Quade Cooper has become rugby's Usman Khawaja

The Australian Thunderbolts......Who comes up with this shIz

'Apologies from referees are as rare as the Bledisloe Cup being seen on this side of the Tasman.' Maybe it's a O'Brien thing. Remember Paddy going to the cheats hotel in Milan to apologise to the cheats after Dickinson correctly penalised the cheats' scrum. Don't think Dickinson refereed many tests after that.

Standard is four years older than Cooper. Can anyone explain how he is the future of Australian 7s? Even blind Charlie can see that this team needs shaking up - they do not look threatening against the better teams.

Dam im sure this was the time qc was going to shine and show this "talent" people are claiming he possesses. So many times he was going to shine and didnt maybe next time lol

Extremely poor analogy. Khawaja has already shown that he can play the short form of cricket. Cooper has yet to show that he can play the short form of rugby.

EJack: I understand your point BUT to have the guy fly out from France was stupid. Friend has either limited common sense or he has too much faith in the team that has not performed so well recently. I watch the Sevens on Fox and it strikes me that the team is missing some serious talent both in speed to finish and line-breakers. Now QC could have helped the LB problem. Look at NZ - Do you think SBW is up with all the nuances of 7's? He is there as the crowd wanted to see him and QC. Are we running a 7's training for Friend at this tournament or are we trying to entertain. Another point. Do you think QC would have let us down and been useless? If you do I would disagree, he might not be great but his natural skill would have been interesting to watch. It could also have cleared Friends head about if he can make it or not. The whole thing seems stupid to me....Not much to lose and plenty to gain.

Not really. Since February 2001 it has been difficult for New Zealanders to acquire Australian citizenship. Just ask Russell Crowe.

while simultaneously trashing at least some portion of goodwill with the "casual fan", a group theyve long been courting and have finally been given a chance with, in a situation when winning doesnt really mean anything, and when its unlikely they would win without quade anyway.

Bit of a storm in a teacup as it is within Australia's control to fix

Hmm another DL special this one

Unfortunately Quade can't play for Australia in the Olympics currently anyway due to the fact he is still a NZ citizen and currently still travels under a Kiwi passport. World Rugby & ARU rules allows him to play under permanent residency rules but not under Olympic committee rules. He will need to change before heading to the Olympics to play 7's rugby. www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/quade-cooper-not-an-australian-citizen-still-travels-on-new-zealand-passport/news-story/e29413f6caafc5c83574889ef6117898

What I find most curious is this apparent obsession with Quade Cooper that appears to have been built in the Aussie rugby circles, like it's some sort of divine obligation to place him in the an Australian rep side no matter what the cost may be. It's practically like a cult of some sort. He has proven time and time again that he lacks the temperament to handle the high pressure situations, and has fallen apart each and every time. Is "rugby's Usman Khawaja," code for a rugby player that is talented at one facet of the game, but is severely deficient in several others, specifically ones that are now central to his chosen position? Because that's exactly what Cooper is.

So The Oz Sevens side are the sporting equivalent of the Stones and Quade of Mick Jagger? Interesting thought. Never quite arrived to that line of thought myself.

True, a policy that allows coaches the freedom to pick the very best team is horrid. Draconian. They should put ARU profits ahead of all else. Good point.

Ahhh, reason.

He isnt good enough because he hasnt even trained the game ffs. How people cant grasp that... He is somebody they expect might add to the team but not after less than an f-ing week in training after flying in from France where his form hasnt been great.

Surely after 2 days training he was a 7s champion!!! I seriously cant believe that the 7s coach wants more than 2 days 7s training for a guy whos low on form in club 15s!!! Its absurd. Its would be absolutely ridiculous to pick him after 2 days training 7s. Even is he is Quade Cooper, your hero. If they intend to play Quade they need to get him training and playing 7s, not just flying in and disrupting the team and flying away without seriously comitting to the team. Thats normal, not absurd. Ffs, Quade is a guy who struggled for consistency and selection for the Wallabies for most of his international career. Over the last year his international form and his form at Toulon has been pretty poor, mixed is being incredibly kind. Now people think he must be selected. No he mustnt. Its a gamble to experiment with him even if he can train with the squad. To experiment with him without him even training with the squad simply wont work, even if he was in form, which he aint.

Redsback. I agree. I was critical of Andy Friends' decision in another article post of not giving QC a bench role this tournament. It was pointed out by some Roarers that the coach should pick the best side he considers can perform in the immediate tournament. Coaches role is to pick the best team to win! Sounds logical. But is it a good decision? There are many problems with the decision; # did not the ARU fight with Toulon to have Quade available for Sevens? # does Andy know that Quade is available for only a few (four?) tournaments? # is Andy unaware of the ARU strategy? Or visa versa? Is it then not a circus? # is Andy not aware that the current player squad after years of development, is not considered a medal hope by most fans? # is Andy then not willing to take short term pain for long term gain to be a contender? Or is he to pick his best team each week to minimise short term pain? Coaching not to lose instead of coaching to win syndrome. # if Quade was not needed this tournament why was he asked to come? Was it by the ARU who presumably communicate with Andy occasionally? # and lastly why ignore the wishes of the crowd to see Quade have a shot at the title, however naive such dreams may or may not be? The ARU has been chasing Quade for this gig to boost attendances. And succeeded. Someone forgot to tell Andy of the ARU's financial realities of this code's survival. They should have told Andy, we have gone this far under this plan so tow the line. Instead it is egg on everyone's face and most on Coopers. Poor management on all fronts and we wonder why rugby is booming everywhere around the globe except Australia? Mr Pulver, please give Andy a tap on the shoulder and explain the big picture that rugby is a business or alternatively give yourself an uppercut. Mr Pulver, this minor mess aside I think the ARU is on the right path. So please sort it out and let's move on.

As I see it, realistically we won't end up better than 5th in this tournament because of the draw that we have pulled. Surely, with a home crowd, it would be the opportunity to try him out. If Australia goes better than 5th (and to do so it must beat either NZ or SA) I offer my unreserved apology. I think you are hitting the nail on the head. With Cooper, we could either go woefully or exceptionally well. Given that it is currently just a middling team, I don't see the risk. Come Rio, there is no difference between finishing 4th and last in my book. He gives the team a chance to get on the podium, which it would have to be a considerable outsider to do at this point.

Truly weirder and weirderer Chooka ?