So, if Cooper is one of Australia’s three five-eighths for the World Cup – presuming he can stand upright and throw a pass – and Lolesio is another, who might be the third? James O’Connor? Not unless he can rediscover his 2021 form, and quickly.
Was it only 18 months ago that the then director of Australian rugby, Scott Johnson, was boasting of the quality of all the young 10s coming through in this country? Not just Lolesio but Will Harrison, Carter Gordon, Bayley Kuenzle, Reesjan Pasitoa, Isaac Lucas, Lawson Creighton, Ben Donaldson and Tane Edmed. Yet what has happened to this generation of playmakers?
Playmaker games: Reece Hodge, Noah Lolesio, James O’Connor and Ben Donaldson.Credit:Getty, A.A.P.
There have been 18 Junior Wallabies five-eighths used over the past decade yet only Lolesio has gone on to play for Australia. It has been the one conspicuous shortcoming of the Dave Rennie era, that he has not brought on more 10s. That he chose to do so after Australia had rotated Christian Leali’ifano, Matt To’omua and Bernard Foley through the 10 jersey without success at the 2019 World Cup only exacerbates the failure.
If Australia is to figure at all at next year’s World Cup, Rennie needs to address this deficiency immediately, bringing in every possible contender – including Covid pay rebel Lucas – and sorting out this month. And while he’s at it, include 18-year-old Tom Lynagh. If he is not physically ready for 2023, he surely will be in the years that follow.
As for the captaincy, James Slipper is a good man for the same caretaker role that Hooper himself filled when Stephen Moore broke his ankle back in 2014. The vice-captaincy needs to be sorted out though, for when Slipper is subbed from the field.
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How revealing that Rennie said Hooper gave no advance warning of the mental issues troubling him. It just shows how effectively men can cover up such problems. Just a week or two ago, there was Hooper’s face smiling up from a newspaper advertisement. “Don’t bottle it up,” he warned. “One in four people suffer from some form of mental illness. I’m not afraid to speak up. Neither should you.”
An honorable man of his word.
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