Wallabies’ reborn playmaker Quade Cooper has hailed an “electrifying” crop of maverick international No.10s and called on media and fans to embrace them for the good of the sport.
Cooper, in a wide-ranging interview with the Daily Mail on Sunday, reflected on his comeback fairytale this season where he
took the reins in four straight Rugby Championship wins.
He spoke about his atacking rugby philosphy and how the best No.10s were in position to evolve the sport as a spectacle, as well as raising a potential rule change to improve the sport.
“If you look at No.10s around the world now, you’ve got Finn Russell, Marcus Smith, Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga,” Cooper said.
“Electric, entertaining players who have a skillset other than just standing in the pocket and kicking the ball. It’s only over the last five or so years that those guys are getting respect and their faces are starting to fit.
“Maybe before you would be written off as a maverick who is unreliable. The more those guys are empowered and the more they continue to grow, the more kids will come through and want to play like them.
“The media and current players need to get behind these players and support them, rather than smash them and bury them if they have one bad game.
“Hopefully I will play against Marcus Smith one day but either way I’ll continue to love the work he does.”
Cooper was selected Friday for the Wallabies spring tour, putting a match up against Smith and England firmly on the calendar.
It has been an unexpected return to the fold for Cooper, after creative thinking coach Dave Rennie took him out for a coffee and welcomed him back into the camp.
Cooper acknowledged he hasn’t always fit in the Wallabies set up.
“Rugby’s a conservative game at heart,” he said. “When it’s played the right way, or at least the way I believe it should be played, then it’s the best game in the book. You see a team like the All Blacks and every team chases them.
“Teams that play that brand of footy are more appealing to me, but I still have so much respect for your South Africas, Wales and Englands of the world who play a game that not many other teams can play. They’re conservative but they’re very good at what they do.
“Professional sport is all about entertainment so what does that entertainment value look like? To me, I want to see running rugby.
“There are things that could be tweaked: you could move the defensive line back five metres because the ruck is such an uncertain place. Then again, the next guy might be happy with a three-all draw. You can never please everyone.”
Cooper admitted he was surprised to be back in the Wallabies fold.
“It’s funny how it all happened,” he said. “Playing for the Wallabies felt like a distant memory. I had been out of the team for years. It was far away. The longer I spent in Japan, the further and further it got away. Even nine weeks ago, it was still out of reach.
“I was basically on holiday here in Australia for my off-season. I was two and a half months into my summer break when I had some conversations with Dave Rennie. I came into the squad a week later and from there I was fortunate to play against South Africa. The rest was a little bit of history.
“To be able to sit here right now and look back on that journey, I can appreciate it. I learnt to develop my skillset even when there’s no guaranteed outcome. Finding the love to better yourself, so you’re ready for whatever opportunity might come your way. That applies to rugby or any other walk of life. To be able to start my Wallabies tally again at 70 caps and now be on 74, I feel very fortunate.”
He came back in the most dramatic way possible, lading the after-the-siren penalty to beat South Africa.
“Whether I kicked it or not, I wasn’t going to let it define me,” said Cooper.
“You can’t get tied up in things like that. Either way, I was still going to wake up on the Sunday and start again. There’s another game next week and you’re not going to win every time you step on the paddock.
“As a 20-year-old, how would I have celebrated that kick? Mate, I can’t even put that on record. I’d be out celebrating, overwhelmed by the emotion. That’s where I’d fall off the tree.
“You’d achieve something that means the world to you but when you’ve got that, what else is there? It’s hard to pick yourself back up.
“On the flip side, if you don’t get your desired outcome then you’re a failure. You hit rock bottom. I was outcome-based because I wanted to win so bad — and I put so much pressure on myself. I defined myself through rugby. That’s all I was and, without it, who was I?
“Win a game and I was the man. Lose a game and I’d hide away and not let anyone see me. When the holidays came around, you’d be lost because your whole identity has gone.
“You learn to understand that while rugby is a big part of your life and being a footballer requires a diligent lifestyle, it’s not your whole life. That’s what I remind myself every day: don’t let your emotions get so high or so low.”
From the wilderness to the main man again, many are asking if he can retain that No.10 jersey through to the 2023 World Cup.
“I don’t really set targets,” he said. “I have no illusions around the fact I’m 33 but I look after myself and have utmost respect for my body. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being back in the Wallabies.
“It’s just about building habits that will allow me to be in a great space if that opportunity arises. Everyone’s journey is a little bit different.”
Poco Loco
Roar Rookie
Not really Check, A few yellow cards for multiple infringements, say 3 by any player will counter that. Cheers.
