Has Quade Cooper made the right call for the right reasons?

What do you care David? You blast the guy one article, then feign deep analysis the next.

How many of those 13 tests in 2013 do we look like winning? Not if we keep playing the dour kind of rugby that's been served up since the RWC. Not many against the Lions and less in the RC. Might pick up a few on the NH tour. Deans will be lucky not to get overtaken by Fast Eddies 57% winning margin.

How was Timani a standout in the 5 games he started? I wont start on Vuna's defence.

I would love to see how many tries are scored in the last 20 minutes, just a theory but I suspect fitter more professional players has meant defences don't "open up" like they perhaps used to in the final quarter.

Who knows what the deal is with Cooper? There is so much spin coming from Cooper's camp and the ARU are staying silent. Jim Tucker in the Courier Mail said yesterday "Cooper said after re-signing for a revised deal which can earn him $800,000-plus next year if he plays all 14 Tests" which sounds like an incentive based contract which he had previously rejected as unaccaptable. In other reports it sounds like he is getting a straight out $800,000 contract no matter how his poor (or good) his form is. Ditto with Folau. Roy Masters says ARU top-up is $400,000 quoting no sources for his claim. Again the ARU says nothing. Usually I think it is sensible the ARU refuse to divulge details of contracts, but in these two cases I think it would be sensible if they let the fans know what was going on.

If he is really getting around a million a year with no Wallaby incentive component, then I don't think he will care if he never plays for the Wallabies again. The money is in the bank. He can play 6 months of super rugby and then go box and suck up to his BBF SBW. I've been appalled and outraged about the ARU's handing of this and the way QLD have power played the ARU in this matter is typically without honour. Congratulations QLD you have created a monster and we are all paying through the nose for it. I'd rather have split that top up money between 10 worthy super players with integrity than keep one Cooper. I'd rather secure their loyal service in Australia rather than pander to this man's inflated idea of self worth.

No doubt Robbie Deans is one of the greatest coaches of our era. Although he has a great track record from what I can see his heart just isn't in it for the wallabies, he seems indifferent win or lose. Maybe his loyalties lie elsewhere which would make it difficult to coach with the passion required to inspire a group of elite athletes in such a competitive environment. Personally I think it should be an Aussie coach for an Aussie team regardless.

I agree a game plan needs to be built around the players available and QC needs to be able to adjust to that. I also agree about QC's potential is greater than any other options. However I also think he needs to come to the party and step up his defence. He needs to be a bit more than a roadbump. Tackling really isn't the hardest thing in the world and for him to be such a liability at his age really is pretty poor. Nobody expects him to be a Johnny Wilkinson, and he has those around him who can help. He also needs to improve his field kicking... having a long pass, a bit of trickery and a step is really not enough for an international first five. But without him, I don't see someone else who can set up players like Beale, JOC, Ioane et al from first five. I also don't think the midfield combination has been finalised. I would like to think Tapuai could be another Conrad Smith or Jason Little and bring JOC into 2nd five (IC). I know this leaves AAC either on the bench or fullback, but it's either that or slot JOC onto the wing and put Beale at fullback. I am also not sure who can put in the long raking kicks which are currently missing, which I think is really the issue with the Wallaby kicking game. Obviously the pointless grubbers and attempted chip kicks need to go and be used infrequently, rather than frequently as is currently the case. But before JOC got injured they were dangerous, now they have lost the edge in terms of unpredicatbility which he gave them. I think the other backs have improved over the season and I definitely think 2013 will be a more telling year if they can remain uninjured and build on their skills and fitness before the Lions tour.

Might be worth noting that NSW did not actually sack Mckenzie - he finished off his contract with the Tahs in the Final in 2008 against Robbies Crusaders. Beale was at 10 and the Tahs scored two tries to one and lost to Carters boot. Yes they agreed to not recontract Mckenzie after four games of that season but despite that he still coached the team to the final and had the last laugh - the Tahs have not been to a Grand Final since btw

CB, great post.

To get the team to play well it takes "continuation and stability" Yes they have had injuries but many of the combination changs you use as evidence were a direct result of tinkering with selections - Drew Mitchell is a classic example - it cant be an excuse if its man made. I would suggest that a good game plan and playing style might be of help too. You talk about who has been sacked but if the real world existed and the ARU was consistent with its approach as in the past - Deans would already have been sacked on his win% - Its more good fortune that it hasnt happened. Given Chieka just got sacked from the same club as McKenzie does that also make him ineligible in your mind?

