Wallaby Quade Cooper has apologised for his late-night expletive-laden tweet, saying he reacted to personal criticism following Australia’s Rugby Championship win over Argentina.
And Wallabies coach Michael Cheika backed him, saying while he was disappointed in the language used there would be no punishment.
Cooper was under fire on social media for his performance in the 34-9 win, which included a yellow card in the second half for a late and high tackle on Pumas five-eighth Nicolas Sanchez.
Hours after the game Cooper tweeted: “Invite me to you’re next team discussion then ask me how much I give a f*** about your team selection? Zero f***s given”.
The tweet was deleted about two hours after with social media abuzz about whether there were again problems within the Wallabies camp.
Cooper said it couldn’t be further from the truth and he was reacting to a personal attack from an unknown party.
“As footballers, we are still human beings. We’ve still got feelings and I bit back at some criticism and I used some language that probably shouldn’t have been used,” the playmaker said.
“I’m disappointed in myself for getting trapped in that.
“It’s happened to me many times and I’ve been able to brush it off but this one time it got to me.”
Under former coach Robbie Deans’ reign, Cooper lashed the Wallabies, labelling the environment at “toxic”.
He said he was proud of the current Wallabies and felt he needed to defend them.
“We’ve had two very good victories and I was very proud of that,” Cooper said.
“This team is doing some great things; we’ve got a great culture we’re building as a team.
“We’ve got some great players and people and we’re moving in the right direction and there are people on the outside trying to hammer us, still, when we’re doing well and it kind of got to me.
“I should never have let it but that shows the passion that I have for this team.”
Cheika said the language Cooper used was a “mistake”.
“It’s all about discipline and we’re all trying to improve that on and off the field,” he said.
“People have a right to have an opinion but it’s about having the discipline to deal with it.”
When asked if there would be any repercussions, Cheika said no.
“People make mistakes,” he said.
“I’ve certainly made a few in my time and that’s all it is.”
Tom G
Guest
that's a bit harsh on chocolate teapots in my view
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He's played 53 actually. Career tests are great. How many players have slotted in seamlessly when they have played 6 games over 6 months? If you think Foley "Killed it" on the weekend you know very little about rugby. He played adequately against weaker opposition. How many plays did he make where he drew and committed one, or multiple defenders, enabling the man outside him to run into space for example?
Mike
Guest
Ha ha, good points
Mike
Guest
Meh. So he had a vent on Twitter. Move on.
Sammy
Guest
Nothing changed. The lunatics are still running the asylum.
Magic Sponge
Guest
He's had 60 tests how many more does he need to get his confidence up. Give Foley a go as he killed it so far and is getting better
Bfc
Guest
If the Reds are looking for a flyhalf with Test experience and flair, they could do a lot worse than the current Fiji flyhalf... But only if the new coach wants to encourage using ball-in-hand play...otherwise his talents will be wasted.
Nobody
Guest
Controversial gains attention and (for papers and websites) attention is money. For writers (and others), notoriety can be just as effective as fame. Ask Stephen Jones.
Campbell Watts
Guest
My spelling can be a bit wayward at 4am Riddler.... Think a few beers may have helped? ;)
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Seemed to have been right then didn't he?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How on earth can you consider Cooper unprofessional? The bloke is the consumate professional. Keeps himself in peak condition to consistently be back by injury expected lay off times or earlier, never lacks fitness and has spent his career trying to improve weaknesses. In addition he is one of Australian rugby's best ambassadors towards fans and one of the best with his fan interaction going above and behind the required level. He may be the biggest grub of a human for all we know and perfectly hiding it, but you cannot fault his professionalism.
riddler
Guest
just received an image of the original tweet.. made me laugh.. am not a grammar snob like piers morgan et al.. but reminded me of a true story heard about cooper while at school.. teacher said something about his below par performance in english etc.. his response.. who cares i only need to be able sign autographs..
riddler
Guest
agree harry,, the guy is writing his piece.. the papers are selling.. he can't be all that bad or ignorant.. just saying.. nobody is perfect..
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
It baffles me, too. He has turned in many worse performances that faced far less criticism in the past. I actually found his composure in the weekend's match to be refreshing - up until the yellow card offence, anyway.
Dead Account
Roar Pro
Wow Mick, attacking Cooper's character because you don't like him, I think you're the first person to ever do that. Would you like some kind of award or something? Your maturity is on another level.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Nah, cannot comment Zero Gain until I examine the Scrum dot com statistical analysis. You well know the emerging mantra here is that one cannot form an opinion without the stats directing what that opinion should be. Just tonight I spotted where someone has found a reading for ball catching unskills per square metre per schooner guzzled (or something similarly obscure), using it to re-write the myths on Good Bloke, concluding he is simply splendid. Whilst anxiously awaiting publication by Scrum dot com I did notice a couple of arguably-on-paper-best-in-the-world legitimate Mick Opinion Assists further down the page - Mr Cooper is a "chocolate teapot" is good; and "careless, grubby, unprofessional" is accurate.
colvin
Guest
Moa, apparently Quade was on the receiving end of a lot of twitter flack arising from the Rattue article. Rattue by the way is considered a complete rhubarb.
Harry Jones
Expert
If Rattue is so clueless, why does NZ Herald use him to rate the players after every test? It's odd. In a rugby-mad country, I mean
riddler
Guest
alex don't suck up to the crowd!! ;)
Zero Gain
Guest
No one seems to be supporting you though Mike, do they.