Rugby: Egerton knows it can all come down to timing

Quade Cooper tackles All Blacks winger Sitivini Sivivatu during a Tri-Nations test. Photo / Brett Phibbs

As the Wallabies mingled with their country's latest Victoria Cross recipients yesterday at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, manager Rob Egerton edged into focus.

Those whose memories stretch back a couple of decades will remember him as a skilled outside back who played for the Wallabies on the wing in their 1991 World Cup triumph.

He played just nine times for his country, but claimed a winner's medal after playing in the 12-6 victory against England at the end of that tournament.

Then he was gone - the fullback-turned-wing with the choppy stride and socks down around his ankles disappeared from the test scene.

Egerton has felt the vibe of winning a World Cup; he understands the troughs and trauma involved.

He was a biology teacher in Sydney before turning his skills to rugby team management. Much of his work is making sure each day runs tightly.

There are blips, and this week there have been bushfires to attend to around the social behaviour of James O'Connor, Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale.

But yesterday he was musing about the test scene when he played, the search for more diamonds like Mark Ella, the All Blacks' pedigree and that of the Wallabies.

The emergence of Sekope Kepu as a loosehead prop, the evolution of Quade Cooper - they all got a spin, and how they were both very different players from the All Blacks who performed the same duties.

Then our discussion zeroed in on Will Genia, the sharp halfback who ignites so much of the Reds' and Wallabies' venom.

He's taken several batterings at training this week, leaving one session with a cut head and another after a heavy collision. He told us he had been cleared by the doc and looked back to his prime best in the side's final run.

Egerton did not have to enunciate my "shame he doesn't wear a black jersey" thoughts.

While Piri Weepu has made shifts in his form and fitness for the All Blacks, Genia looks to have that extra second to make his move.

He is a gem, a muscular athlete with finesse, speed, courage, an array of skills and a steeltrap sporting brain. Just a golden nugget at halfback for any side.

I wondered why he hadn't been made captain when Rocky Elsom got the don't-come-Monday card, but by then Egerton had shifted away with the stealth he showed for the Wallabies. It was all in the timing, a formula the All Blacks and Wallabies will search for tonight in Brisbane.