Coach Keeps Foley Grounded

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After two superb tries and a flawless display of place kicking to help fire Australia into the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup, Bernard Foley might have expected better than a reminder that his place in the side was by no means secure.

Such is Australia coach Michael Cheika's unquenchable desire for improvement in his players, however, that his review of Foley's performance in the 33-13 win over England came loaded with a hefty caveat or two.

As starter in both of Australia's most important Pool A matches to date, Foley might have assumed he was the number one first five-eighth, but, in public at least, Cheika was quick to bracket him with the other outside half in his squad, Quade Cooper.

"Yeah, what we're asking of both Bernard and Quade as our two No 10s is to take control of the game, especially in the tough moments," Cheika said.

"And both of them are really growing in that regard. Bernard was really influential, not just with the way he got the points, but also in the way he stood up to take responsibility.

"It wasn't always brilliant, but that stepping up to take responsibility and be prepared to guide the team around, he and Quade have really been working on that together while they're competing with each other for a spot and they're only improving each other by doing that."

Often regarded as a "confidence" player, Foley brought to bear the running skills he once displayed as a sevens captain for Australia in his two tries.

His kicking also showed a vast improvement on an underwhelming season from the tee with the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby.

Foley has showed in the past he is the man for the big occasion, however, and he landed a late long-range penalty to give Cheika's Waratahs their maiden Super Rugby title.

Later that same year at the Millennium Stadium, he calmly slotted a drop goal and a penalty in the last 10 minutes to give Australia their 10th successive win over Wales.

Cheika, however, has made it clear he is looking for a complete flyhalf to run his Wallabies backline as they go deeper into the tournament in search of a third World Cup title.

"You can never take that stuff for granted," he added.

"It's up to them to stand up and quarterback the team and tonight Bernard did that quite well."

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Result Before Record - Richie McCaw

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Richie McCaw says his imminent world record is not on his mind at all as New Zealand fight to retain the Bledisloe Cup.

The All Blacks captain will surpass Brian O'Driscoll's mark of 141 Test caps when he lines up against Australia at Eden Park on Saturday.

The destination of the Bledisloe Cup will be decided either way in Auckland, where New Zealand must avenge last week's defeat to keep the trophy they have held since 2003.

And McCaw insists that is his sole priority heading into the second and final game of a shortened series.

He said: "One thing I haven't allowed is to get caught up in that because I really wanted to train as well as I could to play well on Saturday.

"When you have that focus you don't get caught up in those what-might-bes. I want to enjoy playing here and when you have a loss like last week it makes you want to play even more.

"The key is to let it fuel you, obviously, coming off a poor performance but just that in itself isn't going to make it work. We have to do things right this week and I think we have to this point."

The New Zealanders have made no attempt to sugar-coat their performance in Sydney, where Australia won 27-19.

Full-back Ben Smith said: "We've had a good review, and looked at ways to get better.

"As players a big thing for us is doing our analysis, and taking on the coaches' feedback so we really look at our own performance and make sure we are making the right strides as far as adapting and learning from the last match.

"If we want to improve then sometimes we've just got to use our instincts to see what's in front of us and just play rugby really. It's a pretty simple thing."

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Quade Runs Dublin Wallabies

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Australia ran in four tries on their way to a 32-15 victory over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Livewire fly-half Quade Cooper claimed a try to pass 100 international points, Michael Hooper grabbing a brace and Nick Cummins completing the scoring.

Despite crossing the line twice, Joe Schmidt's Ireland were unable to conjure a try - and the new head coach will be furious with the defensive lapses that led to Hooper's first score and Cooper's soft finish.

Jonathan Sexton limped out with a hamstring injury, the distraught fly-half leaving the field at half-time with his head in his hands.

Cooper opened the scoring with a ninth-minute penalty, before Sexton levelled from the tee after a strong Ireland rolling maul.

Cooper then fluffed a straightforward penalty, but the Wallabies struck quickly.

Stephen Moore bisected the Ireland midfield before producing a scoring pass even Brian O'Driscoll himself would have savoured.

Cummins received Moore's pass, cut in off his left wing and outfoxed the remaining cover to notch his third Wallabies try.

