After watching the second Bledisloe Cup Test last Saturday I could not help but feel a pang of sympathy for Quade Cooper.
Undeniably a wasted talent, this year’s Rugby Championship is most likely his last opportunity to make an impact on the international stage.
There seems to be a divide in the rugby community on Quade’s performance on Saturday night.
Some say he should never touch the gold jersey again, others are more willing to see him have another chance. I am part of the latter group and in this article I hope I can show why he should be given another chance to prove his worth.
Going into the second Test, I was willing to bet my house – actually a rather shabby, poorly insulated Dunedin flat – that the All Blacks would annihilate the Wallabies.
However, the first ten minutes of the match I was beginning to doubt my initial sentiment. Not because of the Wallabies increased physicality, that would only get them so far. It was because of Cooper and his kicking game.
For the first time in about a year, I saw an Australian team effectively exit their 22. Cooper’s first touch was to smack the ball into touch five metres into the All Black half. He chased hard to stop a quick throw.
A few minutes later, he put up an accurate high ball for Israel Folau which resulted in a penalty and three points for the Wallabies. One could argue a perfect start.
I was still confident the All Blacks would win but it had the start of a tight, exciting game. Now, one would assume after this initial and effective success, the Wallabies would continue to use Cooper’s boot, both defensively and offensively in combination with Folau and Dane Haylett-Petty, who is more than competent under the high ball.
We all know they did not.
Cooper kicked seven times that game. He kicked five more times in the space 70 minutes after his first two involvements. Either the players around him didn’t want to use him or the coaching plan didn’t allow it. The second option is probably the most likely.
No amount of pontificating can discover why Cooper’s boot was not used more so I won’t bother. It only shows the inept nature of the Wallabies game plan.
So there was some initial positives coming out of Cooper’s start. Cooper’s most maligned aspect of his rugby is defence. Memories of 2011 and 2012 certainly support this notion and I don’t think anyone would disagree that Cooper’s tackling was atrocious. The point is however, that that is no longer the case.
Cooper’s defensive game took a remarkable leap in 2013. In the 2013 Rugby Championship, Cooper made 40/43 tackles, tackling at 93 per cent over 332 minutes of rugby, conceding only six turnovers over six games.
In Super Rugby, Cooper made 65/86 tackles at 76 per cent across 17 games of rugby. Aaron Cruden, the starting 10 for the All Blacks at the time, was tackling at 78 per cent to put it into some perspective.
Cooper’s tackling on the end of year tour went down a step with 27/40 tackles at 68 per cent. But on the positive side, with Cooper at 10, the Wallabies scored more tries, made more clean breaks and offloads than the All Blacks did.
The most important thing to note is that a vast majority of Cooper’s tackling occurred in the front defensive line, not at the back. During the last match, Cooper tackled at 70 per cent (7/10). Two of those misses I don’t think he should be particularly worried about.
The first was for Israel Dagg’s second try. If one is to look at the maul that the try started with, they will notice both Bernard Foley and Stephen Moore marking Savea. Two players marking one player with five metres to work with.
Why is a number 12 marking a winger on the wing which immediately formed an overlap? The inevitable try occurred and I’m not entirely sure what Copper was supposed to do.
Dagg could have gone on his inside and outside and for some reason, Reece Hodge who was also covering, ran behind Cooper instead of next to him which would have covered the inside step that Cooper, due to the angle he was running on, could not hope to defend.
The second missed tackle I believe was against Dane Coles. About half the players in Super Rugby have been stepped/run over by Coles, so hardly something Cooper should be chastised for. I think it is safe to assume now that Cooper’s defence is no longer a problem.
I don’t think I have to go into great depth to show how inept and underwhelming Cooper’s alternative is.
Foley is one of the more one dimensional first fives in rugby at the moment. Both his attack and defence leaves a lot to be desired. Despite Cooper’s somewhat erratic nature, he is clearly the one to lead Australia’s back line. But he can only do that if the game plan given to him allows that.
Cheika needs to let Cooper off his leash and let him just have a go. The worse outcome of this is still a lot better than the current state of the Wallabies. Steve Hansen has made a point over the Welsh series and this series that Barrett only needs to go out on the field, be himself and have a go. Cooper needs the same message.
So what are the long term plans for Cooper? Let him start every Test match for the rest of the year.
Get both Cooper and Genia back into Super Rugby, at the same team so they can rebuild their combination, and preferably at the Reds so Cooper can also have some exposure to Nick Frisby.
