Cowan tipped to secure Wallabies hooker role

[travelling_gerry]

Cowan tipped to secure Wallabies hooker role

NICK TAYLOR, The West Australian February 8, 2010, 7:12 am

Getty Images / Cameron Spencer ©




Western Force front-rower Pek Cowan has been tipped for a Wallaby career in the No. 2 jumper after his debut in the hooking role against the Queensland Reds.
Cowan had only played 60 minutes of professional rugby as hooker before Friday night's 31-12 win over the Reds, but Force rugby manager Mitch Hardy said: "I think he's really going to put some pressure on some of the other players in other franchises for Wallaby jumpers in the No. 2 position if he keeps improving week to week as the competition goes on."
Cowan, 23, was first given a hooking role by Australia's coach Robbie Deans on last year's Wallabies northern hemisphere tour but made two appearances off the bench in midweek games against Gloucester and Cardiff.
As a specialist loosehead prop, he has won three Test caps and made 22 appearances for the Force.
He was only asked to cover the Force hooking spot a week ago after they failed to sign Kiwi hooker James Parsons from North Harbour.
Coaching staff were worried about his match fitness in Friday's Super 14 warm-up because he did not play in the two earlier trials against the Stormers and Sharks in South Africa.
But Hardy described Cowan's contribution at ME Bank Stadium as outstanding.
"It was really pleasing. He got through the game pretty well," he said.
"His throws were good and certainly his work around the field was very pleasing. The coaches are very pleased how he went."
Cowan admitted being nervous running out in the No. 2 blue jumper for the first time.
"There was a lot of pressure on me. There's a pretty big responsibility to control the scrum and all eyes are on you at the line-out," he said.
"Blokes from the Reds who were on the (Wallabies') spring tour were giving it to me because I wasn't throwing the ball that well on tour. A fair per cent hit the spot on Friday though. I think only three were off the mark."
Cowan knows that being able to slot into either the loosehead or hooking roles would increase his value to the Wallabies, but he doesn't want to become just a utility bench player.
"I still feel it's important for me to keep developing as both a loosehead and a hooker but I'll have to make a decision about that soon. I have to know where I am going to develop," he said.
"If I can do both, it will give me a better opportunity for a spot with the Wallabies but it's a matter of making sure I'm not a jack of all trades and master of none.
"I want to be a specialist not a bench utility and I guess I will have to make a decision on that sooner or later - but the decision might be made for me."
Cowan is still getting accustomed to leading the front row into contact at the scrum but says he is lucky to have years of experience next to him with the likes of Matt Dunning, Nic Henderson and Tim Fairbrother.
"I don't find the scrummaging as hooker too bad because it's about positioning rather than fighting the other man," he said.
"But it's up to me to get set and having those guys around is making my job a lot easier at scrum time. If I make a mistake in engagement, they help me out."
If hooker does become his Force job then, Cowan says, he wants to do it as well as his predecessors, Brendan Cannon and Tai McIsaac.
"Stepping into the shoes of two of the best hookers in the world, I just want to be able to do the position justice," he said.
Cowan has phoned McIsaac, who is in Japan, and chances are the coach will be getting a few more international calls.
Hardy said the Force could afford to switch Cowan to hooker.
"We're very fortunate at the moment. We've got a fantastic roster of prop forwards," Hardy said.
"Nic Henderson's going really well, Matt Dunning received a great ovation when he took the field (in the second half of the Reds trial).
"Tim Fairbrother is in outstanding form and then we've got our developing players like Kieran Longbottom to give us some depth, so we're not too worried sacrificing a prop."
Coach John Mitchell would not confirm that he would play Cowan as starting hooker against the Brumbies on Friday in the Super 14 opener at ME Bank Stadium, saying only: "He's one of three hookers."
Captain Nathan Sharpe said: "For a guy who hasn't played a great deal at hooker at all, he did very well and he's obviously quite a natural at throwing the ball in. He's just going to get better. That's a positive for us."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...s-hooker-role/

[GIGS20]

I said that after Friday night......I thought Mitch and Nick made a bit more of Pekka's throwing than it deserved, but TPN's pretty hit and miss as well. Around the field Pek looked a match for Polota Nau, so if he sorts his throwing he's going to press very hard!

[Burgs]

Interesting thing with throwing in, you would expect all Hookers at this level to be 100%.
I sat in my car watching training one day last year and Tai was on his own throwing the ball at the target they have set up for the Hookers.
He would have hit it dead centre at least fifty times in a row, yet that week he still missed a couple during the match.
I guess by the time you add nerves and cross wind into the equation, plus getting the call right and timing it with normally three other individuals, it is a pretty big ask to get it right every time.

[SleazyWineBaas]

I'm a huge TPN fan but the bloke couldn't hit the side of the barn with a handfull of gravel. That just doesn't work at test match level.
It's a bit early to be hailing Pek as the wallaby test hooker. That should induce a few sniggers east of the nullabor
I'm all for keeping it real
Learn to throw first. It wasn't great on Friday
His scrummaging and work around the park was pretty good though

[James]

Thing is though SWB that you need 3 for a squad and after Moore and TPN there isn't anyone left. Freier and Hardman are past it and just don't do enough at international level. Edmonds simply isn't good enough and Faingaa, Hanson, Fitzpatrick, Whittaker, Charles etc etc etc are just too green. Cowan reminds me of Mealamu- a tough, aggressive hooker who can scrum well and ball carry well. Not a top thrower though (yet). When you consider all the potential looseheads we have (Ben Alexander, Matt Dunning, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu and Greg Holmes are all international quality at 1 and there are a host of up and comers) and how few hookers we have it is a sensible move.

[tragic]

Why does it always have to be hooker who throws in? Is it just a case of the other guys being needed in the line-out and ready to run the ball? Seems that the hooker's (optional) role in the lineout gets more attention than his role (mandatory) role in the scrum.

[zimeric]

hookers usually shorter.. Ive seen flankers throw in but usually its the rake

[shasta]

I rate Pek for his general play and aggression. He's a good scrumager and will adapt there OK. He's only 23 - Tai begun playing rugby @ 23. On what he's shown so far, he's a good chance to develop to international level in the 2 shirt, probably sooner than later.

[WF2006]

I think we are all agreed his job on Friday was only OK on the throw in. However the opposition in this case was very week. I don't believe it was even the Reds strongest line-out combo. Unfortunately, I think its a great idea, but Mattfield, Botha etc are going to chew us up.

[shasta]

I think its a great idea, but Mattfield, Botha etc are going to chew us up.

I'll reserve judgment 'till I see how he progresses.

[KenyaQuin]

Going back to the old days, scrummies used to throw it in.

But you're right Tragic, the evolution has probably been a result of "other guys being needed in the lineout" with the No 2 becoming the specialist thrower as well as specialist hooker.

From a wannabe coaching point of view, it would simplify matters during training and consequently a game.

As for Pek at hooker..one swallow doesn't make a summer..

[brokendown gunfighter]

Going back to the old days, scrummies used to throw it in.

But you're right Tragic, the evolution has probably been a result of "other guys being needed in the lineout" with the No 2 becoming the specialist thrower as well as specialist hooker.

From a wannabe coaching point of view, it would simplify matters during training and consequently a game.

As for Pek at hooker..one swallow doesn't make a summer..

In my (early)days,the winger threw it in

[travelling_gerry]

In my (early)days,the winger threw it in

Jerusalem Juniors?

[brokendown gunfighter]

BC Gerry

[Burgs]

Is that when they named Eden Park?