Quade Cooper could take one of sport’s most remarkable transformations to another level as national captain following Ben Mowen’s shock decision to quit Australian rugby.
Wallabies skipper Mowen stunned the local rugby community on Thursday by announcing he’ll leave at the end of the 2014 season to play for a French club, shunning the chance to lead Australia at the 2015 World Cup in order to put his family first.
Mowen, who only made his Test debut in June, was installed as Australian captain on November’s European tour when coach Ewen McKenzie promoted him over James Horwill.
An understanding McKenzie said he will still consider backrower Mowen for this year’s Tests, but he’s certain to install a new skipper with the World Cup looming the following year.
McKenzie would not be drawn on the likely candidate and indicated he may wait till after the Super Rugby season to decide.
“There’s a bunch of guys,” McKenzie told AAP.
“We don’t have to pick a team for six months, so we’ll worry about that closer to the time.”
Horwill, halfback Will Genia and flanker David Pocock have all captained Australia in recent years as injuries took their toll.
Perhaps the most intriguing candidate is Cooper, who’s arguably next in line after being promoted to vice-captain when Mowen got the captaincy.
The five-eighth doesn’t have the captaincy experience of Genia, Horwill and Pocock or another potential candidate, Melbourne Rebels backrower and skipper Scott Higginbotham.
But he’s clearly held in high regard by McKenzie, who brought him back into the team after he was shunned by previous coach Robbie Deans and punished by the Australian Rugby Union for publicly criticising a “toxic” Wallabies culture.
Cooper subsequently won plaudits for his return to form on the field and his development as a responsible senior player off it.
Mowen had been in negotiations with the ARU over a new contract, having earned less than many Wallabies teammates last season when he played every Test.
The cash-strapped ARU only provides contract top ups to players once they have had two years in the Wallabies.
However he said his decision was not influenced by his contract talks.
“We were working along nicely and it got to the point before we even had to come to an agreement that I rang Ewen and said ‘look, it’s not going to be about money’,” Mowen said.
“It’s more about what is fitting with my motivation.”
That motivation is Mowen’s 18-month daughter Eleanor and his wife Lauren.
Simply, the Brumbies skipper spent almost seven months away from them last year with Super Rugby and Wallabies commitments and he doesn’t want to keep doing that.
“It was just time at home at Christmas around the family where I thought, ‘nah, at this stage, this is more important to me than trying to get to the World Cup’,” Mowen said.
He revealed he had a brief chat to McKenzie about the possibility of leaving after the Wallabies’ final game of the season against Wales on November 30.
“Straight after the fulltime siren, I informed him how I was feeling,” he said.
“I’m lucky enough that I have a really good relationship with Link (McKenzie) to do that. And he was really supportive and understood.
“I am probably the first (Wallabies captain to be in this situation), but I’m also probably the first bloke to make his Test debut at 28 and retire at 29.
“It was short and sweet for a Test career. It’s a hard decision. It took months, but I’m comfortable where I’ve come to and I’m proud of the contribution I’ve made.”
While disappointed to lose Mowen, McKenzie praised him for his professionalism and for keeping him informed through the negotiating process with the ARU.
“He’s been very open and transparent,” McKenzie said.
nanas
Guest
Cooper, as demonstrated, is best suited in his vice roll.
onetruegame
Guest
Quade won't be captain, not yet anyway. It will probably be a forward. And if injuries continue, as they do, the captain may be Mowen. It doesn't matter. Ben has does us a favouring the off season by giving us all something to talk about.
Lazza
Guest
QC an astute rugby brain...don't make me laugh!!! He can't even run his own life...steals lap tops. People have short memories. Some peanut bagged my suggestion of Moore as capitan cause of a personality frailty but apparently QC is a better choice, & I'm the idiot!!!! Apparently QC can change but No one else can!!!!!
BigRInOz
Guest
Link will decide when the time is right. Sheer speculation prior to then. Personally I'm NOT a QC supporter as captain (too erratic) -- but a brilliant individualist when he's "on song" (which isn't always unfortunately).
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
Jake being a leading exemplar of leadership, loyalty and putting the team first. But thanks for sharing. Now. Back to your rocket surgery practice with you.
roardog
Guest
I know Jake White tore strips of Moore for not being a Team player, so now you want to make him Captain of the Wallabies,there are a lot of brainless people on this forum.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Based on Ewen Mackenzie's comments and people who've played with him in the past and currently who I know personally.
Sporting Tragic
Roar Pro
There is absolutely no way in hell that he should be the next captain
Stray Gator
Guest
Why? As Sheek alludes, side-on, Moore's mug is, well, kinda scary. Not the kind of poster boy looks that Nobody had in spades. Still, given the demonstrable need for a sport that does more to instil moral leadership, character and decency into hard men to put its hand up as the (one?) shining light in the Australian landscape, perhaps, as Sheek also alludes, this is the precisely right moment for the ARU to appoint someone whose personal virtues run far deeper than his looks? Seriously.
Crazy Horse
Guest
Will Ritchie be allowed out of the old folks home for the toss?
linz22
Guest
I dont understand the people who keep throwing Genia's name into the hat. He always looks like a poor leader IMO; constantly getting frustrated and taking it out on the players around him.
stillmatic1
Guest
I don't think he actually means quade "holds" any player up, qldfan. I think salada means speedbump......
stillmatic1
Guest
so each team played under different conditions did they?
stillmatic1
Guest
based on what, jiggles?
Rugby is Life
Guest
Jean de Villiers does a pretty dam good job as a captain. I think Quade is best as VC. The responsbility lifts him but leaves him free to play his game. The C might be too much of a distraction as it was for Genia and possibly also Horwill. For some like Michael Clarke it takes you to a new level but for others. Mowen is one of the former. His captaincy probably is a bigger contribution than his play.
Qldfan
Roar Rookie
Salada, holding up the ball carrier allows for support to arrive, and maybe forming a maul, or getting a turn over, or preventing a turnover Holding up the ball carrier can be a good advantage creating situation. There is more to it than mindlessly "leveling him"
Qldfan
Roar Rookie
Magic Sponge, still harping on that old story. Get up to date with the last season, and drop the (IMO) biggotted attitude.
redbull
Guest
Saw him in a pub in Bordeaux in 2007 after one of the games. Was doing his best to stay inconspicuous in the background. Though there weren't any others of the team there. A pretty sensible guy even back then at 23.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen NSW
Guest
Andy - I have to agree with you on your point about lobbing players in front of cameras and mics for interviews. I can't believe the ARU isn't more switched-on. If you're going to do that, then at least prep them with some media training. Facts are some are good interviewers & commentators and some, Kathy Freeman springs to mind, need a lot of work before they or the viewing public should be subjected to that. I think Quade has improved but that may be as simple as counting to 10 before responding to a question. Unlike written responses, live interviews simply don't give you the luxury of 'taking the comment back', and some interviewers take full advantage of those who are inexperienced.
Nabley
Guest
I see Quade like a feral dog. Will do most things when its told, but then goes off half cocked. True he has been good since his resurrection. Let him consolidate on that as he needs to. You can bet in S15 where he has more room, he will be back to his herum scarum Carlos type play that will be constantly tugging at him in Tests. Besides, 5/8s make lousy captains as do halfbacks as they have too much to do. There are exceptions but Quade is not one of them.