Howley – a man who knows a quality half-back pairing when he sees one – sees the reunited axis of scrum-half Will Genia and Cooper as the heart of the Wallaby team, and an area where pressure has to be exerted if Wales are to secure victory in the opening match of the Under Armour Series on 5 November.
“They bring so much to the game in terms of their creativity and the speed that they want to play at, and there’s certainly an X-factor about Quade Cooper in particular,” said Howley.
“They’re ball players that you don’t want to give too much time on the ball to because they make great decisions and they can beat players so for me it’s putting pressure on that nine and 10 hinge.”
NEW FACES
Australia ended the Rugby World Cup as runners-up, but it’s been a time of transition and change for the Wallabies since their superb showing at the sport’s showpiece event with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika taking the opportunity to blood new players and combinations in the search for further success.
Looking back at their Rugby Championship campaign, Cheika’s project can be viewed as a qualified success with another runners-up spot (albeit some distance behind runaway winners New Zealand) testament to a side which, on its day, can thrill in attack and defend with real intensity.
Locks Adam Coleman and Rory Arnold, winger Dane Haylett-Petty and centre Samu Kerevi have all made their mark, while Bernard Foley and Dean Mumm have been redeployed at inside centre and blindside flanker respectively.
GREEN AND GOLD GLORY
A rundown of just some of the names that Howley came up against in the green and gold of Australia in his own playing career serves as a potent reminder of the Wallabies’ rich tradition of innovative, exciting and clinical attacking rugby.
Stephen Larkham, George Gregan, Matt Burke, Joe Roff, Chris Latham, David Campese, Tim Horan, Jason Little… all Rugby World Cup winners and all on the other side of the field during Howley’s seven Tests against the Wallabies for Wales and the British and Irish Lions.
“I played Australia many, many times. I think the one thing when you play against Australia is you have to be very mindful of the skill and the talent they have and the pace and intensity of the game,” he said.
RESPECT – AND PAIN
Defence coach Shaun Edwards knows he has his work cut out against the current Wallaby backline, also identifying the half-back area as a particular focus.
“Genia and Cooper have got their partnership back together now, they’re playing exceptionally well,” said Edwards.
“They’ve got good ball carriers in their forwards as well so all around the park Australia can hurt you if you let them. We have to really up our intensity in defence and keep our concentration levels.
“They’re a team that have given us quite a lot of pain over the years. Last-minute losses, one-point scores, you name it, it’s happened to us against Australia so I’d like to think the lads are doubly determined to try to avenge that…
“We have great respect for them, they’re an excellent team and probably a side a bit like us: they don’t have a massive amount of players but yet they compete very well, continually at the highest level.”
REVENGE MISSION?
Forwards coach Robin McBryde said the desperately close Rugby World Cup meeting between the two sides – when heroic defence helped Australia to a 15-6 pool stage victory – would provide plenty of added motivation, if any were needed.
“It’s the same as usual with Australia really,” he said. “They obviously feel they’ve got a point to prove irrespective of how the Rugby Championship went, coming to the northern hemisphere looking for another Grand Slam and facing Wales again.
“Obviously they ended up on top in the World Cup so it’s going to be a tough match – first up as well. Historically we haven’t done very well in our first game of the Autumn series so on more fronts than one it’s going to be a tough match.”
Under Armour Series tickets are available from www.wru.wales/tickets, starting from £20
