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Has McKenzie cost Cooper the Lions Tour?

24th May, 2013
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Queensland Reds Director of Coaching Ewen McKenzie speaks to reporters in Brisbane, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. McKenzie has announced he will leave Queensland Rugby at the end of the 2013 competition. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Roar Guru
24th May, 2013
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1720 Reads

Yes, the Deans-Cooper saga continues. Queensland’s favourite son was not selected in Robbie Deans’ initial 25 man squad picked to face the Lions.

Deans stated that Quade Cooper still had a chance to play his way into the squad, but wanted Cooper to make more adjustments to his game, reduce his high turnover rate, be more physical in defence, position himself better for contact and allow others to share a load of the playmaking duties.

‘‘It’s not about what Quade does and can do. It’s more about the response of the opposition. And he just needs to adjust the balance of his game a little bit. He needs to be a bit more prepared to take contact and the people around him will thrive,” Deans said.

‘‘Benny Taps is evidence of Quade not quite getting that balance right. He’s not thriving outside him. He’s got to be prepared to allow others to do some of the playmaking as well as himself.”

Quite a harsh statement to both Cooper and Tapuai.

With Deans calling for many aspects of Cooper’s game needing adjustments, is it due to McKenzie favouring Cooper that we have seen him loose touch with the basics of tackling, taking the hit and creating space for the men outside him?

McKenzie plays Quade with a favouritism role, hiding his weaknesses and showing off his attacking genius, his innovation, his penchant for the outrageous as well as his tactical vision and exemplary kicking game.

If not for his shaky defence, he would be right up there with Carter. But we must face the facts that Deans has raised a valid point when he said that Cooper’s shaky defence would be exposed at Test level and hiding him at fullback was not an option.

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He also questioned Cooper’s physicality in attack.

Test rugby doesn’t allow him the space and time he enjoys in Super Rugby and thus proficiency in contact is a key performance area for an elite international No 10. Deans is looking for a high degree of certainty and consistency.

Quade will always be remembered for his brilliant attacking ability and the behind the back flick passes. But do we really want those ‘selfish’ moves that have a very high chance of going wrong, or someone who is always looking to offload at any physical contact? No.

Deans is looking for the complete flyhalf. Dan Carter has been the prototype: the excellent distributor and option-taker, the outstanding line- and goal-kicker, the no-nonsense defender who doesn’t stand back for any strike runner regardless of their size.

McKenzie needs to let Quade defend at 10 and stop hiding him at 15.

Allow his confidence to grow, encourage him to be a team player and let others feed off him.

Be harsh and critical on his 1% selfish plays. No more excuses, it’s judgement time for Quade, and I would hate to see McKenzie’s coaching strategies deny Australia’s greatest attacking weapon a spot in gold.

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