I really don’t think Australia has a better option, not that that is a particularly bad option.
Chris R
Guest
I've been thinking the same but afraid to say it. It appears Cheika picks 13 players around foley and hooper it's so wrong, how long will McMahon hang around while this is going on already lost Gill.
Bfc
Guest
Foley must have a photo "of a goat and...", and Hooper must have a copy... Au revoir to AAC...back to France for 'light duty' rugby...
andrewt
Guest
Thanks for the article - good one! I have always thought that Cooper was and still is our best chance to win games. He has the ability to create opportunities. He is a confidence players and 'some' of his erratic performances can be due to the fact that he is not given any decent continuity. At times he is thrown in at the highest pressure games (such as a test in NZ when all is on the line) and then cast aside. He is the victim of headlines. People love to criticize him and focus on his errors. His defence is not great but it is not as bad as people think. The reality is that Foley makes more errors, and for some reason he is beneficiary of headlines - many people actually think he is the iceman. Cooper may not be perfect but he is our best option at 10. And an actual Inside centre beside him will be helpful. As we saw Foley beside him is not the answer, and it never was going to be. Which brings me to team selection. I know this has been done to death but I just can't understand how we can continue to pick unbalanced teams with players out of position as it just gives the AB's the opportunity to attack our vulnerabilities (line out / poor kick return / FB on wing / small ball runners / small centre), as well as our persistence with a scatter gun defensive pattern/people continuing to change roles. Just get back to basics and keep it simple with people being picked/playing in their positions during the game. And remember the old adage that we need to earn the right to go forward. Pick some over the advantage line runners like Tamani and TPN (Moore mast have arthritis as he can hardly run), and Cooper will be more likely to prosper with some front foot ball. And as some have said already, why is Foley kicking for touch? It cant be because of his long kicking game because we know he doesn't have one, and it cant be because of his accuracy because we know that he misses touch occasionally. I just cant understand how national coaches can make this decision. No use changing Chieka - we do not need the instability. However Grey is not doing his job defensively and as much Larkham was one of my favourite players, he has done nothing for Brumbies or Wallabies in attack. So unfortunately he needs to go back and ply his trade at Super rugby level and Chieka needs to get someone (strong minded) in there beside him to revamp their game plan. People criticize the players passion but there is no way these guys do not turn up wanting to win every game. We are not as good as the AB's. The fact is that we are not even close to their talent pool/structure/coaching methodology. So to win we need the stars to align however all we do is make it harder for ourselves by making dumb selection choices. I know some of these guys are not available however I feel this is our best team if we could get it onto the field: SIO - TPN - HOLMES (r:SLIPPER - READY - KEPU) ARNOLD - SIMMONS (r;COLEMAN) FARDY - POCOCK - TIMANI (r: McMAHON or GILL) GENIA - COOPER (r;TOMOUA) KEREVI - FOLOU (r:KURINDRANI) TOMANE - NAIVALA - BEALE (r;DHP) And lets focus on developing people like Cotrell/Thor/Hollaway/Kellaway/Godwin/Stirzaker - and hunt for some young potential at 10, 4/5, and a wing with gas. Folou obviously is a gamble at 13 initially, but lets try it. Beale has played his best rugby at FB when fit and fast. He can come up as 2nd play maker when required. Sorry I got carried away and wrote too much!
Lindsay Amner
Roar Guru
Excellent first article James. I tend to agree. While Cooper may not be the complete package, he is streets ahead of Foley. Foley appeared to cramp Cooper last week and Cooper should be given a proper 12 to play with who will not demand the ball instead of him at first receiver. Cooper can be great - just not against the All Blacks. But that can be said of many other players too.
chracol
Guest
Well that sounds good. Let him settle into the role. He has class. Hopefully it's not too late to tap it. He kicks good. The kicking has been diabolical. If they don't find touch when they should they can't find it when they should. Can't win like that, eh bro?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The system is an issue. Cooper should be defending at 10. Much like Foley should when he is there but doesn't. Some Super Rugby teams may not have strong attacking players in all back 3 spots and the 10 dropping improves that. That is not the case in a national team.
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Yeah and that's where this just gets worse cause we're then talking about poor overall strategy as well as some of the players lacking key skills levels.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well you can't criticize Cooper for consistently not defending in the line. Giteau and Foley are both the same. I'd saying you can't criticize any of the 3 because the coaches are clearly using it as part of their failing defensive "system".
