There was one quote this week that didn’t get the attention it deserved while others were over-analysed to exhaustion.
Let’s concentrate on the encouraging one, given to a former colleague of mine, Jamie Pandaram.
“When they make selections [for South Africa], I hope I’m in the mix,” big second-rower Kane Douglas said. “It feels good representing your country, when the national anthem came on I was getting tingles.
“Sometimes I have to stop myself and say, ‘I played for the Wallabies on the weekend’.
“It’s pretty good running out with Nathan Sharpe and the boys. I play footy to play alongside all the boys, I don’t want to disappoint anyone.
“My motivation is not wanting to let anyone down, I want to play well for them.”
Only those without a soul, even us non Australians, could fail to be stirred by those words.
A young man’s keenness to impress, the pride in his country and, it has to be said, the apparent lack of ‘a toxic environment’ that allowed Douglas to express himself this way. All sentiments backed in an interview with Will Genia in the Sydney Morning Herald today.
It’s hard to reconcile this with the erratic, confusing and – at times – depressing messages coming from Quade Cooper this week.
Searching for winners from it all is a fruitless task. There have been none. Not Cooper, not Robbie Deans and certainly not Ewen McKenzie. The conspiracy theorists need to settle down and return to the moon landings.
Perhaps all will be explained in a pay TV interview with Cooper on Thursday night. It is a last chance to choose the path of reconciliation rather than self-justification or self-immolation.
He is so far over the line of professional behaviour that even natural allies are wavering. His boss at the Reds is fed up and John Connolly – no fan of the ARU – believes his conduct is unacceptable.
Cooper will certainly be in friendly territory on Fox Sports. Matching some of the commentary from the Fox Sports broadcasts with what has been happening on the pitch has been a challenging proposition.
There should be no problem with former Wallabies greats talking up the side – it’s a sports broadcast, not a foreign correspondent’s report – but some of the latitude given to Cooper isn’t offered to other players. Fans notice if the playing field does not appear to be even.
Regardless, from a purely rugby perspective it has become clear that over the past 18 months he has become a player rival coaches actually like plotting against.
His game was unpicked by the Irish at the Rugby World Cup – first identifying his frailty under the high ball and then grabbing an intercept from a miracle pass – and it has not been stitched together since.
There was no more telling moment in the Gold Coast Test than the second the cameras went to the Argentina box after Cooper had knocked on a bouncing ball.
In the corner Graham Henry could be seen firing off a few words towards the small screen on which they view instant replays. He had seen it all before under different employers but the repeats seemed to be giving as much pleasure.
It’s also why Argentina kept trying to hit the more difficult back of the lineout ball with the game in the balance. An accurate throw opens up the No.9-No.10 channel to attack and they had some success – Cooper charging out of the line to put a shot on the No.12 and bouncing off as Argentina ploughed forward.
He is not alone. Two weeks ago the Springboks successfully ran Frans Steyn against Aaron Cruden and made inroads.
Cruden has found the going tough in the past two Tests and his place in the 22 is under threat from Beauden Barrett. It is not because Steve Hansen can’t coach or the All Blacks won’t let him have fun like at the Chiefs.
Frankly, Test rugby is brutal. That’s why so few make it, and even those that do might be chewed up and spat out.
Cooper’s outbursts carry the anger and frustration of a player who has been found out and can’t yet find the solution. If he is trying to find it in Super Rugby he is looking in the wrong place.
Still, debate about a player’s merits will always be subjective. He has failed a much simpler test. While the Wallabies were preparing for a brutal examination in hostile territory, a teammate was spraying accusations from the comfort of home. The complaints could have held. The issues would still be there in a fortnight.
Australia needed a lot more Douglas this week and much, much less Cooper.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
It was indeed for KPM, Mike. Deans did take Australia to 2, but realistically Australia have basically been a top 3 side since professionalism started, so it's no huge achievement. It just reminds me of when SA had their very good season in 2009, and apparently everything was rosy with SA rugby because they held the 3N title, had beaten the Lions (and NZ 3 zip), held the WC and the Bulls were Super champions. Then under Deans we've had a bit of the same with the Reds and the last 3N title and the fact Australia are number 2. Well... soon the Wallabies won't hold the SH title, the Reds aren't champions, the WC was largely a terrific disappointment, and Australia may slip down the rankings. I really think the number 2 ranking is clutching at straws.
Mike
Guest
No need to repeat the question, since I have answered it more than adequately - although I did forget to mention Boks going down to Scotland as well!
Ben.S
Roar Guru
I repeat the question. None of what you say prove there are anomalies apart from the Italy v France Test, which took part in Italy, and not France.
Mike
Guest
Yes I knew he was responding to KPM. Thanks for the link, Red Kev. Oh well, there you go - flitting between 2 and 3 is correct. But of course, a clear improvement under Deans.
Red Kev
Guest
I think he was responding to KPM. Also FYI - the historical rankings are available here: http://www.irb.com/rankings/analysis/index.html Select "Australia" "by date" and "October 2003" to "September 2012" to see our entire history in the official rankings.
Mike
Guest
Does that matter? International rugby is full of anomalies, and at least two of the countries you mention are no stranger to that: *France has lost to Italy, which is ranked lower than Scotland or Samoa. Australia has never lost to Italy. *England has drawn with Scotland and had very low winning margins against Scotland and Italy in recent games. *Australia has lost to Ireland, yet Ireland has lost to Scotland. *Australia regularly beats Wales, yet England has lost their last two matches against Wales (home and away). *Argentina is ranked only just above Scotland, yet it regularly beats France, at home and away. I also recall the Argies beating England a couple of years ago, and before that they beat England at Twickenham. Its possible to make anything we like out of all that. What it does drive home is that any team in the top dozen nations is capable of springing an upset on their day.
