SBW leaves as rugby’s best No.12: Cooper
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Quade Cooper suspects rugby hasn’t seen the last of Sonny Bill Williams but will suffer significantly for the imminent departure of the code’s best No.12.
Cooper rated good friend Williams the top inside centre in the game after the dual New Zealand international announced on Monday he would return to the NRL next year.
His code-jumping will come after a lucrative 12-match stint with the Panasonic club in Japan, ruling him out New Zealand’s squad in the four-nation Rugby Championship.
“It’s going to be massive to lose a player like him,” Cooper said.
“He’s done a lot for rugby in the short time he’s been here and he’s possibly the best No.12 in the world.
“The things he’s been doing on the rugby field, the crowds he’s been drawing to the games and the attention he’s brought to rugby has been massive.”
Williams’ form for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and for the All Blacks in last month’s 3-0 whitewash of Ireland has propelled him past Test teammate Ma’a Nonu and Welsh centre Jamie Roberts as the leading inside centre.
Cooper and Williams, both managed by Sydney agent Khoder Nasser, had been the centre of speculation last year they would sign with the Sydney Roosters as a package deal.
The Bondi Junction club is Williams’ likely destination despite his refusal to say.
Of all the things the former Canterbury Bulldog achieved in the 15-man code, a win at Cooper’s home ground at Suncorp Stadium was not one, finishing with an 0-4 record.
“I know it’s been a tough decision for him because playing for the All Blacks is what drew him to the game and (it would be hard) to walk away after such a successful stint in rugby,” Cooper said.
“It would be good to see him back in the coming future.”
© AAP 2013- Explore:
- Quade Cooper, Reds, Rugby Union, Super Rugby
July 10th 2012 @ 6:27am
Jerry said | July 10th 2012 @ 6:27am | Report comment
Well, he’s the form 12 of Super Rugby and played well vs Ireland, but it’s a shame he won’t get a chance to play in the 4N as he’s not really ever excelled against Aus or the Boks in test rugby (limited opportunities to do so, obviously). He did play ok in that B side vs the Boks last year, but it would have been very interesting to see him in the 12 jersey for a longer stint.
July 10th 2012 @ 10:59am
RebelRanger said | July 10th 2012 @ 10:59am | Report comment
In my opinion this never stops NH players. I rarely watch NH teams play unless it’s against a SH team and I rarely see these guys shine yet someone like Shane Williams gets IRB Player of the year although never really playing good against the best teams. BOD gets named best 13 in the world when he never excelled playing ABs, the best team in the world.
July 10th 2012 @ 1:00pm
Jerry said | July 10th 2012 @ 1:00pm | Report comment
BOD has had some very good matches vs the AB’s, I’d say. And while I don’t think Williams was player of the year that year (McCaw deserved it in 08 IMO) he has also had some very good matches vs SH opposition.
July 10th 2012 @ 3:47pm
RebelRanger said | July 10th 2012 @ 3:47pm | Report comment
I remember O’Driscoll ONCE running past a young Ma’a Nonu who misread the play but never a solid performance. I really want to watch one of his good games against preferably ABs or Boks. Mortlock followed briefly by Umaga then C.Smith have always been the best 13s in my mind.
I’ll need to do more research and find one of these good games..
July 10th 2012 @ 4:07pm
Johnno said | July 10th 2012 @ 4:07pm | Report comment
Sella.
July 10th 2012 @ 7:24pm
Jerry said | July 10th 2012 @ 7:24pm | Report comment
Tour to NZ in 2002, BOD outplayed Tana Umaga badly in the first test.
He played well in both those test on tour in 06 including the one you mentioned him scoring past Nonu in. And also at Lansdowne Road in 2010 (the match where he scored a great try by scooping up a ball on the deck with one hand at pace).
He’s a class act and has performed against all teams at some point.
July 10th 2012 @ 9:43am
Coles said | July 10th 2012 @ 9:43am | Report comment
Can’t stand Cooper as a player, but having him stick with union despite the offers from league while his buddy buggers off to who knows where, gives me a new found respect for the guy.
July 10th 2012 @ 10:07am
all7days said | July 10th 2012 @ 10:07am | Report comment
he never dominated like Nonu has against the best teams. Until then, I’m not sure he should be the best.
July 10th 2012 @ 10:14am
Bearfax said | July 10th 2012 @ 10:14am | Report comment
There is no doubt Williams is a champion player. But if he comes back to League for a year as seems likely, how long will it take him to adapt back to League style of play. This switching from Union to League to Boxing to whatever else he wants to try out, has to take its toll. Wil he be worth the money paid for only half a year, which is possibly the time he will take to readjust and hit top form in League.
July 10th 2012 @ 10:27am
Sylvester said | July 10th 2012 @ 10:27am | Report comment
In form player? Yes. Best in the world? No.
It’s actually silly even reacting to Cooper’s views on Williams. He’s hardly objective.
July 10th 2012 @ 4:14pm
soapit said | July 10th 2012 @ 4:14pm | Report comment
to be fair the headline misquotes cooper. he says “one of the best” which i think is pretty accurate
July 10th 2012 @ 10:12pm
Sircoolalot said | July 10th 2012 @ 10:12pm | Report comment
To be honest. Apart from Nonu himself who is better than SBW?
July 12th 2012 @ 1:14am
mark said | July 12th 2012 @ 1:14am | Report comment
roberts. end of discussion.
July 12th 2012 @ 2:58pm
Sircoolalot said | July 12th 2012 @ 2:58pm | Report comment
In the eyes of Welsh supporters.
