SA View: 'Rest of rugby world scratches our heads at dismissive treatment of Cooper'

You are kind Harry. Thank you again.

Hooper's game has come good again, and his captaincy has really improved immensely under Rennie. That is as big an indictment as I can think of the previous coaching regime we suffered under.

I concur, Pines. Well played Harry, after a close, and carded loss. Enjoyed watching the dignity of the Boks as a foe, and of their fans here conceding. A fairish fight I thought (even if in the moment I tried to convey my reading glasses to the ref through the Stan screen). A biproduct of this result is the interest in the RC. It’s a battle of game plans as much as talents. Does this WB game transfer to the flamboyant Pumas? I think not. Do the ABs feel Bok-confident now? Perhaps, though I did think that the Boks had a eye looking a fortnight ahead during that WB game. The Boks have a reserve discipline of some depth and will test the ABs more than we could.

“ I REALLY blame Cheika for selecting Foley over Cooper all those times, and then, when Foley was really ordinary, picking Cooper, but putting Foley at 12 alongside him to get in the way.” An unfairer suck of the saveloy has not been designed by a selector in modern memory. But what I find fascinating from a sociological perspective, is the ‘mob pile on’ that followed Richie-gate, and Foley-gate, that is, the self-fulfilling prophecies that populated the QDS commentariat. Today, a full ten years after Quade’s knee brushed the saintly back rower’s halo, we read of the ‘sins of Cooper’s past’. And we hear nothing from these ‘sin-spotters’ of the shame that the 2011 booers brought to Auckland’s international stage, and NZ’s cultural maturity, the metaphorical spittle on their closest neighbour’s 10 jersey. For the millionth time here. I love NZ and NZers. Personal privacy stops me describing just how close to NZ I am. But NZ rugby culture has its dark corners, as does every culture, and dark corners ask for light. We could have had ten years of Quade in the gold 10 mix, sharing games with the Noah’s, Carter’s and the Harrison’s du jour. Building them all, teaching them long pass, hole spotting and attack template. Not to mention the rest of the team charging with arrow head shape and urgency off both of an attacking 10’s shoulders. Y’know, like another SH team does? Foley may have had the competence to scramble us into the 2015 WC final, but there was only ever one Wallaby 10 with a snowflake’s chance of guiding us to win it. And he never got a run. Never got a run. Cannot abide Cheika’s commentary, after those locust years, the years we waited for the creation of a Quade alternative, that never came. Foley, in a zimmer, even got an embarrassing send off gig in 2019. But, on the bright side, Quade’s knees and other joints not injured by halo battering, may be grateful, and healthy. The Lord once promised “I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten”. Let his will be done. May God bless you Quade. You have done a few things wrong, but you have done a helluva lot right. Last weekend’s game was an answer to half a decade of prayer - whatever happens next week.

I am not convinced on the scrum. I looked at the Spring Bok tight head he was overextending and pancaking out under pressure. What could Bell or Slipper do but hinge.

Nice article Harry. You are the most entertaining rugby writer around. It’s always funny, but also very accurate. I thought during the game that the Boks would grind out a narrow win. And they came as close to doing that as a team can come. Three tries to one is a harrowing stat for Bok fans. Head shaking, and a little perplexing. But as you say, Quade just didn’t miss. No doubt QC was dudded, first by Cheika and then by Thorn. What Thorn did was worse. He held a grudge. That Karma never leaves, it just circles back and lands on your head. Boks will kick back this week. Their beasts will be more beastly, their kicks will be more accurate and importantly, their Karma is intact. Can’t wait. I want another Wallaby win, but I think a Bok resurgence is more likely.

Thanks Harry for the good article. It is such a great shame that we have missed out seeing Quade on the international scene for the last few years. His silky ball skills & rugby smarts are definitely a once in a lifetime thing. We have been robbed.

Yeah agree. Not sure it was anyone’s finest hour! Hey here’s a thought – Goosen an option at 15?? Currently 29. Skill set similar to Willie. Also kicks for poles with currently a 89% conversion rate. Has played 15 heaps!

The Bok scrum was definitely on top for the whole game bar that last one. Its a bit early for Bell although he went well. BPA and Uelese are both better set piece hookers than FF. Kaitu’u looked good and we will see if he can keep it up. Hopefully BPA is selected and maybe having Swain in the 23 will help our set piece. No doubt the Boks will come at us very hard on Saturday. It will be a stern test.

Ken Was looking forward to your thoughts. Very enjoyable. After SA edged ahead, I was thinking, Q really deserves a field goal. Enjoyed his comments after too. Cheers KP

He was always one of my favourites and for the life of me I could not understand why both Cheika and Brad Thorn did not just give him what he needed to mature as a person. They would have been paid back in spades. Ewen McKenzie knew exactly what he had and he nurtured it. Now he is back and seemingly a changed person. As you say, he is as fit as anyone, has learned a new kicking technique and appears not to be prone to displays of loose play. Long may his redemption last. The only thing you did not have right is that it was the Bok scrum back peddling in that last scrum and if Whitey had not secured the penalty there should have been one against the Boks for illegal scrumming or before that when Marx illegally contested the breakdown a couple of times in a row. Destiny was on the side of the Wallabies and Quade Cooper on Sunday. Welcome back Quade!

Let me further ask the inverse question, will the Wallabies future ranking be higher if Cooper is brought into a coaching role after he chooses to end his playing career. Let me suggest that his rugby smarts, deep thinking and love of the games as well as maturity and lack of ego would plave him in a very good position. I hope at least of our super teams have looked at this possibility already. And more power to DR for his insights to Aus rugby.