Mike
Guest
FWIW, I think Deans took us from 4 to 2 in the rankings and we have stayed there ever since. But of course we may lose that ranking in the next couple of games. Much will depend on whether Boks can beat ABs in Jo'burg - they are capable of it and it would give them a major boost in the rankings. Coupled with the fact that we are likely to lose against Boks in Pretoria and may lose against Argies in Rosario, we could see a new No 2 in a few weeks time. I personally have no beef with Martin Johnson. I think his achievements were very impressive, and his job wasn't easy for a number of reasons.
post
Guest
For being such unselfish team players you sure do seem to enjoy praising yourself.
mania
Guest
I'm working on it WQ. i'm starting my boys off as forwards before i move them into the backs
Let the One King Rule
Guest
"f you don’t care you don’t get frustrated, you just collect your paycheck" This is simply and flatly untrue. In a position where one is watched by millions of people, one is rarely vying for nothing more than money - one is also vying for adulation and respect. QC hasn't been getting any of those, and is reacting as a small child is wont to - by throwing a temper tantrum, where he blames everyone except for himself for his impotency and incompetence.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
'An underperforming fool doesn’t take a mediocre playing pool racked by injuries to number 2 in the world. That’s the work of an outstanding international coach.' This makes no sense whatsoever. The Wallaby side has not been 'racked by injuries' for 5 years. The Australian side has flittered between 2 and 3 under Deans for seasons now, and moved from 5th to 4th without Deans having ever coached them. Typically disingenuous. Interesting that you used to personally lambast Martin Johnson (vitriolically and disgracefully) yet accuse others of the same, and also have no answers as to how his sides managed to win away in Australia and rout the Wallabies at Twickenham.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
When was the last time SA, NZ, France or England lost to Samoa and Scotland at home?
Harry
Guest
Make of that what you will. My personal opinion is this is excellent, pragmatic leadership in action. Can anyone imagine JON (in his present stint, he would have first time around) doing something similar?
Harry
Guest
Letter from Reds CEO to all us members: An open letter to Reds Members & supporters from our CEO 26 September 2012 I am certain many of you have been concerned with what has been reported in the media over the past week regarding Reds playmaker Quade Cooper. You may have already seen my comments in the media however let me reassure you that Quade has no interest in leaving the Reds. He loves playing for Queensland and representing his country and has reaffirmed his commitment to our organisation on several occasions, and again as late as yesterday afternoon. Also, there have been suggestions in the media that Quade’s actions are part of a Queensland Rugby campaign to bring about a coaching change at a national level, however I can assure you that this is not correct. As you are aware, it has been our intent for some time to have Ewen McKenzie as the Reds Director of Coaching in 2013 along with Richard Graham, Jim McKay and the rest of our high performance staff, to ensure that the St.George Queensland Reds continue to be successful. In 2014, our plan is for Ewen to assume the role of Director of Rugby as part of our wider strategies around participation growth and elite talent identification, development and retention in Queensland. However we are also confident that we have built an organisation that is well positioned in the future to respond to the many and varied circumstances that inevitably arise in a dynamic business such as sport. Thank you for your ongoing support of the St.George Queensland Reds and Rugby in Queensland. Kind regards, Jim Carmichael Chief Executive Queensland Rugby
WoobliesFan
Guest
Well said Uncle......roar "experts" always dancing around the real issue.....plus the typical and subtle anti-cooper rhetoric
Suzy Poison
Guest
Most Roarers will be backing Quade's "toxic environment" quotes within the early hours of Sunday morning. Boks have just dropped Morne Steyn from the 22. Goosen the golden boy starts with Elton Jantjies on the bench. But the guy that I think will cause the Wallabies, not many folk in Oz, will have heard of. Jaco Taute. Boks by plenty.
Jutsie
Guest
Fair enough RK, your right the timing is terrible, another ARU blunder. They should have either sacked deans after WC or did what the NZRU did and made him reapply with other applicants and outline what mistakes he made and how he will improve in his second stint. If he was successful they should have given him 4 years. The issue now is that they have given him 2 years but then also publicly stated his job is in on the line this year if he doesnt win the bledisloe and/or rugby championship. So no wonder he is going ultra conservative and limiting the damage instead of starting from square one and trying out some new blood. Poor form by the ARU all round. Its good to know we can agree on the root causes :)
SkinnyKid
Guest
Rabbitz...ah yeah solid point. Wont let me reply below. In that case, its quite a funny point.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Worlds biggest - Cooper went to Churchie (Anglican Church Grammer) in Brisbane and played with the likes of Pocock. He was 'given' a scholarship to Churchie from his school in Logan (a State School on Brisbane). Yep he has had plenty 'given' to him in his development, just a pity that that is not respected in return. You must of read plenty about the 3 amigos who are all prima donna's in my view. Look after your employers and the employers will look after you - do unto others is the moral grounds I was raised in. Often I have read that Deans cannot coach a Wallaby side as he is not 'one of them' - Cooper is also a Kiwi who would not be in the 1st half a dozen in the pecking order as a No10 in the AB's. If Cooper thought he was good enough which team do you seriously think he would want to play for - the Wallabies or the All Blacks given the chance? If anything, the furore causes just might be the vehicle to cut down the 'other amigos' down to size. We shall see - Rugby will be the better for it!
garth
Guest
English rugby RWC 2011