Cooper to miss start of Super season with collarbone injury

Yup Graham mentioned it too. News coverage below, along with 4 different pronunciations of Paia'aua http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE73qJjRM4g

No it won't. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/reds/duncan-paiaaua-in-line-to-replace-quade-cooper-20150126-12yi2p.html

Quade could play all year, get man of the match every game, whilst Foley played like a busted ar$e and he'd still find it hard to unseat foley.

LIR last year. Toulon this year.

Toulon? I thought he was London Irish or one if those

Just keep underestimating the Reds...

And Fekitoa proved better? No he didn't. he was all over the place defensively and dropped balls like theres no tomorrow. has yet to learn how to pass in tight traffic. Nonu has brought on variation as he was asked to good effect. Doesn't matter 'Not bothered'. Nonu and C Smith will be first selections this year because they're by far the best pair over any period the last two years, despite recent dips. So pointless discussing it. You have your opnion, I just don'y agree with it. As a Blues fan, I was happy with Nonus performance this year.

I'll borrow

“but perhaps stats will prove me wrong”

and wonder if Steve Hansen thinks that each time he selects the waning (evidently) Ma'a Nonu. I defer to his expert judgement on what makes a good second five. One of the most satisfying sights has been watching Nonu and the waning (evidently) Conrad Smith when they are on song and enjoying themselves. Hansen keeps selecting him too. I do love the stats era. Fab Giteau rattled up yards and yards of running, which I assume his manager faithfully recorded and tabled to the ARU etc every time the little fella thought he was superb enough for more money. His only problem was that those splendid yards were east-west rather than thataway - north-south towards those goal post thingys. I'm fairly sure the Grizzled Keeper of the Olde Book of Statistics doesn't record such faults, even when they are more in the nature of a feature. Hugo Porta wouldn't get a look in today on his stats. He often didn't run far because he couldn't be bothered, preferring to have other blokes do profitable things with the opportunities only he could create.

Heard it here first! Force to win this year's Super Rugby! Crazy Horse confirmed!

But then we don't know what to do with our backs. :) Kiwi men are like all men. We can't multi-task. It's either a killer pack or a killer backline.

OK mate, so lets look at his 5 games for the ABs. He averaged 18 metres per game. In his last 3 games his form dropped to a really low level as I have pointed out. It was a blessing he was injured imo although I do not wish it on any player. You said he was at his peak but apart from 1 game in 2014 he was ordinary for the ABs and wasnt at his peak or even close to it. He is also infamous for being ordinary at Super Rugby level recently. You are in denial. If the ABs persist with these players whilst overlooking better options because of experience it will hurt them.

Are you trying to pretend that that has been their only problem?

Don't ya love selective stats? As soon as I go to the test before you choose to omit I find 1 try, 50 meters, 8 defenders beaten, 4 offloads and 4 from 5 tackles made. With Ben Smith easily the best stats on the day. Nonus first Blues match for the Blues helped nail the return win vs the Highlanders, was key in their win over the Waratahs and if you watched the match played a huge part in tearing the Reds apart. He DID play well for the Blues last year as opposed to other years and that was the difference last year but obviously that has passed you by. Yes he had his off games but who didn't in 2014? He will certainly return as 12 for the AB's this year. No one has played better in the position.

Nonus last 3 tests when you say he was at his peak before his injury. Vs Eng. 20m, 4 turnovers, 6/3 tackles. Vs Aus. 3m, 2 turnovers, 7/4 tackles. Vs Arg. 2m, 0 turnovers, 7/0 tackles. He averaged 8m, 2 turnovers and about 28% missed tackles per game. Thats some peak.

Are you pretending that the 9 & 10 hasnt been a huge problem for the Blues over the last few seasons?

Nonu was not our best 12 for the ABs in 2014 and was outclassed by every other player who wore the jersey. The only player to have not out performed Nonu was SBW against Wales.

Yeah and Arg didnt improve since losing Henry, yes they did. Yeah and NZ didnt improve after losing Henry, yes they did. And the Blues really improved after gaining Henry, no they didnt. Lets convince ourselves that last year matters as you have done. Just exactly where did the Cheifs, Bulls and Tahs come the season before their titles in 2009, 2012 & 2014? 9th and 10th.

Nonus peak was 2010 and if you are trying to say that Nonu has been good at Super Rugby level over the last 5 years then you are lying to yourself.

Nonu was at the peak of his game for both the Blues and ABs when he got injured so unless you're basing that on last year or something else you haven't really been up with the play on that one. For me his absence was the main reason our backline stuttered so much this year...that and Cruden not starting (he has never lost a test from start).

And by 'Giving the Highlanders a chance' I mean 'not writing them off before the season has started.