Quade v Barnes. Australia's version of Carlos v Mehrtens?

Its rather amazing the similarities between Cooper and Barnes and what is mentioned in the below article..
Given Quade just re-signed until 2015 I think the rivalry is only going to become more and more prominent.

The problem is that Barnes does not have any of the skills that made Mehrtens a Champion player, where as Cooper has a lot of the skills that made Spencer great, and probably only needs a bit of time. Barnes wouldn't even be considered if Cooper, Lealiifano or O'Connor were fit. He hasn't shown anything to suggest he is above these players either. He is still number 4 5/8 in my books.

Did you watch the Wales games?

Fantastic find, TOCC.

Yeah I did, and to be honest I thought his performance was a little overrated. The key areas of his game that concern me are his organisation of the backline/runners outside him, the decisions he makes to utilise these players (although the Horne try was pretty good work by him), and his ability to lead a team around the park. You could probably put this down to a lack of clear directions from Deans, though. He is a good 12 where he key decision making and organisation isn't his primary responsibility, He just isn't a 10 though.

Jiggles, would you play him at 12?

I think he's done a sterling job at 10 in the times he's been called upon to do it (this season, playoff at the RWC), but I favour him at 12. I think he's played his best test footy in that position.

Until JOC or Tapuai are ready, and there are very strong arguments to suggest they are not, I would. I did mention a JOC-McCabe centre pairing in another thread, but thats really a pipe dream at this stage I think.

Do you feel the same way when quade plays?

I think quadelacks maturity to play his best without Barnes next to him. I think the RWC illustrated this a lot. Quade overplays, barnes plays within, it's a pity we can't merge them into one player.

Except that Barnes has Spencer's tackling ability and Cooper has Mehrten's

Well said.

Cooper shouldn't pay for the Wallabies again until he can tackle. Use the form of Barnes to force the issue.

If Kurtley can learn to be a gun defender (and he has) then Quade can too. But he won't unless someone asks him to.

At the RWC I think Cooper made some silly decisions and he needs to learn to tone it down and pick his moments. He also needs to learn how to cope with pressure in big games, something he has struggled with ever since I first saw him playing for Souths in Brisbane as a 14 year old. I don't believe he played as badly in that RWC as some fans and media let on. With out wanting to go into it too much, the pack was the reason why we got pumped by Ireland and NZ, not Quade Cooper.

Having a defensive line hang off him, waiting for that freakish pass while options for other players around him open up, is going to be far more dangerous weapon than actually trying that freakish pass every time. The sooner he learns this the better, IMO. Overall though, when Cooper is given a clear game plan he can play very well within that game plan and is generally excellent in the options he takes (kick, pass, run etc.), and leading his team around the park. You are right he does lack maturity and he needs a calmer influence outside him.

Try saving tackles against the Boks and Italy at the RWC showed he can tackle. Coaches, including Link, need to grow a pair and tell the fucker that if he wants to play at 10 he needs to defend at 10 too.

It's easy to oversimplify, but personally I see Barnes as the ideal mindset and commitment model for a Wallaby, but Cooper's skill set is undeniably invaluable.

If we could combine the two of them I think we'd get something very similar to Bernie Larkham.

If Barnes testmatch kicking was a little more pinpoint Cooper wouldn't get a look in.

Got to hand it to Berrick, he's got great character. Gets smashed by media all year, rocks up at test level and changes gear into a class act.

Cooper is going to need to show statesmanlike form to get back the spot.

Barnes has done a great job at test level this year. However if the other 4 blokes were fit I think they would of
Done better. Especially LILO joc
And beal. I understand people's concerns with Quade.


Http://www.youtube.com/shiggins316

Not
Convinced JOC is better than Barnes or LILO at 10. He's a future 13 for my money.

Hmm I'm not sure they would have done better. You can't make that claim unless they played, which they didn't. Their inexperience as well could suggest they would have performed worst, rather than better.

I feel at the moment in rugby, or at least certainly within the Wallabies, there is an inclination to put your best player at flyhalf (eg. Beale or O'Connor if they were fit), rather than play them in their best position (eg. fullback and inside centre, respectively). Playing the best player at flyhalf is a very rugby league mentality, where as soon as a player exceeds on the wing, for example (Hayne, Inglis), they are shifted to the centre of the field where they almost always under perform. So, regarding this I am very happy to see Beale at fullback this weekend. Players like O'Connor give me the shits, because they think their talent is wasted at any other position other than flyhalf, even though they have proven shit all in that position.

I very happy to keep Barnes in the team until form warrants he shouldn't be there. But at the moment he is showing the qualities of 2007 and 2008 that gave us hope he is a long term prospect at no. 10.

JOC looks to be the perfect 15 to me. I can't see why we don't see more of him in that position? He could become Australia's version of Christian Cullen