Soon afterwards Tommy Bowe cleared loosely from his own 22 and straight into gleeful Australian clutches.

Cooper's whipped pass sent Folau to the line, Australia worked the ball back left and Fardy's back-handed offload put openside Hooper clear to run home for his first international score.

Ireland rallied immediately, with McFadden surging into the Australia 22. Peter O'Mahony knocked on after sustained phase play, but then Ireland won a free kick at the scrum.

Heaslip's break brought two tight sneaks towards the line, before Eoin Reddan failed to deliver the killer pass. After all the pressure, Sexton had to settle for a penalty.

McFadden's searing break yielded another penalty that Sexton knocked over with Hooper sent to the sin-bin.

Another fluent Irish attack brought Sexton's fourth penalty of the night, closing an engaging half missing only a home try.

Leinster's Ian Madigan replaced Sexton at half-time, with the Racing Metro star suffering that potential hamstring problem.

Another flat Cooper pass sent Cummins into the left corner from Australia's bright start, but Bowe did just enough to deny him his second try.

Australia turned Ireland over at the scrum though, and Cooper struck all too easily from the set-piece.

The wily outside-half claimed his seventh Australia try, ghosting between Madigan and Luke Marshall's wafer-thin resistance.

Cooper landed his second penalty after Rob Kearney's uncharacteristic high-ball spill.

Ireland's scrum power then brought a penalty, that Madigan duly converted.

Ireland punted a kickable penalty to the corner to launch the final quarter, only to knock on at the line-out when Australia sacked their maul at source.

The Wallabies took that cue to wrestle back control and quickly scored through a line-out drive of their own.

Flanker Hooper rose from the pile of bodies with the ball, to confirm his second try of the night.

Tevita Kuridrani was then sent off for a dangerous tackle on O'Mahony.

The Australia centre flipped the Munster flanker and planted him on his head, and could have no complaints with the decision ruled by TMO Warren.

Replacement Conor Murray thought he had scored from a penalty snipe, but referee Chris Pollock brought back the play, refusing to allow the quick tap.

In the final minute Sean Cronin powered over but the replacement hooker was denied his first Ireland try, with the TMO chalking it off due to a Murray knock-on in the build-up. That just about summed up Ireland's night.

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Mowen leads England Wallabies

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Ben Mowen replaces James Horwill as captain of Australia for Saturday's meeting with England at Twickenham.

The back-row forward, 28, made his Test debut against the British and Irish Lions in June and will lead the Wallabies for the second time.

Australia coach Ewen McKenzie said 28-year-old Horwill's recent displays had led to him losing the captaincy.

"By his own lofty standards, James would admit he hasn't been at peak form," said McKenzie.

"We've made the decision to remove the added pressures and responsibilities of being a captain this week so that he can focus entirely on bringing his 'A' game.

"There's no doubting James is a world-class leader but it's important he is putting his own personal performance first and playing to the level we know he is capable of on a weekly basis."

Mowen, who led Australia previously during their 14-13 home win over Argentina in the recent Rugby Championship, moves to number eight for Saturday's Test.

Scott Fardy returns at blind-side flanker while Sitaleki Timani partners Horwill in the second row with fellow lock Rob Simmons a late withdrawal after re-injuring medial ligaments in training this week.

Nick Cummins, a try-scorer in Australia's 20-14 victory at Twickenham last year,returns on the wing after recovering from a fractured hand.

Matt Toomua retains the number 12 jersey ahead of ACT Brumbies team-mate Christian Leali'ifano, who has to settle for a place on the bench on his return from an ankle injury.

Fly-half Quade Cooper, back in favour under McKenzie after being left out by his predecessor Robbie Deans, is made vice-captain.

"We're recognising Quade for the ongoing decision-making role he plays on the field and the positive involvements he continues to make in contributing to the culture of the team off the field," McKenzie added.

