Cooper conundrum
The most annoying or frustrating player in world rugby? The code’s equivalent to the Italian footballer Mario Balotelli? It was more of the usual Quade Cooper against Uruguay. After not featuring in the Fiji game, Cooper was handed the No10 jersey in Birmingham. The playmaker started well, stealing the ball at the breakdown and setting up the Wallabies’ second try with a flick-pass to Joe Tomane, but then things went awry, as they often do with the polarising New Zealand-born five-eighth.
First, he was shown a yellow card for a high hit and body slam on Agustin Ormaechea in the 14th minute. The card seemed somewhat harsh, as Cooper’s arm was at the top of the chest and did not hit Ormaechea’s head, but he was off regardless. Michael Cheika confirmed after the game that Australia will appeal the decision. More worrying is the fact that it was Cooper’s third yellow in his past four games – the others were against Argentina and New Zealand earlier this year. That is the kind of trend of indiscipline that the Wallabies cannot afford.
Second, his goalkicking was far from effective. Cooper converted only five of 11 shots at goal, with attempts from all around the pitch. With England and Wales both possessing deadeye kickers in Owen Farrell and Dan Biggar, missed points against the English and Welsh will be vital. The Wallabies cannot be so wayward with the boot when the stakes are raised. Some of Cooper’s passing was of high class and he had an important hand in most of Australia’s 11 tries, creating several lovely openings. But once again it was the case of the good, the bad and the ugly with the enigmatic 27-year old.
The rise of the McMahonimal
Confusing Michael Cheika’s back-row puzzle is the brutish presence of the 21-year old Sean McMahon. The flanker was the star of the Uruguay game, scoring two tries in a man of the match display. McMahon had a busy 80 minutes, busting tackles, swooping at the breakdown and generally making a nuisance of himself. The Rebels openside, who only made his Wallabies debut a year ago, is a player on the rise. He is also the type of physical, enforce-style forward that Cheika loves.
But can the Australian coach fit him in against England and Wales, against Robshaw, Wartburton, Tipuric and co? Michael Hooper and David Pocock seem to have a stranglehold on the No7 and No8 shirts, and both were brilliant in Cardiff. Scott Fardy has also done well at blindside, putting in a solid shift against Fiji, so replacing him would be a difficult decision. McMahon may be best served for a bench spot, covering both sides of the scrum, for the next two games. Ben McCalman, also pressing for a place in the squad, did his own chances no harm with two tries of his own against Uruguay. Cheika has a tough choice on his hands but the animal-like performance of McMahon, coined “McMahonimal” by the journalist Paul Cully at Villa Park, will have caught his eye.
History-maker
It looked one of those days for Drew Mitchell. Early on he bombed a try, from Kurtley Beale’s hurried offload, and then he dropped an inside pass from Beale. Not the World Cup opener the veteran winger would have wanted. But Mitchell did not drop his bundle; he got back into the game and got his reward. He crossed for two tries – one a spectacular effort where he beat four Uruguayans – to earn a slice of history. The second score took his World Cup tally to 12 tries, the most of any Australian. Considering the players who have gone before him, from World Cup winners David Campese to Matt Burke, Chris Latham and Joe Roff, that is some effort.
Only Jonah Lomu with 15 and a fellow All Black, Doug Howlett, with 13 have scored more since the tournament started in 1987. And with two games still to come for the Australians, potentially more, Mitchell may feasibly surpass the Kiwi pair. Mitchell, who has spent the past two seasons in France with Toulon, has clearly returned to the fold a better player. At 31 he still has pace to burn but it is his all-round game, his positioning, ruck-work and maturity, that has improved. Four years ago his World Cup ended in agony with a hamstring injury against Russia. This one is already proving more fruitful for the Queenslander.
Hostile territory
The Wallabies have no doubt they really are in hostile lands, booed and jeered at every turn so far in this World Cup. In their opener against Fiji they were treated to huge support for their opponents, with Cardiff locals starting ‘Fiji’ chants and some dressed in island gear. The Australia five-eighth Bernard Foley was heckled as he took his shots at goal. There was also a strong rendition of the English rugby anthem, Swing low, sweet chariot, wafting through the Millennium Stadium, proving that this really is England’s World Cup, even for the games played in Wales.
It was a similar story in Birmingham, as Uruguay fans and supporters appeared to be everywhere. For a football-mad country of under four million people, located in South America, it is no mean feat. ‘Swing low’ also made an appearance in the second half. The English, like the Welsh last week, have relished supporting the underdog and anyone who is playing against Australia.
It is no surprise considering all three teams are pitted against each other in the toughest group, along with the general connotations of the normal Britain-Australian rivalry that encompasses all sports.
England had fanatical support on Saturday night at Twickenham against Wales, except of course the second in line to the throne of Queen, but it was unable to help them across the line. The Wallabies will get the same treatment this weekend as 82,000 fans, minus a few brave souls dressed in green and gold, try to cheer their team along.
Twickenham is one of the most imposing rugby arenas in the world, a cacophony of sound and emotion, and Australia will need to be at their best to record back-to-back victories there in the next fortnight.
