The wise Roar fan-base have spoken – Quade Cooper at 10 and Israel Folau 14 or 15 .
But clouds are still gathering elsewhere as it is still predicted by many that Cooper won’t make the 25 man squad. If he doesn’t he won’t play Suncorp even if added later.
Lunacy! Cooper and Folau in the same training group for a month is a mouth-watering prospect.
Why would you not spend this time developing the most potent potential combination presently in world rugby – with the genius Will Genia setting their opportunities – and if that is not enough , James O’Connor and Digby to confuse the Lions as to who is the next receiver .
Other than their clearcut and amazing skill-based recent form, all this is further supported by the telling statistics that both Cooper and Folau are at the very top of all Super Rugby offload statistics.
Just one or two to each other will be enough for the winning points at Suncorp.
Add to this Cooper’s cross field kicks to the wing and league grubbers into open space behind – both fodder for Folau. Oh, and You know that Izzy running onto a Cooper seven person cutout pass will not be stopped .
For 48 hours I have the time to express that Deans could not be so stupid not to keep this option in his hands in a 25-person squad.
The last six is meaningless – if you were even considering starting Cooper you would bind him in to the treasured time made available for Wallaby camp.
Any talk on first watching Quade play the Lions for Reds without Genia has missed the point – his boat would have already sailed.
Also this allows Deans to indulge his fetish for a hard running, hard tackling, hard head at 12 – McCabe or not – as a defence selection – and leave the rest to the four playmakers outside the ultimate playmaker at nine.
Genia will have three playmakers as go to options – the Lions won’t cope with this for 80 minutes.
Quade and Izzy – a once a generation match-up. I’m backing Deans to grasp this gift .
dadiggle
Guest
Cooper lacks hart Hence why his tackling is so poor. Its a professional sport. Team analyze you and attacks your weaknesses, Move him to back 3 on defense and you sit with a weaker back 3 which can be exploited.
Malo
Guest
If we win the first one, Cooper will be on the sidelines for a long time till link gets the job. Whats the fuss roarers. Get over it he has had his chance move on.
DJW
Guest
Absolutly agree 100% with Genuinetailender. This is why I hope Deans goes as soon as possible.
Hello Mcfly
Guest
Yeah I know, maybe we should tell that to the people who have paid Growden for the last 30 years.)
Justin2
Guest
Greg Growden no less than fark all about rugby!!!! But the premise of your argument is spot on. Every man and his dog knows who the best 10 is. Unfortunately Deans is a Dingo, not a dog...
Hello Mcfly
Guest
That's funny, not only Ewan Mckenzie, Eddie jones, Bob Dwyer, George Gregan and Rod Kaffer would prefer cooper at 10 against the lions, but also Michael Lynagh, John Collony, Greg Growden, Allen Jones, Mark ella, Sterling Mortlock and Tim Horan - but hey, these guys no nothing about rugby right?
ScrumJunkie
Guest
Obviously you forgot to vote on the roar poll.
tubby
Guest
i thought the reds were only a little bit of being very good in that game, so many promising moves but none of them came off. cooper failed to adapt though, where was the plan B when the flick passes weren't working? and that first try was an awful missed tackle, no effort to put his body into it. genia had a shocker, adrian strauss is pretty hard to miss when he's standing in your backline yet they kept passing to him.
Bondi
Guest
Totally agree. Cooper can't play international rugby. He never fires when he has the gold jersey on. There are too many players that actually cherish that jersey and play better than him at that level. Except for the other Reds players, I doubt the rest of the team will be shedding any tears at his ommision.
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
Amen.
dwayne
Guest
How has Cooper been at International level. Terrible, and way out of his depth. As a team man. The worst kind. This is a no brainer.
mania
Guest
agree
ScrumJunkie
Guest
This is because he sees the world like a kiwi not an Aussie. Bob Dwyer, Rod Macqueen backed their judgement, result two world cups. Deans is too conservative with selections, this is fine if your conservatism means players like McCaw and Carter are selected. It's a liability when players like Dennis, or JOC at 10 are selected.
Hello Mcfly
Guest
Ewan Mckenzie, Eddie jones, Bob Dwyer, George Gregan and Rod Kaffer would disagree!
niwdEyaJ
Guest
agree. moronic decision by deans. i went from really liking him back in 2008 to being skeptical in 2009, doubtful in 2010, moderately anti-deans after the RWC and now I just want him sacked as soon as possible... the guy is a nut...
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
Robbie Deans is far too concerned with his defence. He think more about how not to lose, than how to win. He worries more about minimising the opposition, rather than getting the best out of his own side. This is a fundamental flaw in the structure of the Wallabies. For a team lucky enough to have so many players with attacking flair, we are held back by a misguided, if well-intended, approach to our international rugby. As long as this is the case, the dazzling potential of a Cooper-Folou combination, along with many other attacking sights will be held back.
Malo
Guest
Yeah Cooper 10 will either be a match winner sensation or a complete disaster, it depends on the day and if the coach with his neck on the line will he take that risk.
jutsie
Guest
Yeah forgot about mowen. Its him folau and cl then
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Yep so now we know; izzy, CL and Mowen.
Atawhai Drive
Guest
Tomane and Cummins are in on the wing.