Loyal approach from Ewen McKenzie likely to keep Reds stars Quade Cooper, Will Genia and co in Wallabies side

THE gut feeling is that Ewen McKenzie will adopt a loyal approach to the incumbent Wallabies among the struggling Queensland Reds, writes Andrew Slack.

Quade Cooper and Will Genia are the incumbent Wallabies halves. Picture: Jono Searle.

THERE have been worse games, and if the coaches and players were looking for excuses to hide behind, conditions were not perfect.

Sugar coat it how you will but in terms of entertainment, grass growing and paint drying both have the edge over last weekend’s Brumbies-Sharks match.

The truth is, rugby can toss up these kinds of soporific encounters from time to time but the code would be in strife if it pretended they were acceptable fare.

It was rather concerning then, that in the wake of criticism of the match, Brumbies coaching director Laurie Fisher made the following observation: “When the imperative becomes style before substance it will be time to move on.’’

I think Laurie was momentarily blinded by a favourable scoreboard.

There was very little substance in that match. More like substance abuse.

While airy-fairy, pass and hope rugby has limited appeal, coaches must understand that in the competitive footballing market, style has to be the substance.

Some games are going to be fizzers but let’s not pretend there is some sort of noble intent in them.

With that in mind, it will be fascinating to see what personnel Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie calls on as he selects his first squad of the year.

He will want substance that can produce style, and in turn tells a happy tale on the scoreboard.

With few friendly scoreboards for the Reds this season, there is a chance someone will pay the price.

McKenzie is too clever an operator to panic. He is not afraid to make tough calls when he feels form is slipping.

Reds Rugby star flyhalf Quade Cooper at Ballymore, hes with Will Genia. Pic Annette Dew

Will Genia, James Horwill and Quade Cooper can all attest to that. But within the context of a flailing Queensland, he will not necessarily see the reasonably inconsistent form of those individuals as a direct pointer to what they may contribute when wearing gold.

Along with James Slipper and Rob Simmons, the trio were all starting members of the Wallabies’ last game against Wales in December.

The 30-26 win was Australia’s fourth Test victory in succession and Cooper captained the side in the closing stages as well as taking out man-of-the-match honours.

Some would argue that to rob him of the chance to play the next Test the Wallabies play would be unfair.

Others are screaming he should be dropped from the Reds.

McKenzie probably will not take much notice of either of those views.

If current Super Rugby form were the only criteria, there is a likelihood none of the five would make the cut. But while it is unfair to ignore form, good or bad, it is just as foolhardy to suggest everything is about the here and now.

There is no shortage of history notes which will confirm brilliant provincial form does not translate to the international arena.

Judging who can move seamlessly from one level to the other is the key to good selecting, and so on that front, those who have performed before on the biggest stage must have earned some advantage.

The gut feeling is that McKenzie will adopt a reasonably conservative, loyal if you will, approach to the incumbent Wallabies among the Reds, but if the magic does not appear in the first Test or two against the French, the exit door will be ajar.

Pick and stick makes sense, but not with super glue.

As for the captaincy, there is no great advantage in making a permanent call at this stage. Once the French series is done, McKenzie will have a clearer idea of which players he wants to continue with through that long haul to next year’s World Cup.

The imperative will be that style and substance are connected.