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Quade Cooper no loss to Australian rugby

19th November, 2012
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Wallabies player Quade Cooper. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
Expert
19th November, 2012
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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.

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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.

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