Cooper optimistic over Rugby World Cup

Cooper is capable of the spectacular, as a result the mistakes he makes are often also spectacular (failures). Foley's mistakes on the other hand tend to come from pretty stock standard flyhalf play, yet put just as much pressure on the team. For mine, an opposition try that is the direct result of a botched touchfiner or a regulation dropped ball is no better than an opposition try that is the result of an attempted 30m cut-out pass. But many seem to disagree.

Jutsie, did you see O'Connor's FINAL game for the Rebels after they sacked him? When he came on in the second half, he completely changed the game, unselfishly (yes, JOC !) putting players into numerous gaps, and controlling the game as a true fly-half should.. PROVIDED he has matured and has become a team man, in my opinion he has the flair that Foley & others do not have when playing against the "Tier 1" nations. (When Deans played him in that position, he showed promise, but played the game "his way" instead of following the game plan).

Sorry Dru. I dont understand the q

I would think his best position would be 2nd 5/8 if he can show that tackling hulks (Nonu, SBW, DeVilliers, Steyn, Roberts, etc) isn't an issue. He has the ability to set up those outside him and straighten, striking with speed and power. Would take a little pressure off him being the head play maker, but still allow him to make the defense question.

Foley makes just as many mistakes as Quade does. To an objective American who has been following AUS rugby for quite some time now, the two players are both VERY good, and they both make mistakes at times. However, whenever Quade makes a mistake, it gets amplified and talked about way more than if Foley were to make the same mistake. Either player (when injury free in Quade's case), could lead AUS to a WC victory. When Foley is on he is very good, when he is off he is still serviceable. When Quade is on, he is sublime; when he is off he is still decent, but Australians get all over him and blame him for their troubles (outside of Queenslanders of course).

Where was that RC?

You need to watch him more objectively. Risk comes when the pigs are stepping backwards, but he also makes huge gains even under those conditions. When we push forward his risk is not what it was. Still I doubt he can unseat Foley in half a season where he is regaining form.

Not sure NB, if Foley's a clear answer. I would like to get Cheika to let him direct the Tahs attack more, as opposed to Beale. So he could bring more of this at WB level. But I think its unlikely

Mate, Foley and Toomua create openings. Cooper may create more openings but he risks more and if you turn up the risk it often bites you on the butt. So Cooper creates more opportunities for both teams. The statistics back that up.

Imo Foley is the asnswer, a good consistent performer, quality goal kicking, good attacking play. Not many fans in Aus but a lot of fans from other countries. Australians expect too much.

Yes, he does unlock Australias backline but we want him to unlock theirs. Quade creates a lot of opportunities for both teams on the park. But in 2013 for 4 or 5 games he was very, very good. Can he return to that form? If he can he will be a huge asset, if not he may be considered too risky to play in high pressure WC matches.

Yeah, hes much better. Still doesnt take the line on with any conviction and often offloads to a person in a worse position but his defence is much, much better. My opinion of Quade has always been that he trys too much too often and this causes mistakes, keeps the opposition on alert, causes his fellow backline players to lose structure and focus and means that he is often on a different wavelength to those around him. Imo Quade could be a pure genius but he needs to play % plays 9/10 and then throw in the variation, rather than always looking for the razzle dazzle every 2nd time he touches the ball. Do the basics right, keep your team heading in the right direction, kick to space, get the opposition doing what you want them to, give them a hint and turn the tables. Kind of like cricket, often if you want to get a player out nicking to slip you will bowl line and length over after over until you are almost controlling the batsman and you fire a full outswinger outside offstump and even though he normally wouldnt try to drive it its the previous 15 delliveries that make it almost impossible to resist. Imo Quade lacks the subtlety that guys such as Sexton, Carter, Pollard, Lambie, Ford and even Foley possess. He needs to pick his moments. Having said that, QC was outstanding on the eoyt 2013 and if he can delliver that kind of form again he will probably be the starting 10 spot. I just doubt he can considering his history of inconsistency and his form in 2014. Others will disagree and Quades exciting style has a lot of fans but as you can see by his lack of consistent selection by Deans, McKenzie and Cheika in 2012, 2013 & 2014, Quades style might not be considered worth the risk it often brings. All the tools but...

Yep - Sio is our 2nd best prop, behind Slipper but ahead of Kepu. It'd bee nice to be able to have our two best props starting and playing the bulk of the minutes. I can't see why Sio shouldn't learn to play the other side as well. Many play both sides. If Slipper got injured, Sio could revert to LH and Kepu TH. The worry is when one of them goes off, or when Kepu's gone at the end of the year. I also think we should be planning for life without Kepu now. Who knows, he might get injured in the middle of the WC (or before it). We seem to produce more LHs than THs. Robinson canat least scrum and win you the odd turnover. There are worse options out there than him.

Sio - should this bloke make the transition? He along with Slipper were hands down Australia's best performing props last year in Super Rugby, and that was while playing LH. I know we need a backup TH, but it's not like Australia is sporting a surplus of world class LH options either. If Sio changes to TH it would only take an unfortunate injury to Slipper for the Wallabies matchday LH props to be Pek and the Fat Cat. For the RWC I think it should probably be Kepu and Holmes covering TH, with a concerted effort to find our next TH after the RWC finishes.

Isnt Quade Cooper meant to be fighting on Saturday night?

Since when have we ever had a star at TH? If Kepu is a pass mark at test lvel, then that's more than enough! We can win a WC without a dominant TH - but they have to be a pass mark. The bigger problem is what happens when Keps is not on the field. Longbottom, Alo-Emile, Palmer and Ma'afu. WShen Kepu leaves, who do we have left? - Paddy Ryan - mazzive question marks on his scrummaging - Faulkner - some promise, but a long way to go - Weeks - not really a test level TH, only serviceable at Super level - Alexander - Mr Collapse isn't up to it. - Holmes - probably the best we have as of today (other than Kepu) - Sio - there's the biggie - can this bloke make the transition? He won't even play there at Super level with Alexander at the Brumbies, which is a shame.

Now, now Soapit. No sarcasm please;

"Id rather a steady reliable 5/8" You mean someone who has no flair or ability to inspire the team, let alone create openings?

That is a very interesting call. Certainly has the vision and skill set for it.

i really think his best position might be league halfback