The first line of Adrian Warren’s article on The Roar starts off with this remarkable assertion: “Quade Cooper could take on one of sport’s most remarkable transformations to another level as national captain following Ben Mowen’s shock decision to quit Australian rugby.”
Given Cooper’s behaviour and comments about the self-described ‘toxic’ Wallabies environment under Robbie Deans and his stated intention that he wouldn’t play in the ‘yellow’ Wallaby jersey, is it a bad joke that the captaincy matter has been raised?
In my opinion, it is a possibility. And I’m not joking.
First, the source of the assertion, Adrian Warren, is one of the most experienced and best AAP sports journalists going around.
You’ll invariably see him in the cluster of journalists gathered around a player or a coach, generally standing slightly behind the person being interviewed with his microphone primed to catch the comments and the questions.
He has a moustache, like me. He once ruefully told me that some players thought that he was me early on when I started writing my rugby columns for The Sydney Morning Herald and he was starting his own career.
The fact that someone as experienced Warren and with his contacts decided to lead with the startling lead suggesting Captain Quade indicates to me that someone in the know has given him a bit of a wink and nod about what is going on in Ewen McKenzie’s mind.
One of the main considerations in all of this is that McKenzie came into the Wallabies coaching job determined to do the opposite of what Deans did.
This anti-Deans methodology lead to the rehabilitation of Cooper into the Wallabies and then his promotion to the position of vice-captain.
McKenzie justified these moves by insisting that Cooper was a reformed character (he needed to be!) and that he was a team leader anyway, as he rather than Will Genia ran the backs.
In a sense, Genia’s leadership career has been matched like cable cars with that of Cooper. When Genia moved forward, Cooper went back. As Cooper has moved forward, Genia has moved back.
One of the most intriquing aspects of the McKenzie regime as Wallabies coach at least initially has been the extent to which Genia has been moved out of the leadership positions he held under Deans and, for a time, out of the starting team itself.
I am wondering if Genia’s secretive attempt to defect to Perth a couple of years, when McKenzie was trying to rebuild the Reds, is possibly behind McKenzies somewhat brutal treatment of Genia.
Certainly, those involved with the Reds were furious at Genia and Tim Horan, wearing two hats as part of the Reds’ management and as a Fox Sports commentator, killed off the transfer with an pre-emptive warning about it on television.
I don’t doubt either that Ben Mowen was either told or it was implied to him that his captaincy of the Wallabies was over. He is not a good enough player to be certain of a starting role for the Wallabies, let alone a permanent starting role.
In 2014 there will be a number of loose forwards ahead of Mowen, including Wycliff Palu (who was somewhat condescending about Mowen’s intention to go to France), Scott Fardy, Scott Higginbotham and David Pocock.
James Horwill will also be available, injury free at last, to stake his claim to the Wallaby captaincy that he was given so dramatically just before the 2011 Rugby World Cup by Robbie Deans.
Will the facts of this appointment, that he was a Deans choice, tell against him when McKenzie makes his decision for the June Tests?
Mowen, anyway, has pre-empted any decision to drop him by accepting an offer to play in France. He should go with the blessing of the Australian rugby community as a player who rose above his limitations to be an inspirational Wallabies captain at a time when the team needed someone with a selfless dedication to the good of the team, rather than his own career, to rise out of the mire of mediocrity that was engulfing the side.
Whether the captain who succeeds him will actually be Quade Cooper remains an open question. The form of a number of players in the 2014 Super Rugby season will be a key factor.
Who would have thought that Tana Umaga would captain the All Blacks and become a charismatic captain at that after his dismal campaign in the 2003 Rugby World Cup tournament?
One of the most wonderful aspects of sport is its redemptive quality. Cooper has behaved in a totally unacceptable way, on and off the field. He has trashed the Wallaby jersey. But he seems to have changed since his second coming to the Wallabies.
Under McKenzie he seems to have cemented his place as the starting fly half and has taken a conspicuous leadership position in the Wallabies set-up.
Captain Quade, whether we like it or not, or want it or not, is on the cards sometime before the 2015 Rugby World Cup, I reckon.
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
Quade Cooper must becoming a valuable asset to Australia, because all whinging All Black supporters populating the ROAR.
Bay35Pablo
Guest
Genia marked his card for me with that petulant on field interview with Kafer.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Proof? Ffs he spat the dummy on TV for all to see and said he wouldnt play if picked. He complained about not having input on gameplans etc. What proof do you want? He basically took his bat and ball and went home in front of our very eyes.