Australia team: Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs); Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs), Tevita Kuridrani (ACT Brumbies), Matt Toomua (ACT Brumbies), Nick Cummins (Western Force); Quade Cooper (vice-captain, Queensland Reds), Will Genia (Queensland Reds); James Slipper (Queensland Reds), Stephen Moore (ACT Brumbies), Ben Alexander (ACT Brumbies), Sitaleki Timani (NSW Waratahs), James Horwill (Queensland Reds), Scott Fardy (ACT Brumbies), Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs), Ben Mowen (captain, ACT Brumbies)

Replacements: Saia Fainga'a (Queensland Reds), Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs), Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs), Kane Douglas (NSW Waratahs), Ben McCalman (Western Force), Nic White (ACT Brumbies), Christian Leali'ifano (ACT Brumbies), Bernard Foley (NSW Waratahs)

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Wallabies Drop Will Genia

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Australia coach Ewen McKenzie has run out of patience with an out-of-sorts Will Genia, dropping the scrumhalf to the bench for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash against Argentina and installing a new captain with only six tests under his belt.

ACT Brumbies' Nic White has been promoted in place of Genia, who was also stripped of the captaincy in a stinging blow for a player rated one of the world's finest scrumhalves.

Number eight Ben Mowen, who made his test debut against the British and Irish Lions less than three months ago, will lead the team in Perth as regular skipper James Horwill battles to recover from a hamstring strain.

"The fact that Will has captained his country shows what high regard we hold him in and, while he is naturally disappointed, I also know how competitive he is and I've got no doubts he will train himself to a standstill to bounce back as a better player," McKenzie said in a media release.

"We've spoken about what areas we believe he can continue to improve and evolve his game and he was receptive to going back and addressing those things.

"In the end, it wasn't an easy decision because he is undoubtedly a world class player.

"However, we also feel Nic has earned an opportunity to start and will add his own uniqueness and point of difference to how we want to play this game."

McKenzie also tweaked a pack that has been hit by a number of injuries and struggled in last week's 38-12 demolition by South Africa and the two previous defeats to world champions New Zealand.

Tighthead prop Ben Alexander has been promoted from the bench at the expense of Sekope Kepu, while lock Sitaleki Timani comes into the reserves.

Backrower Ben McCalman retained the place on the bench he was handed by Horwill's injury, while centre Tevita Kuridrani was also given a spot among the replacements in place of fellow Brumbies back Jesse Mogg.

Barring Genia's demotion, the backline remains largely unchanged with James O'Connor and Nick Cummins swapping wings and Quade Cooper keeping his place at flyhalf.

Having started his tenure with three successive losses that have the Wallabies at the bottom of the standings, McKenzie had said he would "dumb down" his game-plan after the team's comprehensive defeat to South Africa.

On Wednesday, however, he defended his coaching staff's approach amid criticism in the wake of the Lang Park debacle.

"Australian rugby is renowned for smart, attractive and running rugby and there is a continued determination from the coaching staff and players to play with ambition and flair," he said.

"We aren't moving away from this philosophy."

Team: 15-Israel Folau, 14-James O'Connor, 13-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12-Christian Leali'ifano, 11-Nick Cummins, 10-Quade Cooper, 9-Nic White, 8-Ben Mowen (capt), 7-Michael Hooper, 6-Scott Fardy, 5-Kane Douglas, 4-Rob Simmons, 3-Ben Alexander, 2-Stephen Moore, 1-James Slipper

Replacements: 16-Saia Fainga'a, 17-Scott Sio, 18-Sekope Kepu, 19-Sitaleki Timani, 20-Ben McCalman, 21-Will Genia, 22-Matt Toomua, 23-Tevita Kuridrani

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Cooper Returns to McKenzie's Gold

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Quade Cooper returns to the Wallabies starting side at fly-half on his home turf against the Springboks at Lang Park on Saturday.

Israel Folau has been switched to full-back replacing Jesse Mogg who drops back to the bench.

Cooper replaces Brumbies rookie Matt Toomua after starting on the bench in the past two Test losses against the All Blacks.

It will be the first time Cooper has worn the number 10 jersey since the Wallabies defeated South Africa and Argentina in back-to-back Tests last September.

Coach Ewen McKenzie said he is anticipating the match against the Springboks will suit Cooper's game.

"Quade has been contributing well for us playing off the bench," McKenzie told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday.

"Looking at how I want to play this this game, he's ideally suited to start this game."

Cooper said his return to the starting side has shown that hard work pays off.

"You just have to continue to work hard," Cooper said.