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Cooper was not as bad as I had thought he was going to be but the same issues still remain with him. He does not defend consistently enough and he keeps being moved to the back three in defence - and when he was there he was out jumped by Dagg in trying to take a high ball and from the resulting possession the ABs scored again. Cooper adds no value whatsoever in defence and if anything complicates stuff as the defence has to adjust to account for his issues. So therefore he has to add even more value in attack to compensate. He definitely didn't do that in this game but then hey, it's his first game back for a while and he was up against an awesome Kiwi side at home. The Aussies have one real weapon at the moment in attack - Folau under an attacking up and under. Cooper and Folau combined well in the first few minutes to make this work, and then it was never seen again! Given everything else was not working, why were the Aussies not making it rain high balls with Folau doing his salmon impression??? Foley can't kick with that kinda accuracy but Cooper seemed to be better. I say give him the rest of the Championship and then let's see. There don't seem to be any better options anyway!
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
Cooper will be 31 by the time the next RWC rolls around (assuming Wikipedia is accurate) A couple of years younger than Dan Carter was in the 2015 RWC. Time will tell.
Boz the Younger
Guest
Now that it has been pointed out I am very disappointed that Foley was clearly getting in the way Cooper doing his job. The 10 runs the backline and the 12 supports him, Foley should know that from having experienced 12s like Giteau and Beale helping him do his job at 10. Frankly on his recent from Foley should consider himself lucky that he was even included at 12 instead of being benched or dumped, he needs to pull his head in and concentrate on the job at hand next game or Cheika should replace him.
poyns
Guest
Just add about Folau at fullback, it also gives him a roaming option to join in to the backline that is a great asset.
poyns
Guest
Cant believe all the roarers who want to move Folau from fullback. He is arguable the best player under the high ball in world rugby. But agree with much of your article James. Stick with QC and let him defend in 10 channel, then have two Dads and DHP on the wings as both are great under high balls , at the moment we have QC and Foley dropping back to cover one side of the field and this is a disaster. Also the Pooper experiment should be over, Pocock easily our best 7 then pick a genuine 8, say McCalllman and a lot of our lineout woes are addressed. When things are going badly - revert to basics , and the first basic is pick players in their position.
Rod Townsend
Guest
Too true. Foley is hopelessly unimaginative and inept. Cooper needs to allowed to run the show.
Phil
Guest
Not a bad suggestion,Grapeseed.Foley looked quite good when he first came into the Tahs as fullback and obviously Cooper and Foley together did not work last week.Not as good under the high ball as Folau,of course.I would still fancy DHP shifted to FB with Izzy at 13,but Foley does seem to be one of Cheika's faves so unlikely to be out of the team. Cooper certainly deserves another go and to take over the kicking in general play.
chracol
Guest
Good article. They should stick with Genia and Cooper and put Cooper in the front line and let him go, go go. If he can't do it after this year's Championship make him go away. Do you think he'll be there in 2019 but? That's the real dilemma for the Orstralians. I guess Foley is Chub's man from the Tahs but he's not an international 12 by any stretch and he's had his chance at 10 this year and hasn't repaid the faith. Larkham probably likes Foley because he's more structured or as you say one-dimesnional. But there's more movement in the Aus backline itself during the course of a game than there was in The Man From Snowy River. Cooper needs to get in the front line and stay there. Cheika Oi Oi Oi. Cooper Oi Oi Oi. Maintain the rage maaaaate!
PiratesRugby
Guest
Yes, it explains why Foley was kicking for touch on penalties when QC, DHP, Hodge and even Genia and Folau are better kicks than Foley. How many times did Foley fail to find touch? Again.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
It's a special sealed section of the Roar you have to be over 18 and sign a waiver. It's so traumatic to read they're not taking any chances :) :) :)
grapeseed
Guest
Good article. Also, while discussing the backs: Foley to fullback, Kerevi to IC and Foloau to 13. QC needs some skillful ball runners outside him, not another playmaker or a crash ball runner (a la McCabe). 2nd playmaker at FB allows for versatility with less adverse impact on strike power. Finally, we need a (try scoring) version of Digby for our blind wing and a big threatening Naiyaravoro-type on the open. Then we are simply a 2,3,5 and 8 away from an awesome team.
ethan
Guest
Yep Cheikas loyalty to favourites is starting to hurt him. Moore, Mumm, Douglas, Foley, Hooper.. it just ain't working right.