Only id Deans does not adopt the one out attack style that he wanted Quad Cooper to execute. I agree with the previous poster that RD was shiiite after the Irland match at the RWC.

So. One man driving a civic muscle car gets blamed for 35 coaches getting a sack from a poor performance...

Hahaha finally someone agrees

Your right about the standing over tactics by Genia. I don't know why many halfbacks after two great years of delivering the ball under pressure all of a sudden they stand over dictating play from behind a ruck or maul as if they were the chosen one. Kahn Fotualii did the same for Samoa in last years world cup and many more are did the same when they should just do their job and pass the ball. I ike that Japanese number 9 he was such a great player who made the ball available in every chance.

Ah, but isn't Folau the walk in Wallabies fullback? At least according to the hysterical reports about how he is going to transform the game.

Does anyone else worry about this assumption that McKenzie is the next coach? Point a) he seems to be blithely ignoring Genias extremely dim habit of standing over the ball like Gregan (which itself drove everyone completely froth brain mad and is therefore astounding that it has happened again) b) his allowance of Genias box kicks to nowhere land c) his use of Genia at fly half d) his ‘verballing’ of the public of his wisdom as a coach through columns which seems a professional clash and way too ‘ cute’ for a future Wallaby coach. Points a,b,c add up to All Black glee. I am hoping Cheika does something special as he seems to have a fantastic attitude and as an ex loosey from Randwick he appreciates toughness and fluidity. Although, please (!!!) can everyone stop talking about Falou as a bomb taker, because for goodness sake the last thing we need is more redundant kicking in Australian rugby. Izzy should be running with the ball in hand more than anything. I like Deans, but if there was an Aussie coach fully primed and proven right now I guess that he would replace RD, a fairly important reason being the chockingly bad kicking game he has permitted in the Wallabies. Over and over and over and over and over again.

Does anyone else worry about this assumption that McKenzie is the next coach? Point a) he seems to be blithely ignoring Genias extremely dim habit of standing over the ball like Gregan (which itself drove everyone completely froth brain mad and is therefore astounding that it has happened again) b) his allowance of Genias box kicks to nowhere land c) his use of Genia at fly half d) his 'verballing' of the public of his wisdom as a coach through columns which seems a professional clash and way too ' cute' for a future Wallaby coach. Points a,b,c add up to All Black glee. I am hoping Cheika does something special as he seems to have a fantastic attitude and as an ex loosey from Randwick he appreciates toughness and fluidity. Although, please (!!!) can everyone stop talking about Falou as a bomb taker, because for goodness sake the last thing we need is more redundant kicking in Australian rugby. Izzy should be running with the ball in hand more than anything. I like Deans, but if there was an Aussie coach fully primed and proven right now I guess that he would replace RD, a fairly important reason being the chockingly bad kicking game he has permitted in the Wallabies. Over and over and over and over and over again.

The thing that David Lord, and others of his bent, will never ever fathom is that people just love watching Cooper do his work on the park, it is why the ARU folded and why the big offer came in from France. He makes mistakes often, and is brilliant sometimes, but always entertains. Who cares what Deans does from here? Cooper got his money, and if he sparks for the Reds, as he did the past two seasons, then he is golden, whether or not Deans picks him. Cooper knows that his task is pretty simple, he just has to be a better 10 than Beale or Barnes, and it will be plain for all the world to see. My point? Whining about his "integrity" and other nonsense does not change the fact that Cooper has a talent which people will pay to see and that ultimately this is a more valuable commodity than any contribution from coach Robbie Deans as a selector or man-manager. You can win as many as you like by luck, ultimately you get sacked for not entertaining because that is where the money and the survival of the game is, not in pandering to the "win ugly" mindset of those who are intent on killing the game. The ARU may not like Cooper, or his manager, but they surely know they need more like him, and less of scraping past Italy in ugly bore-fests.

the problem with the ARU is that they are delusional and out of touch old boys with similar thought process to rugby as David Lord...in other words absolutely no idea