Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie has warned the NSW Waratahs to target Reds playmaker Quade Cooper at their peril in Saturday night’s Super Rugby derby in Sydney.
With his crafty scrumbase partner Will Genia sidelined, the Waratahs have not surprisingly nominated Cooper as the Reds’ key attacking threat and are making no secret of their plans to douse his “fire” at ANZ Stadium.
But showing full faith in Genia’s replacement half, McKenzie on Friday invited the Waratahs to go right ahead.
“I don’t think there’s any team that doesn’t try to do that. Why do they do that? They know he’s influential in the game,” he said.
“It’s interesting that they’ve narrowed it down to Quade this week. Normally it’s Will and Quade.
“Maybe they’re not paying as much attention to Nick Frisby, who has done some really good work for us this year.
“He’s a really good try sneak and is getting better and better with every opportunity.
“So teams will focus on Quade, and Quade doesn’t mind that. He expects it, so it does free up other people to do things.”
And just as Cooper can expect extra attention from the Waratahs, McKenzie has promised NSW five-eighth Bernard Foley a torrid night as well.
“I think Foley’s been influential for them. So they might be putting pressure on Quade, but we’ll put pressure on him,” said McKenzie.
“There are other people too who we think we can generate opportunity out of. We’ll see on the day, but that’s the theory anyway.”
McKenzie is in the unusual position of wearing two hats this weekend after being appointed Wallabies coach this week, but the one-time Waratahs mentor said he’d take no joy whatsoever out of NSW players putting their hand up for Test selection with match-winning displays against his finals-bound Reds.
A loss would not only stall the fourth-placed Reds’ momentum heading into next week’s playoffs, but also earn eighth-placed NSW the same number of wins as Queensland – and that matters to McKenzie.
“If we do win, we’ll finish two wins ahead (of the Waratahs) and probably 14 points difference,” he said.
“That’s a different outcome around the relative perceptions around the two teams and that’s important in terms of the Australian rugby scene.
“You want to be as high up the ladder as you can be.
“There’s also silverware on offer, the Bob Templeton Cup, and it’s hard fought and we’ve got it and we don’t want to give that up.
“There’s plenty on offer.”
Zero Gain
Guest
Hope so. That will be a nice change from NSW undeservingly dominating selections.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
To'omua as a 12? I think CL has do enough to keep that spot.
Justin3
Guest
Or the packs or Genias
rahh
Guest
Who could ever forget Cooper's 'roo in the headlights performances in the World Cup.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
"Please don't target Cooper. I have to justify selecting him for the Wallabies again"
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
The Reds record against Kiwi teams both home and away has been pretty good recently. Travelling to South Africa would be more of a worry
ScrumJunkie
Guest
As if Link is so thick as to pick favourites ahead of the best. He's seen how that works out.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
The Link Wallabies will be very similar to the Deans Wallabies except Gill and perhaps Tapuai may get more of a run and Cooper will be back in.
AdamS
Roar Guru
He has had a go, and didnt do particularly well. Good soldier for SXV, but there is no chance he is going to edge out Pocock, Gill or Hooper...
Rugby is Life
Guest
Would love to see Beau Robinson given a go. I like his abrasive style. So much energy.
dcnz
Guest
Crusaders v Bulls final.
Geoff Brisbane
Guest
Good opportunity for both teams and a lot more riding on it for the reds but reality is they will travel over to Christchurch to play the Crusaders.
fredstone
Guest
So what y'all alluyding to is that it may be a toxic environment if you not a Reds playa, or maybe an amigo?
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Dont worry. McKenzie will not persist with players that are not up to it because of self preservation. He has softened his approach to selecting Cooper for the Wallabies and with good reason. What is positive about Cooper at super level is significantly lessened at international level because of opposition quality and pressure and whats negative about him at super level is increased for the sane reasons. A guy like Cooper quickly becomes a liability and McKenzie will realise this very quickly. McKenzie would be best served by dropping Cooper, Beale, JOC but we will see how he will approach it.
johnson
Guest
Yeah because Cooper holds up so well under pressure!!!
niwdeyaj
Guest
I don't think McKenzie will show much favoritism over time... I think the first signal of how objective he is will be whether he picks Toomua alongside QC...
AdamS
Roar Guru
You mean for Wallaby selections? Other than the obvious, I'm not sure which Reds are really in that zone. Davies too fragile and defensively poor. Schatz an quirk? Maybe...but not clearly. Morehan? Doesn't get a start for the Reds even..
Ohtanis Jackets
Roar Rookie
Mackenzie will only have loyalty for the Reds players. It's obvious.