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'He's not delivering': Ex-All Black calls for Quade Cooper to be axed
After two losses to start the new Eddie Jones era for the Wallabies pressuring is mounting ahead of a defining Bledisloe series which opens in Melbourne in two weeks’ time.
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One ex-All Black believes that playmaker Quade Cooper is in the hot seat after failing to deliver enough over the first two rounds.
Cooper was on the back foot in Pretoria against the Springboks as the Wallabies pack was overwhelmed while against Argentina the side suffered from lapses of poor play and ended up being upset 34-31 despite taking the lead with five minutes remaining.
Speaking on Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown, former All Black Jeff Wilson struggled to see the reasoning behind selecting Cooper at 35 years of age.
With his history of catastrophes against the All Blacks, he argued now was the time to look elsewhere.
“The Wallabies will look at the Bledisloe Cup and see they can completely turn their season around in one game,” Wilson said.
“Eddie will know that, they’ll still find a way to get confidence even though they’ve lost two games.
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“I still can’t understand why is Quade Cooper running this team? Because he’s not delivering.
“We know he doesn’t deliver against the All Blacks. How can he be wearing the No 10 jersey in two weeks’ time? Seriously?”
Cooper’s Wallabies comeback in 2021 under Dave Rennie came after the Bledisloe series had already been whitewashed 3-0 by the All Blacks.
They went on a run of five wins before Cooper returned to his Japanese club ahead of the end-of-year tour. In 2022 Cooper ruptured his Achilles against Argentina in the first game of the year which ruled him out for the season.
He has yet to play the All Blacks since returning to the international level with his last outing against New Zealand in 2016 off the bench at Eden Park.
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Former All Black No 8 Stephen Bates said it’s too early to make a call on Cooper after returning from injury but was looking forward to Eddie Jones’ mind games in the lead up.
“He’s coming back from an Achilles injury, he needs more time in the saddle.
“What I do really like about Eddie Jones is all the mind games that he plays. I really enjoy it, I do.
“The reason why I enjoy it is it gets people talking. He’s not your stereotypical coach who says ‘yeah I hope we play well it will be a good battle’
“He plays mind games and gets people talking about the Test and that’s what we want.”
Wilson wanted the All Blacks to pick a full strength side in order to ‘do a job’ on the Wallabies which would allow for new selections in the second Test.
A number of All Black squad members are yet to see the field, including Super Rugby’s form player Shaun Stevenson, halfback Cam Roigard, midfielder Dallas McLeod and flanker Samipeni Finau.
All Black veteran Sam Whitelock hasn’t had any game time either as he recovers from an Achilles injury suffered from Super Rugby.
“Ultimately I’d love us to win the Rugby Championship. Clearly I’d like us to protect the Bledisloe Cup,” Wilson said.
“We’ve got a second Test though in Dunedin, but I think they should select their strongest side. Go over there [to Melbourne] and get a job done.
“Bank the Freedom Cup, bank the Bledisloe Cup, the Rugby Championship and then you use Dunedin for whatever you need to find out.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Marler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
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