Quade Cooper and Shane Watson are both injury prone. But that’s the only common denominator between two of Australia’s most talented sportsmen.
Loose cannon Cooper, of “toxic environment” fame, has cut his ties with the ARU which automatically ends his Wallaby career.
No tears there, he’s more trouble than he’s worth. If there’s anything toxic in the Wallaby camp, it’s Quade Cooper, just as Matt Giteau was in the latter part of his Australian career that cost him a 2011 World Cup berth.
Cooper’s departure finally breaks up the three amigos with Kurtley Beale, and James O’Connor, and that can only be beneficial to the Wallabies. It’s no secret both Beale and O’Connor, when he eventually gets back on the paddock, both play better when Cooper is not around.
A big bonus for Robbie Deans as well, he won’t have to look over his shoulder for the next Cooper snipe.
The ARU clash puts Cooper’s contract with the Queensland Reds in jeopardy, leaving three options – playing rugby overseas, switching to rugby league, and/or the boxing ring.
The latter option proves Cooper has completely lost the plot trying to mimic his great mate Sonny Bill Williams.
SBW has the talent to succeed in all three sports, Cooper will never make it in league, or the ring.
He’s bitten the hand that feedeth, and will pay a heavy financial penalty.
While Cooper keeps making a goose of himself, Shane Watson has kept his dedication and allegiance to Australian cricket intact, as he battles the clock to overcome a calf injury to play in the second Test against South Africa in Adelaide, starting Thursday.
Nobody will ever read anything derogatory said by Watson, it’s not his nature.
Which begs the question, how much better would Cooper have been as a Wallaby had he Watson’s temperament?
We’ll never ever know.
James
Guest
Quade needs to wake up, realise he hasn't performed well enough at international level and his talk has been out of line. On top of which, maybe the ARU, is realising that he is a TERRIBLE role model to all the young athletes out there and in 10 or so years they don't want another round of arrogant self-entitled pricks (possibly a bit harsh) playing for the Wallabies. Could be hoping that this slap in the face is the thing that finally gets him to shut up and focus on playing rather than talking. But they also need an out clause, as there is no proof that he has changed his ways and if he pulls more crap, they need to be able to get rid of him fast. And my dislike of him isn't too deep-seated. If he pulled his head in, I could let if go easy enough, but as is, he deserves all that goes his way. Players aren't by default disliked and disrespected, Cooper has "earned" the dislike and disrespect he has. Way I see it: Cooper can take this as a challenge and rise to (or above) it, or he can back down and away. Regardless of what the ARUs motivation was/is the ball is in Coopers hands and the play is up to him now. Will he try or not?
Neuen
Roar Rookie
So 11 minutes is all that you can produce of him the last 2 or 3 years? I got some Barnes action here for you though http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0vSAOkMPDU&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCON8oUUrmw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xghWXPd4tZM&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90qg-Uzo7mc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzz9YvUQ9yY
peterlala
Guest
Rabbitz, I follow rugby but I am neither a mug nor a punter. I expect a lot more from the ARU.
Red Kev
Guest
I thought it would be worth clearing this up for you too Garth - via direct quote: "He [Cooper] has come out and said he wants to play for Australia," Nucifora said. "If he hadn't said that, he possibly wouldn't have been offered the contract that has been put in front of him."
IronAwe
Guest
Hahaha, because young Aussies are so well behaved.
garth
Guest
probably.
garth
Guest
I hear the culprit got 13 & 1/2 years for that?
garth
Guest
Apology or not, after saying he wouldn't paly for the Wallabies, neither QC nor anybody else should be surprised that the ARU chose to revise their contract offer. By uttering that phrase, QC basically tore the previous and far more lucrative contract up and threw it the face of the ARU. Cooper also needs to recognise the difference between Super Rugby and being selected to represent your nation-of-residence. You may be able to hold a possible shift to another franchise/club/code over the QRU, but it is far harder to switch playing allegiance to another nation while playing the same sport. And while it is Cooper's decision whether or not to accept the reduce contract offer, the ARU is entitled to alter the offer on the table. The ARU obviously still wants him, the choice to leave (and the blame for same) is entirely Quade's.
jameswm
Guest
Anyone who has coached kids rugby knows how important Quade is to Australian rugby. The ARU is a business, but it has a wider obligation to promote and develop the game throughout Australia. Quade not in the best 30 players in the country? Puhlease.
Happy Hooker
Guest
I'm glad I found out now .... could have been awkward further down the track!
J1P2
Guest
Mmmm, because Cooper missing was the only difference.Brilliant simplistic argument.
J1P2
Guest
I think that NZRU is just happier to deal with d*ckheads than the ARU are.
J1P2
Guest
Which is backed up by the reports at the time of players having a go at him after the Argentina match. I was away at the time (still watched the match tho) but just yesterday read an interview about it.
joeb
Roar Rookie
"Quade Cooper no loss to Australian rugby" Let's be fair dinkum, ;) current Wallabies capt. Sharpe: "Quade is a very talented player ... He was a key part of Queensland winning their title in Super 15. He is an immensely talented player. "The more players you've got like that in Australia[n] [rugby] the better [for the code], but sometimes the chips don't fall the way everyone wants them to." http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/outraged-quade-cooper-quits-wallabies/story-e6frg7o6-1226519902884 And let's not forget Nathan Sharpe was in a simillar position - identical we could say - to Quade last year. How sooon we forget. "[Sharpe] denied the honour of playing his 100th Test in the World Cup semi-final against the All Blacks and instead was tossed the bone of bringing up his century in the meaningless bronze medal playoff against Wales. Keep that in mind next time the ARU spinmeisters laud Sharpe to the high heavens." http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/opinion/virulent-strain-of-tall-poppy-syndrome-claims-scapegoat-cooper/story-e6frg7v6-1226520703543
Neuen
Roar Rookie
That is stats. It shows nothing or explains anything why the Reds won those matches. Saying they won all that matches cause of Quade you are forgetting about the other 14 guys that makes a rugby team. He reminds me of Carlos Spencer.
Handles O'Love
Guest
What 2012 form are you talking about? He played a couple of Super Rugby games and was fantastic, and one test match, in Auckland. Count the number of chances Beale has blown this year, Wales was his "bad game he had to have", then the first All Blacks game was worse, and the first Boks game was crap.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
And with Cooper playing this year they have scored 2. 10 without him ooh I love stats you can bend them anyway......
Handles O'Love
Guest
and while you are thinking, watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qt4fleElpk or this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfzyO3UWvCo or this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMXkspJ2dxI And then try googling "Berrick Barnes highlights", or "Pat McCabe highlights", or "Anthony Fa'inga highlights", and see what comes up.
Handles O'Love
Guest
the WB team has been better without QC on the field? What planet are you watching your rugby on? The Wallabies have scored 13 tries in 12 test matches this year. Read that again. Wales, Scotland, Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa, France, England. TWELVE tries! Jeesus, at least try and think before you write.
IronAwe
Guest
Agreed Shung. The ARU are blind if they can't see the benefits of having someone like Quade playing for them. There is nothing official yet saying Cooper has left, despite what David reports above, and I for one hope he rises above all this and plays the house down. Would be the best result for all.