Why the Wallabies’ flyhalf gamble has left them ‘in a difficult position’

Former All Blacks wing Jeff Wilson believes the Wallabies are “definitely in a difficult position” ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup after leaving veteran Quade Cooper out of their squad.

When the Wallabies revealed their 33-man squad to take on the rugby world in France, there were a handful of selections that came as a surprise – and that’s downplaying, really.

Former Australian captain Michael Hooper was sensationally left out of the squad after failing to overcome a troublesome calf injury. But that wasn’t the biggest shock.

Hours before the squad was named, rumours and reports began to swirl online that Quade Cooper was set to be omitted from the team. Later in the day, this was confirmed live on Stan Sport.

Coach Eddie Jones picked four-Test Wallaby Carter Gordon as the sole flyhalf, while two-Test ‘utility’ Ben Donaldson is expected to play a backup role off the bench.

“This was the risk you took the moment you made such a late coaching decision,” Jeff Wilson said on The Breakdown.

“The fact that he came in at the end of last year, he doesn’t know his players, he didn’t know the group of guys he was going to be working with.

“They’re definitely in a difficult position now because they have no clear backup 10 with any sort of experience in this group.”

Cooper, 35, was also left out of the Australia A squad to take on Rugby World Cup-bound Portugal in Paris later this month.

Flyhalf Bernard Foley, who has played more than 70 Test matches in Wallaby gold, will instead travel with the ‘B team’ to take on Os Lobos.

Cooper’s international career now hangs in the balance. Barring a late call-up to the World Cup squad due to an injury, his Test career is likely over.

“The Quade Cooper one if interesting for me,” former All Black Sir John Kirwan added.

“Quade’s been an amazing player for many years and I thought he probably needed to do a little bit more during the games that he played, especially coming off the bench.

“When you sign your coach for five years, and it’s someone like Eddie Jones and you do have a home World Cup coming up and you think, ‘I’m gonna get a young side,’ and that’s what he’s done.”

Kirwan finished off his short but thought-provoking ramble by asking Wilson whether Carter Gordon has to “play every game.”

“I think he does, I think he has to,” Wilson replied.

“I’ll just go on Quade Cooper. His time was gone for me.

“In 2011, he was the guy for Australia – he got them to a semi-final. They’ve moved on and they’ve gone to a young face who I think is going to have a big future in the jersey.

“There could be, for whatever reason, a late change… but at the moment he’s taken a risk, he’s put all his eggs in this basket, and I think for now and the future their best opportunity.”

The Wallabies take on France in Paris later this month before opening their World Cup campaign against Georgia at Stade de France.