Quade Cooper will have to wait one more week to make his Queensland Reds return from injury after missing selection for Friday night’s Super Rugby clash with the Sharks.
Cooper is nearing full fitness after recovering from a shoulder fracture but was not considered for the Sharks match, with coaching staff opting to give him one more week’s rest.
It means the Wallabies playmaker will almost certainly return for next weekend’s away trip to face the Western Force, and gives rookie five-eighth Jake McIntyre another chance to start in front of a home crowd in the interim.
“Quade (Cooper) was pretty close to being available,” coach Richard Graham said.
“His fracture has healed and he is training fully with the team, however we felt it was in his best interests to have another week of strength and contact work.”
The Reds have made just one change to the squad that smashed the Melbourne Rebels last week, with Lachie Turner (concussion) swapped for Chris Kuridrani.
Graham said he was pleased to be able to field a largely settled line-up for once this season.
“It is nice to be able to reward the group for their performance last week and for the first time this season we have only lost one player to injury,” he said.
“That in itself is also a bonus as continuity of selection for the right reasons breeds confidence.
“We need to prepare for this game with the same mental approach as we did the Rebels.
“We were urgent, abrasive and full of running. Anything short of that will negate the efforts of last week.”
Graham said the Reds have to be wary of a response from a Sharks outfit that has lost their past six games in a row.
“They have copped a fair bit of criticism recently and we know all too well how that stings,” he said.
“There is a lot of quality in their squad and they will want to return to South Africa with some wind in their sails for the remaining few games.”
Reds: James O’Connor, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Karmichael Hunt, Samu Kerevi, Chris Kuridrani, Jake McIntyre, Will Genia, Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, Adam Thomson, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Greg Holmes, James Hanson, James Slipper (c). Res: Andrew Ready, Pettowa Paraka, Sam Talakai, Ed O’Donoghue, Lolo Fakaosilea, Nick Frisby, Sam Greene, Ben Tapuai.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Some players just aren't ready for Super Rugby. You actually think it's beneficial to choose a player that may not even have been good enough for NRC? Sam Greene only managed 2 games on the bench for Brisbane City.
pjm
Roar Rookie
And we all know how Reds player play after injury.
pjm
Roar Rookie
If only those other club rugby sides had 5/8s to choose.
jutsie
Guest
Just saw that james hanson signed with the rebels for next season
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Indeed right now he's not that player. Because he isn't playing. He's been injured all year.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Have the Sharks got 23 fit players? They have had a horrendous run on this tour.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Would say if a Wallabies were selected tomorrow that Beau Robinson would bee behind most of those named for the 7 jumper. He played very well in 2011/2012 for the Reds but right now he is not that player.
PeterK
Roar Guru
My comment was specifically on McMahon not the others. Test form is more important than super rugby form. In tests Mcmahon played better than Robinson so you could say he has surpassed him. Also you could argue the best of Beale is better than the best of the other contenders. Same with Giteau, Horwill, Samo (he is still playing), Mitchell etc. Does not mean they should be selected or considered better now, you cannot keep living in the past.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The problem with Beale is that his weaknesses were always there, we always knew it, but he managed to keep them out of sight. He never excelled at his weak aspects at any point so it always was a matter of time. Beau may never be able to get back to 2011-2012 (though i'd give him the benefit of a season he actually gets on the park before saying this) granted. But right now, his best is still better than the best of all those players I've mentioned. I'm expecting a couple to surpass him. But a couple are benefiting from being on the park and getting runs on the board while he's injured. They aren't actually better head to head. Never were and never will be.
PeterK
Roar Guru
This is 2015 not 2011. Over the last 2 years McMahon has been a lot better form than Robinson. You cannot say someone is in front based on super rugby form of years ago. That is the same argument to retain Beale based on his test form from 2011/2 (? not sure which year) his one good year that was the exception to the rule. However it is not really a correct comparison, Robinson is a 7 specialist, McMahon plays more 6 but is not big enough for it.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
None of Jordy Reid, Sean McMahon, Pat McCutcheon or Colby Fainga'a have at any time in their career yet reached the level Robinson was at in 2011-2012 so that's an unfair statement. They may very well become better (Doubtful on McCutcheon) but to say Beau is considered behind all them is a little disingenuous because he's merely been out of sight being injured all of 2015.
Markus
Guest
You had me right up until Pat McCutcheon. Another in the list of Sydney Uni players that were held onto for years too long.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Kinda of an irrelevant point considering of those 6 games, McIntyre was only available for club rugby for 4 of them due to returning from a long term knee injury.
Chivas
Guest
Sharks are freakin rubbish. Lions are showing more ticker currently. Was hoping they were going to smack the Wareatahs up last week at shark park. They couldn't even manage that.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
C'mon Sharks!!!! Have to come away with a win from their tour.
Handles
Roar Guru
Yeah but, you get the wrong impression if you use the term "Wallabies" to include anybody who ever played in a gold jersey. Case in point, Beau Robinson, who might get a look in for the Wallabies if a bus carrying Pocock, Gill, Hooper, Hodgson, Colby Fainga'a, and Sean McMahon crashed into a minivan containing Jordy Reid, Pat McCutcheon, George Smith and a few others. And there were no survivors. Or Lachie Turner, who would need a similar misfortune to befall O'Connor, Tomane, AAC, Speight, Naiyavoro, Shipperly, Horne, Betham, Honey Badger, Godwin, Morahan, Drew Mitchell, my Aunt Jemima and several others.
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
What will qc do? Sfa
Kevin
Guest
Sammy - Saia Faainga has been first choice hooker all year until injured and is still in the frame for the Wallabies - probably the most consistently good pervorming hooker in our conference. Ant would definitely be in the game day squad if fit. Daley was in the game day squad this year everytime he was available as was Lachie Turner.
Ken
Guest
WOW Richard Graham, see what happens when you put a FLYHALF at FLYHALF ..SIMPLES !!.. Mcintyre did alot better than "THE FRISBEE " did in 6 games. I have to admit I have not yet realised that Greg Holmes is the best scrummaging tighthead in Australia .It seems there are very few contenders for that title - as far as I can tell at the moment, it seems to be only Kepu and Holmes who are suffice...
Sammy
Guest
It is doubtful if any of the above would be selected if they were not injured. Quade Cooper perhaps as there is no other chance. The rest may be considered for selection but not are necessarily first choice selections at this point. Beside there is a difference between current Wallaby players and players that have played for the Wallabies.