The rest of the world are not that deluded
July 10th 2012 @ 10:43am
Quakezone... said | July 10th 2012 @ 10:43am | Report comment
In my opinion he was the most over rated player in Rugby Union but the media had a lot to do with that, with the medai (Commentary team) SBW could do no wrong so the general public never really got the real picture…e.g in his last game Chiefs Vs Crusaders he was invisible in the first half albeit scoring a try, but he was missing for long periods of this crucial game – in the fianl play of the game with the Chiefs hot on attack SBW had a chance to tie the game with standard inside centre play to take advantage of an overlap and put the winger across the line…however either his vision was missing or simply could not throw a standard pass from left to right about 5-8 metres I personally believe it was the latter, and for all of SBW’s fine off loading skills some of his basic skills are missing (However comentators make no mention of this) – imagine that scenario in a test match to retain the Bledisloe with the game on the line….
I in fact have never seen him pass from left to right in standard fashion ever unless its one of his “Fantastic off loads” …. I might be wrong though
July 10th 2012 @ 10:57am
all7days said | July 10th 2012 @ 10:57am | Report comment
Not seeing him poss left to right must mean you mustn’t watch him too often. Agree he offloads a lot, but that does have to be placed in the context of his role. “Take contact and pass”. He plays his role to a high level as is asked by the Chiefs and the ABs. I don’t think we should be asking commentators to point out each players missing skill set. Woodcock can’t kick, but it isn’t in his role. Sbw doesn’t pass traditionally as well as other but it isn’t asked of him…he takes contac,t offloads and holds opposition up in the tackle.
July 10th 2012 @ 11:44am
Quakezone... said | July 10th 2012 @ 11:44am | Report comment
I do watch him play and its something I haven’t seen consistently you say that its not his role but I disagree ignoring an overlap when the game is on the line and going for the line yourself is the wrong option – a simple pass would have been the right way to go.
The media rave on about SBW and this gives the general public the wrong perception that he is somehow better than what he is, every touch of the ball every little offload…the superlatives come out…however another player making the same play or pass does not get the same plaudits this gives the impression that SBW is better than what he is HE ISN’T….I don’t need the commentators to point out missing skill sets as the rugby educated can see them…but I would like the commentators to be fair when handing out superlatives
BTW – Check out the all round game of Ma’a Nonu now, only a few years ago was a “Take contact and pass” guy…This is a guy that gets a lot of bad raps some deserved some not, but he has worked very hard to become a better footballer than just the crash and bash inside centre…over recent years we have seen how his passing skills can impact a game…
July 10th 2012 @ 12:22pm
all7days said | July 10th 2012 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
I actually rate Nonu the best 12 in the world. Agree he has a far more complete skill set than Sonny and prefer him when playing a quality side. I hated him early on for his error rate but as you say he has improved immensely. I would still say Sonny is coached to pay to his strengths. The commentators may give him more praise than required, but it seems to be balanced out with more criticism than required. Gregor Paul and Rattue make sure of that
July 10th 2012 @ 2:47pm
Riccardo said | July 10th 2012 @ 2:47pm | Report comment
“I actually rate Nonu the best 12 in the world”
X 2
July 10th 2012 @ 3:35pm
Pillock said | July 10th 2012 @ 3:35pm | Report comment
Nonu has my vote. Love watching him play.
July 10th 2012 @ 11:10am
guinness14 said | July 10th 2012 @ 11:10am | Report comment
I don’t think it would be a great loss.He has improved a lot since getting a lot of game time with the Chiefs, but the best number 12, not yet. He is looking at the big dollars, and that’s fine, the money is there to be made. He could become one of the best number 12s ever, and he could do that with a team like the All Blacks, because he would be recognised. Good luck to him. You know a couple of years ago two very famous, well recognised AB’s were offered a very lucrative deal, turned it down. I take my hat off to players like that, knowing very well that time is no longer on their side. But one comment that will always stay with me is, if I want to continue to play the best rugby teams in the world, I will have to remain in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia, South Africa and New Zealaand.
July 10th 2012 @ 2:45pm
chuck said | July 10th 2012 @ 2:45pm | Report comment
Quade hands out accolades to a person who stint is very short best 12 on the planet at the moment??? could be not after that debacle
against the crusaders with three unmarked players outside you and get barrelled like he did to draw the game .
What ever happens in his challengers or Golds I wish him well for him to come back in the fold again thats a big call for the N.Z.R.U ,
to make not the coaches they could be sacked by then.
July 10th 2012 @ 3:31pm
flying hori said | July 10th 2012 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
I would’nt say hes the best, Nonu IS the best 2nd five NZ has, you’ll see him show case it in the Rugby Championships, then everyone will be saying sonny who? No loss, theres talent galore in NZ and its a Team game ( he, Sonny, stuffed the try up in the Chiefs Saders game by not passing it out to a 2 man overlap which would have drawn the game – tried to get the glory himself ))
July 10th 2012 @ 4:02pm
Quakezone... said | July 10th 2012 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
And there it is the real answer
SBW = “…tried to get the glory himself …”
Talented athlete no doubt – But Ma’a is the man and he could even be better at that other game than SBW if he gave it a go…in fact they could have both lined up for the doggies in 2007 although only briefly….Be great to see the ROCK/skux back in black
July 10th 2012 @ 4:23pm
all7days said | July 10th 2012 @ 4:23pm | Report comment
Interesting insight into his mind and character. . You could make a killing with those mind reading powers