"I've been in and around the team for a few weeks coming off the bench. Now that I've been given a role as starting number 10 it's very exciting but Matty [Toomua) and Foles [Bernard Foley] will continue to push each other for the position.'

"If you miss out you just have to continue to help out and push each other

McKenzie said he expects the Springboks' dominant kicking game to play into the hands of Folau who is proving one of the most dangerous ball runners in rugby.

"With a player of his running ability the more times he touches the ball the better it is," McKenzie said.

"We think they'll kick a lot. So if they kick, he gets his hands on the ball and that is good.

"Maybe they won't kick as much, we'll see."

Folau has played his first five Tests for the Wallabies on the wing and isn't fazed by moving into the number 15 jersey where he played most of the Super Rugby season for the Waratahs.

"I think it will be easier to slot into the line at full-back but I don't see too much of a different role.

"I have a lot of good players around me who can help me."

In other changes Nick Cummins of the Western Force has been selected on the wing for his sixth Test for the Wallabies.

Sekope Kepu moves into the starting side at prop after starting the past five Tests on the bench.

Queensland's Jake Schatz has the opportunity to make his Wallabies debut after being selected on the bench.

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Quade Quits Qantas Wallabies - Report

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News broke on the Nine Network on Monday evening that Cooper would be lost to the code but Australian and Queensland rugby officials aren't sure whether the report was accurate or a tactic to garner a better top-up contract from the Australian Rugby Union.

Neither the ARU nor QRU had been informed by Cooper or his agent, Khoder Nasser, that he intended tearing up his three-year Super Rugby deal with the Reds which would take him through to the 2015 World Cup.

Nasser would not return calls from AAP but did send a text message to say the 38-Test five-eighth would hold a press conference in Brisbane early next week.

Despite Cooper being among the most talented and exciting players in the game, the ARU has offered him a low-grade incentive-based deal for 2013.

The offer has been tabled in the past fortnight, since the 24-year-old was slugged with a $40,000 fine and suspended three-match ban for his criticism of the Wallabies, telling AAP in September the national team housed a "toxic environment''.

He'd originally failed to sign off on a more significant ARU deal that was first put to him in July after he re-signed with the Reds.

Although Cooper is close friends with another Nasser stablemate in Sonny Bill Williams, he has never spoken seriously about a desire to box before.

He has on occasion used the sport in rehabilitation from injury.

Monday night's bombshell, which came hours after Cooper tweeted a picture of himself and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, was met by surprise from both the QRU and ARU.

"The ARU has had no communication with Quade Cooper or his management," an ARU spokesman said.

"Any question regarding Quade Cooper's future should be directed to Quade's management."

The timing of the report is also intriguing as it comes almost 48 hours after the Wallabies shored up coach Robbie Deans's position for next year with a 20-14 win over England at Twickenham.

Wallabies captain Nathan Sharpe said Cooper's actions didn't impact upon the team.

"Every player goes through their own contract negotiations in different ways and obviously Quade's is pretty public," Sharpe told AAP in Florence on Monday.

"In terms of the impact on the team, we've had a really good internal focus on how we deal with that ...

"I think we saw with the ('toxic environment') comments that were made while we were in South Africa, we bounced back from that well and focused really well. We had a good performance in Argentina and then against New Zealand in Brisbane, so I'm not concerned about that."

In spite of a rocky 2012, QRU boss Jim Carmichael and Reds coach Ewen McKenzie have consistently stated their confidence that the star playmaker would remain at Ballymore in 2013.

They also had had no contact with Cooper on Monday and Queensland chairman Rod McCall was calling ARU chairman Michael Hawker, currently in London with the Wallabies, for clarity over the contract negotiations.

Carmichael admitted his frustrations at the latest twist and did attempt to control the damage if Cooper walked out on the code.

"I still genuinely believe he's an important asset to the game moving forward but it's up to Quade and the ARU where they're happy to move on," he told AAP. "It's frustrating that's for sure.

"(However) the public genuinely believes in the Reds as a team and as an organisation.

"Whatever happens with any player I think we're an organisation who is equipped to deal with it."

If Cooper wanted to continue his rugby career overseas he would have to wait until next August to gain a high-paying contract in Europe or Japan but would not be eligible for Test football.

Source : AAP

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