Check-side for the boundary
Roar Rookie
Yes, PL I hear you but I have also heard that if a penalty is only worth 2 points then there will be more infringements ... ?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Thanks Poco. But only one of those terms has any credibility and social benefit for mine. The immigration department may be evolving out of its Q-hesitancy to its credit.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
I have been very impressed with Thorn as a coach so far. It is a huge leap from being a world class hard man and 'doer' to go straight into coaching. Very advanced man management challenge. Given the comparative coaching experience BT has not done badly. The main issue to date has been Rodda which is hardly surprising. He is a young bloke and who can believe that BT was not frustrated that the focus was not matching the potential. Will wait patiently to see what happened there.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Macqueen did a great job with the Brumbies and the Wallabies engaging the players in building new organisations and cultures. He was also a very strong character with outstanding management skills. It all went south from there and a good thing in Australian rugby in 2020 is that the power is now back in the hands of officials to share. I would not be surprised if Quade was not a problem everywhere he went. He and WG would have been a handful to coach at the Rebels. As he freely admits he is a different man with a different attitude. I don't get the Thorn hate, he has a whole lot of players in Wallaby colours before their time. Slipper just could not have his redemption in Queensland, that would be too big an exception. I thought Kerevi left for the money as did the Queensland three. I will wait a while before drawing any conclusions on Rodda. Down the track he will talk about it with a better perspective. I have seen too many athletes get ahead of themselves as far as their knowledge and understanding of the sport. That is why you don't let teams select themselves.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
No one player will win a World Cup, that is stating the obvious but it certainly helps to have a decent playmaker. QC has matured, he himself has owned up to his wayward years, he should be admired for his skills and dedication the the game. The same could be said of JOC. Along with QC, I’m sure that both of these talented players regret some of the antics of earlier years which both have visibly have left behind, more power to them.
Poco Loco
Roar Rookie
Geppetto and Ken. Just love the terminology "Quade hesitancy" and "anti-vaxxers of the rugby community”. Brilliant ! :happy:
Poco Loco
Roar Rookie
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, you have to laugh at the absurdity of Malo's assertions about Quade. They are off the planet.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
You are right, he will be the player the press most want to talk to. He will probably be glad to get back to Japan at the end of the tour.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Larkham was our last prodigious 10, yes Terry. SL was the answer for me after waiting years for another Ella. They both had a similar “ghosting” style that glided through half breaks without looking like they were sprinting. Very deceptive, and lethal. Then the passing. Larkham’s was long and accurate. But Quade has already arrived at Larkham’s retirement age in much better shape, and has already lasted 8 years longer than Ella at the elite level (with interruptions granted). Quade has 15?years of pro experience in a relatively well preserved vehicle. We may yet get to see something special, if he can be managed well.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
It’s a problem Mugs. Many want to ask him questions. He probably would rather not, given the way his quotes have been used against him in the past. Like you I’d rather his rugby do his talking. It is eloquent.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
The ignorant are certain, the learned are full of doubt.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Hahaha Ken, it doesn't take too much to figure out the Quade/Brad problem!! Lol :laughing:
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Certainly, is great to see a far more mature Quade, back on the field, under the guidance of fellow Maori Dave Rennie. As it's been noticed that Rennie, who I rate as an excellent coach, & far better than what we have over the AB's, at present.
Shop
Guest
I’ve thought that fit a long time.
Mudslider
Guest
A Flyhalf must have a Kick Pass Run game, QC has the first two attributes but doesn’t have speed any longer, no line breaks anymore, however with White at scrum-half and Kerevi at centre should play out well on the northern hemisphere tour…
Poco Loco
Roar Rookie
Big A, I disagree the skills of kicking for goal can be comparable with learning a golf swing. However unlike you and me these players who chose to kick already have great skills that only need tuning. All the other facets can be mentored but it needs dedication and a certain level of innate ability whick NL has. It will be how much he wants it. Reading the field, seeing the dangers and the opportunities, deciding what options are viable, communicating with the players around you both in attack and defence, organising both, where to best position yourself to give youself the best opportunity and time to receive and deliver the ball in the particular situation When to try for a break, when to grubber kick through, when to kick for the line, where to kick. When to throw a cutout pass without being intercepted and so on. As Hooper says Quade has sat through and dissected many hundreds if not thousands of hours of replays of rugby games to understand the plays of others and how he could twart them or learn from them, where he could have done better on his own plays. Cheers.
Poco Loco
Roar Rookie
No CkSide, it should be the otherway. 2 Points so that a try is more valued. We want to encourage more trys! :rugby:
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Nice to see a more mature Quade, & also being part of the two Maori fellas showing the wallabies around. Even so, on his advice, would he not be better to advise when he starts coaching or on some executive committee, to do so. Just saying.
Nate
Guest
Also gps tracked ball would be handy, help with grounding, on the line calls, sketchy conversions