Ella punts Aussie pups
22 Sep 2008
Former Wallabies flyhalf believes Robbie Deans needs to give Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper extensive game time in order to develop depth at pivot.
Deans will name his squad to tour Hong Kong and Europe on Tuesday. Australia play their final Bledisloe Cup fixture against New Zealand on 1 November before facing Italy, England, France and Wales in successive weeks.
Ella said this presented a golden opportunity to build for next year’s Tri-Nations and the 2011 World Cup.
“I would be disappointed if both Beale and Cooper were not picked in the touring side, not only because of their youth and versatility but as genuine ball players who, over the next couple of years, will really challenge [Matt] Giteau for the No 10 jersey, which is good for Australian rugby,” Ella wrote in The Australian.
“In 2005, then-Australian coach Eddie Jones selected a number of exciting young players to go on Australia’s end-of-season tour of the northern hemisphere. Unfortunately he stayed true to his senior players and the youngsters warmed the bench or watched from the grandstands.
“When John Connolly assumed control of the Wallabies in 2006, he had to make a decision on whether to introduce young legs to a tiring, battled-scarred team or persevere with what he had and simply hope for the best. [Connolly] stuck with what he had, thus maintaining the clear influence of several senior players within the squad, and the team’s downfall against England in the quarterfinals [of the World Cup] proved him wrong and out the door he went.”
Ella mentioned a few more players he feels have a great future at the highest level.
“A young player who also should be considered because of his versatility is Reds halfback [No 9] Ben Lucas, who is a former five-eighth [No 10] and has all the creative skills needed to keep the opposition guessing at the set pieces.
“Dean Mumm and Hugh McMeniman can play either lock or blindside flank and without [Rocky] Elsom they will get their opportunities.
“At No 8, Richard Brown, who made his debut for the Wallabies last weekend in Brisbane, showed a new level of enthusiasm and passion in the position. I hope he gets plenty of game time.
“All these exciting young players may make players such as Nathan Sharpe, Phil Waugh, George Smith, Wycliff Palu, Tuqiri and captain Stirling Mortlock feel old but they are our future.”
Deans will take 33 or 34 players on tour depending on the availability of Lote Tuqri who is recovering from knee surgery.
11 Comments
22 Sep 2008, 14:00 pm
Dargons
22 Sep 2008, 14:11 pm
Thats a tough tour for Aus, If they dont make a plan about there tight five they are going to get hammered in the North especially without vickermann and elsom. I can honestly see England, France and Wales beating them.
22 Sep 2008, 14:13 pm
Do to the European teams what they do to us – and send a development side over.
Wallabies have some fantastic youngsters coming through. I really rate these guys:
9 – Josh Holmes
10 – Quade Cooper
11 – Lachlan Turner
12 – Berrick Barnes
13 – James o Connor
Forwards:
8 – Richard Brown (from Zim originally i think)
4 – Dean Mumm (from NZ originally i think)
Lucas and Curtley are average
22 Sep 2008, 15:03 pm
both damn good players, also there’s the young centre at the reds, tyson, who’s going to be a handful next season.
22 Sep 2008, 15:20 pm
James O Connor is in my opinion one of the most natural ball players I have ever seen. He is unbelievably fast, and has a wicked rugby brain. At the age of 17…. Saw an interview with him the other day – his Oupa is an Afrikaans speaking SAFFER, and his dad is a born and bread Kiwi. Go figure.
22 Sep 2008, 15:30 pm
#3 Cheetha Champs:
Brown is the no 8 for Force? yeah he looks good. Pocock is the young opensider also unbelievably promising (he is the one from zim originally i think). have’nt seen o-connor, but beale is pretty special with ball in hand and making things happen, just not sure if has right mental side.
22 Sep 2008, 16:12 pm
#6 cab: You are 100% right. Pocock and Brown are similar ilk. Good players. POcock is indeed the Zimbo. I stand corrected.
Not so sure about Beale. Reckon he is a one trick pony (step of the left boot). Watch out for O Connor. He played sevens for aussie this year, and then played the odd game for the Force. Fantastic young player.
22 Sep 2008, 16:29 pm
Same old story with the Aussies – fantastic backs, great loosies and no props. Sounds like WP.
22 Sep 2008, 17:16 pm
They may as well leave Mortlock at home to rest and give Cross a lot of game time. Cooper and Beale could well feature, but not in the really big games. Would be good to keep Giteau on the bench just in case. They either flop or become the next James Hook.
23 Sep 2008, 00:00 am
#3 Cheetha Champs:
Exactly
Send over development sides.I am hoping that the ABs do this as well.I see a few young players that need to be looked at.Of course this is comin from a Wellingtonian perspective but Hosea Gear,Cory Jane and Thomas Waldrom should all go.Give them a taste of International game time,it wouldnt hurt.
23 Sep 2008, 01:58 am
#8 Spies_Is_King: Spot on, that the attitutude Aus need to take over, why take tuqiri, mortlock, bring in a lot of new guys, look what Richard Brown did, I think the tight five have made vast improvements this year, There was no adv to the AB’s in Bris, good to see now bring on some new guys
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