He may have travelled 20 hours by plane and hauled his behind to training as soon as he landed, but it’s not enough to get Quade Cooper a spot in the Australian squad for the Sydney Sevens this weekend.
There’s no room for Cooper in Andy Friend’s first squad since coming on as Australian coach, and he has backed the experienced squad members to do the business at Allianz Stadium
Captain Ed Jenkins returns to the side in one of the big changes, with Cameron Clark, Con Foley and Henry Speight also called into the squad.
Speedster Speight will get his first opportunity in Australia having played in the Oceanic region Olympic qualifying tournament late last year. Speight could prove to be one of Australia’s key weapons with his unique mix of pace and power.
Friend said the team was keen to front up at a sold out Allianz Stadium.
“We’ve had a great preparation this week and there has certainly been that extra bit of intensity in training ahead of what is a big occasion for the boys playing in front of a huge home crowd.
“There are always tough calls to make regarding selection but we are really happy with the balance of the team and confident that they’ll rise to the occasion and produce their best footy this weekend,” he said.
Friend said limited preparation cost Cooper the chance to debut for Australia, having only completed one training session before the tournament.
“Quade is an exceptional footballer and has shown real character to put his hand up and say I want to be part of this team and work hard for this opportunity. That’s exactly what you want.
“There is no doubt in my mind that he will be a tremendous addition to the squad as we build towards Rio, but due to circumstances which were beyond Quade’s control, and our control, he just couldn’t get enough work in this week with the team.
“Quade is going to get his opportunities during the series and we are really excited to have him here in our group and with us throughout this preparation. He’ll spend the weekend embedded with the squad as well, that contact is a really important part of his learning process in a different version of the game.”
What do you think Roarers? Is this the right call by the Aussies?
Australian squad for the Sydney Sevens:
Sam Myers
Tom Cusack
Ed Jenkins (c)
Con Foley
Allan Faalavaau
Tom Kingston
Lewis Holland
James Stannard
Cam Clark
Greg Jeloudev
Henry Hutchison
Henry Speight
soapit
Guest
hope you have a good time machooka. sounds like it will be a cracker.
soapit
Guest
fair enough machooka. you seem to know what youre talking about. unlike nb. nb are you seriously going to try and argue that qc isnt good at getting australians attention? step out of your bubble man.
Johnny J-Dog
Guest
Yes, I'd happily disrupt a team that doesn't win to see if he can change that.
Not Bothered
Guest
No point in going. QC isnt going to play after training 7s for part of a week. And as Soapit points out, Australians are obsessed with QC. No doubt the general public and media will go on a crusade to destroy Australias chances like they did when JOC was picked ahead of him in 2013. However only people who think Quade should have been picked are not living in a bubble. Wan. With a bit of a Ker.
Not Bothered
Guest
Disrupting the team and not giving another player more likely to go to Rio experience isnt a downside?
Shungmao
Guest
So they spend 10k flying QC to aus for nothing but up the ARU player participation levy by $8 . $ 140 to the ARU for the privilege if playing rugby in Australia .
wardad
Guest
Pretty good idea actually ,so long as he didnt see it as not being worthy of his attention . He could spark the Thunderbolts up a bit ,10,000 volts would hardly get 'em twitching atm .
Woodsman
Roar Rookie
They struggled to even qualify for Rio and are no realistic chance of a medal. Quade's involvement is a question that needed answering sooner rather than later.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Naah soapit... this is Sydney dude. We love a party. Any excuse will do. It doesn't matter whether QC is playing or not. It's about p a r t y... and being entertained. Doesn't matter if Aussie is best, what matters is IT goes off! Most don't even realize what's up... yeah man I'm goin' cause my mates are yeah!?! All good... it's a carnival time. Bring on the clowns :)
soapit
Guest
this is not the olympics. nor is it test rugby. this is a sold out home 7's event where the result doesnt really mean much and where people want to see him play. i would guess at least be a partial factor in manys attendance at all. pick him in the squad and dont give him much time if ur worried about where he's at but not even having him in the squad trashes the goodwill of casual fans finally turning up to rugby thinking theyll at least see someone they know. living in a bubble
Mike Julz
Guest
Bugger. I was looking forward to seeing him play in this weeks 7s.
ballboy
Guest
So who gets dropped squid for Quade? Which player that has been with the team for months is benched for a fly in? And the game is already sold out so don't know what your last statement means.
ballboy
Guest
Toulon delayed QC's release which gave Friend little option but to bench him. You guys wanting entertainment over a ptential medal in Rio, go and rent a did.
scar82
Guest
Send him to Fiji to join a local team and play in the local competitions there. Heaps going on at the moment. Let him get the real taste of sevens rugby to harden him up.
Taylorman
Guest
By all accounts...prior to the event. Few thought he would not succeed. How wrong they were. With Cooper there are far more doubts around before his first match. So rushing him in now in the heat of a Sevens battle in front of a huge crowd is just wrong. On several levels, and regardless of SBWs performance.
puff
Guest
As reiterated in an earlier comment, you folk were exceptionally optimistic. If you actually believed that QC would play a meaningful part in the OZ 7’s team this weekend, think again. The physical application and recovery is very different to 15’s, including the fitness level. This is a high octane sport which offers no reward for mistakes and if you assumed he could train for a couple of days and be of value, your are dreaming. We appear to have a very simplistic view of the abilities required, perhaps in six weeks time he could be of value as a bench player. Your talk of his x-factor is dribble, all the players on the field need that characteristic, plus strength at the breakdown, quick hands and a step. Tietjen the NZ coach has announced his team that will train for Rio, SBW & Messam are in the team. The only two AB’s, they both still have much to adsorb according to the master, so tell me where QC fits into the equation?
Johnny J-Dog
Guest
The upside in playing him is that it gives him a chance to show his wares and get experience and fitness. The downside is that we risk losing the tournament by playing him. Considering that we haven't won a tournament all season, there doesn't seem to be any downside in giving him a shot.
Squirrel
Guest
Toulon just want to get rid of him and the ARU takes him back
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Ridiculous these lead in tournaments are perfect for quades situation to see how he goes and iron out things before rio. No we will never know and we need every X factor to win a medal as we're not travelling that great And a great shame for the Sydney crowd who would love a big name to promote the game which isn't a peak in the city right now
Not Bothered
Guest
Yes, Australia needs better players. Not guys that turn up a few days before the comp having not trained 7s at all let alone with this team.