Alexander forced out of Wallabies squad

My money for the next injury will be Drew Mitchell. After 6 games on two years, how can he even be considered for the WBs. He's the ARUs new golden haired boy. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].

Lifting all those trophies.

And has the guts to speak out

Kuruki, on what basis are you suggesting that Cooper has brought anything into the spotlight? Objectively, I mean? Cooper let loose with some complaints, and for a little while people were talking about Cooper. Sure, there were many people who were already making those complaints, and they agreed with Quade's comments. But where is the evidence that any substantive issue is being discussed more because of his comments? The injury issue existed before Cooper's weighed in. I agree that it is being talked about more right now, but the reason for that is simple and obvious: more injuries have occurred. I appreciate that your experience may be different but I am not aware of anyone who is talking about injuries because of something Cooper said. They are talking about it because Ioane has gone down, and Alexander, and Shipperley etc etc. "Toxic environment" - Apart from a number of players disagreeing with him, I can't think of any debate he has stimulated about that, that wasn't there already. Some people already thought the Wallabies had a toxic environment, some thought they didn't, and most had no opinion. I am not aware of anyone whose opinion has actually changed in that regard because of Cooper's comments. "Faciities" - this appears to have been given short shift (and rightly so) after a number of people pointed out that Wallabies' facilities are no worse than those available to ABs, Boks etc.

Mike. You say others have raised the point before Cooper, was this behind closed and done through the appropriate channels to do so? probably the reason why... 1. I never heard about it. 2. obviously nothing got done about it. 3. There has never been a big deal made about any of it. You say Cooper seems to have shut up, what more did he need to say? Seems to me that his words have already hit the mark, which is probably brought the situation into the spotlight more then all those previous people you speak of put together.

According to the Brumbies Facebook page (there's a link from their website) both Toomu'a and Lealiifano are back running in training. There are also pictures of Clyde Rathbone who looks like he's preparing to audition for a part as the Hulk - if he doesn't get back as a winger he can always try prop.

Love it!

+1 Markus. What Justin2 said.

You're right Kuruki (except for "suddenly there is an injury crisis" because there already was one). The fact Cooper raised all these issues is ignored because (a) people don't like him, and (b) people don't like that he came out and said bad things about the Wallabies when he is a Wallaby (that sort of thing is not supposed to be done until you're retired like Campo). It is classic shoot the messenger stuff. Mike's post above is case in point.

Be serious Kuruki. Cooper did not raise a single point that others had not raised before him, and he patently did so for selfish reasons. The injuries have been mainly occurring at S15 and club level so going far beyond any cryptic comments by Cooper. And his complaining about lack of a dedicated facility was bizarre when no test team in the world has one. Now I recognise that this post is from you, not from Cooper. To Cooper's credit, he seems to have shut up. That was a good move. He managed to do a lot of damage to his reputation, but if he now knuckles down, works on the flaws in his game and talks less, he may yet be able to salvage his career. He is still a young man and has a lot of potential.

Funny how all these little points QC raised and was slaughtered for are now actually being recognized as issues. JON has stepped down because his workload is too high to do the job, obviously he has not been up to the mark in his performance recently which is why he has decided to move on, i think it had more to do with Cooper bringing the issue into the spotlight. Cooper also criticized the resources and management of players, suddenly there is an injury crisis, so maybe he had a point and something has been seriously lacking in that regard. Cooper also criticized Deans game plan, hinting that he was not happy to go out and play defensive Rugby because he knew it would never equate to becoming number 1. Suddenly the talk from Deans is the team needs to come out and be more expansive and play attacking rugby, Australia are also going through the biggest try scoring drought in their history. Maybe QC should run Australian Rugby at least he can identify issues that are not up to standard.

Nothing like positive thinking and backing your own side.

I'd love to know too. I've got a kid who runs middle distance and I've done a lot of research on over-training, recovery, diet etc. I'd love to know what they actually did. What specific running, aerobic, speed, agility etc sessions do they do? What do they do that is specific to their position?

I think the under 10's will give them a run for there money. What they lack in power they will make up for in unpredictability and energy. In the end, we will still lose by a cricket score.

Would seem that's right. Does anyone know how Leali'ifano's recuperation is going?

Joe statement of fact or an exaggeration? I have heard some of the sessions are enormous and even in the lead up to Tests under Deans. Be interested to see the breakdown of their workload.

"The backs in particular it seems will get a lot more out of training under Larkham than with the Wallabies squad at present." Absofarkinglutely!

Well yes, but its getting to the stage where we will be combing the Under-10s for replacement Wallabies. I'm sure there's a couple there that can take on Kieran Reid...

Never a truer word, Adam. We need to get the injury management and match fitness of test players under the control of one body - the ARU - and give it a mandate to keep the test players ready. We need to give it the power to enforce whatever steps are needed to carry out its mandate, and then hold it to account if they are not. I thought it was bad before, this is just incredible. But then, as you point out, the S15 and RC injury stats should have warned us.

The WBs are training for 5 hours a day - its no wonder they are getting injured