help that happen. I’m big on the complementary nature of teams.”
Cheika said Petaia had been on his radar for 18 months and the gifted Queensland attacker came close to earning a first Test cap last year.
The teenager suffered a serious foot injury in early March and has needed recent club rugby to prove his fitness.
Twelve of the squad were involved in the 2015 campaign when Australia defied the odds by reaching the final at Twickenham, where they lost to the All Blacks. Seven of those players were also at the 2011 tournament.
A born-again James O’Connor attended 2011 but missed 2015.
O’Connor is among a jam of midfield backs announced by Cheika. Nine of his squad have started a Test at inside or outside centre and Petaia is poised to become the 10th.
He has also named a full complement of three hookers and four locks, leaving other positions thin on numbers.
There are just two halfbacks – Will Genia and Nic White – with Cheika unwilling to reveal who else could be converted as cover for the specialist role.
Among just five loose forwards is veteran David Pocock who hasn’t played since March because of injury.
Notable absentees include fullback Tom Banks, halfback Joe Powell, hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and flankers Liam Wright and Luke Jones, who will work with the squad as train-on players at a 10-day preparation camp in New Caledonia.
Cheika described phone calls to omitted players as “emotional” but praised their willingness to contribute.
“You feel guilty for leaving them out but you’re so excited and proud that your players will give you everything, even when you deliver them news that will really affect them.”
The Wallabies have a final hitout against Samoa in Sydney on September 7, two weeks out from their opening group game against Fiji in Sapporo. The other pool opponents are Wales, Uruguay and Georgia.
AAP
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Comments on RugbyPass
Steve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
20 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
3 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
3 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
3 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
3 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
20 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
3 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
20 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
20 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
20 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to comments