Digs
Guest
Spiro's conspiracy theories are getting long and ever more bizarre. With six months of rugby to go speculation about the Wallabies captain is also odd. Good news is that dependent on form we have five or six players that can possibly fit the bill. I would rate Quade a long odds outsider at the moment for both the captaincy and vice captaincy. One things for sure though is that if he is fit and on form he will be in the leadership group. An evil side of me almost hopes he does get the captaincy so that I can role around with laughter reading some more of Spiro's ramblings about Quade the 'child eating kiwi monster!'
winston
Roar Rookie
WTF, In what alternate universe did Tana have a bad 2003 world up. That is a ridiculous statement. would have done a lot better with him in that semi.
Steve Kerr
Roar Rookie
Yes, to be fair, I watched it expecting to laugh, but he actually wasn't bad at all: certainly not by sports captain standards.
Steve Kerr
Roar Rookie
Tane doesn't need to 'prove' anything- he's correct in what he says. The onus of proof is on those who say it *didn't* happen.
bennalong
Guest
Quade Cooper is back. He's Wallaby fly half and vice captain. They're the facts and although it's mainly down to the change of coach his behaviour has been impeccable. No doubt the public reaction to his dummy spit ("wouldn't take a yellow jersey if I was picked"), his time in the wilderness after being injured, then being left out by Deans gave him a lot of time to reflect and to realise he needed to change He seems to have learned from his mate SBW that if you speak quietly and politely and show humility people stop and listen. It's obvious from comments above that some people never forgive of forget, but the coach is an admirer and clearly attributes his own success with the Reds to having QC running his backline. If you look at McKenzie's efforts against the All Blacks, fumbling with ill-conceived positional changes, it was as if he wanted to prove how much he needed Cooper I doubt Link'll make Cooper captain. Rightly or wrongly it would be controversial and would expose Cooper to viilification His only trouble is that he's made the captaincy a game of musical chairs and he can't get away with that for long. I don't know why Moore has been overlooked in the past, but I think a captain in the forewards is always the best option, especially right now when we're having trouble getting equity from the refs regarding scrummaging. After his previous years of reliable performances he's taken the step up to a level where he's arguably the world's best hooker! So he's my choice right now Regardless, even those who regard Cooper as a liability usually will concede he has the X-factor. I wouldn't make him captain but I'm relieved he's back and playing a better style of rugby than ever before. Give him a go!
Jerry
Guest
In all seriousness, Nick Farr Jones, David Campese and the Ella Brothers were all born in Wainuiomata. And John Eales is from Lower Hutt.
Kiwi Rugby/Rugby League Fan
Guest
Good luck kuzzi Quade !!! Stuff the haters brother
Westie
Guest
I like your idea of toomua.
Westie
Guest
You know for a fact? Proof?
Tane Mahuta
Guest
The Greatest Wallaby of all time was born in NZ. D.Mumm.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Cooper and Genia are not captain material. They are good advisors but too impulsive and in Genias case, too emotional. You need a cool calm head that can make rational decisions, a jet pilot type of mentality. A guy who can think as well under pressure as he can when ahead by 50. I see only 3 guys in the wallaby squad like that, Pocock Toomua and Hooper and I personally see Hooper as the only natural leader amoungst them.
Jerry
Guest
"This is the basic requirement in the UK." Manu Tuilagi was on the verge of being deported due to not having a valid work permit just a year before he was selected for England's RWC squad. There are also many players who qualify through ancestry (eg Thomas Waldrom, Isaac Boss, John Leslie, Shane Howarth) who are selected well before they could possibly have a British or Irish Passport).
Lindommer
Guest
History Guy, you've obviously forgotten about Greg Davis, the Aussie rugby captain of the early 60s. Born in New Zealand.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Exactly, what does it matter.
BlueBlood
Guest
Um well um he did speak um so you um have a point um
RobC
Guest
There are options, QC being one but not the first - If Horwill or Genia regain form, it will be either of them - Then Poey if fit and plays / lead as expected in SR - Then QC. But normally WB captains are expected to be state captains also. Which is an outside chance - Moore starting to play a greater role on the paddock with WBs. Already a leader in Brumbies - Hooper has limited leadership experience. Retaining WB 7 is a challenge 2013 EOYT leadership most likely a one off. But we'll only know after SR performance. In any case, QC as captain is fair from certain or likely scenario. Next topic pls