Surprising but Beale and OâConnor are only 30 and 29 so really if all went to plan 10 years ago theyâd still be at their peak. Cooper is gone at 31 too. The three of them were around from the age of 18/19 so they seem like they should be nearing the end but there is still a lot there.
Australia only had two players over 30 starting today - Beale and Lealiifano (31). Pocock to come back in who is still only 31. The age profile is not a problem for the World Cup.
The All Blacks will likely spank them next week though at home.
1 Like
Is that Rabbit O Connor?
Correct - heâs back.
Who would you consider yday men?
Probably but makes no odds
It does. The Bledisloe Cup is up for grabs.
Unrale
OâConner and Beale.
Beale is a reliable enough performer I think. And versatile
Digby ioane, genia, o Connor, beale, cooper, pat mccabe never fulfilled their potential
Genia had a brilliant international career
Did he reach his full potential though from when he broke on the scene? Still a very good career.
In fairness to Beale, he has had a very good Test career. He was excellent in 2015. You could make an argument that it should have been more but itâs a mile from OâConnor and Cooperâs flame out. Those three had so much talent that along with Pocock, Robbie Deans thought he could discard players still in their primes for them. That was a mistake in hindsight. The likes of George Smith should have been at the 2011 World Cup.
Genia has had a very good career. McCabe and Digby werenât on that talent level.
2 Likes
Very subjective question. Id say he did on international stage.
A few of those lads you mentioned were only journeymen like ione and mccabe
Decent players but neither was rated anything as good a prospect as Beale etc
Ya true but ioane was good in 2011. Didnât do too much afterwards
That happens a lot with wingers. Its why the all blacks discard fellas like savea so readily.
OâConnor and Beale were a bit like Luke Fitzgerald and Keith Earls early in their careers in that they were shunted around. Didnât help them but both were complete morons about the town, though they always gave Beale more leeway as he wasnât a total prick like OâConnor was.
Buddy Franklin led them astray. He was Giteaus brother in law and Giteau nearly went down the same path. Cooper Beal O connor and Cipriani thrown into the mix for a spell.
Thatâs true.