Wallabies need to stick with Cooper-Foley combo: Horan

Wed, Sep 14, 2016, 11:42 PM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
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Wallabies legend Tim Horan says Australia should stick with Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley as a 10-12 duo,

Horan said the combination should be the first choice for the rest of the Rugby Championship at least, after playing two consecutive Tests together

“I’d like to see them stay there because you can’t keep chopping and changing .combinations," he said on FOX SPORTS' Rugby 360.

“I really like to have two ball players at 10 and 12.


“You saw how good Bernard Foley’s try was and he allows Quade Cooper to sometimes drift a lot wider and then play in that 13 channel.”

Horan said Reece Hodge, who has been playing on the wing, could be a contender for a shift to the centres on the Spring Tour, in which the Wallabies will play two midweek matches on top of five Tests in Europe.

"He’ll get an opportunity," he said.

"Five Test matches plus a couple of midweek matches on the Wallabies tour, you’d put Reece Hodge at 12 and give him an opportunity there."


The former Test centre was adamant Folau was not the solution in the centres,though.

“I’m a big fan of Israel Folau at 15 [but] Izzy, get your hands on the ball more,” he said.

“I just don’t think there’s a requirement to move him up yet.”

The Wallabies look set to field one of their most consistent lineups against the Pumas amid a season of constant change and Horan said that approach reaped rewards.

“It’s probably an opportunity for the selectors to pick and stick for a period of time,” he said.

“You’re going  to chop and change occasionally, maybe a front rower off the bench, but even in the backline, try and pick and stick and stay in that combination for a long period of time.”

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