Rugby: Cowan's mission To keep Genia in a bottle

Jimmy Cowan trains ahead of tonight's match with Australia. Photo / Greg Bowker

Will Genia doesn't really need to articulate his issues, All Blacks rival Jimmy Cowan can already sense disquiet at the base of the Wallabies' scrum.

The Queensland halfback lorded it over Cowan when the Reds hosted the Highlanders during the Super 14 this year but, in the Southlander's words, one of Australia's most influential players was fairly muted during the Bledisloe Cup series.

"He's usually not short of a word or two," Cowan said before tonight's match at Hong Kong Stadium. "He was pretty chirpy there [for Queensland] but he's been pretty quiet of late."

Genia's hushed tones are understandable - since a breakthrough campaign for the Brisbane-based franchise the Papua New Guinea-born playmaker has been unable to replicate that form at test level.

And New Zealand's first choice halfback was almost sympathetic when quizzed on Genia's lessened impact during the Tri-Nations.

"It's not through his bad form, it's just what we're doing as a team to stop him," Cowan explained.

"We mould our structure around what he does really so it's bloody hard for him to function.

"Super 14 rugby is different to internationals. The higher you get, the defence levels go up a hell of a lot, too."

Genia struggled to thrive in Melbourne, Christchurch and Sydney; on the two-test tour of South Africa he was subbed during the Wallabies' epic win in Bloemfontein for Luke Burgess - an unthinkable scenario at the beginning of the test schedule.

Despite his difficulties combating the All Blacks' presence at the breakdown, Genia is well regarded by Cowan.

"I rate him very highly. I look at him and Quade [Cooper] and think they're the leaders in that team. They tend to be driving them around the park. It's key for us as a team to try and shut them down."

Genia acknowledged his life has been made more difficult since the Super 14.

"When you come up against the All Blacks it's a lot different," he said.

"They deny you front-foot ball so you've got to work hard to achieve it and also be better at playing off medium- to slow-paced ball."

Cowan, meanwhile, also sympathised with the plight of Piri Weepu who suffered a season-ending ankle break when playing for Wellington shortly before the 30-man tour squad was announced.

Weepu started against the Wallabies in Sydney last month and engaged in a tight tussle for the No9 jersey with Cowan throughout the year.

Cowan saw the footage of Weepu's injury and immediately left a message on his mobile.

"He texted me back a couple of days later. I feel for him, it's a big injury and he'll be sadly missed.

"I saw the highlight reel, it looked pretty nasty."

Although the pair were duelling for the starting role, Cowan said there was also a sense of camaraderie between them.

"He's a good mate of mine off the field, someone I can relate to. He's good for the team too, he's full of energy.

"He's good for the team with his activities, his music and so forth."

Cowan now has Alby Mathewson and Andy Ellis for competition on a five-test tour that progresses to England tomorrow and felt he was up to the task after only one and a bit provincial games for Southland since the Tri-Nations title was reclaimed from South Africa.

"I've got a fitness base there, I feel pretty relaxed," he said.

"I've played 40-odd test matches and know there's a responsibility on me to lead."

- NZPA