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'I didn't know it was coming... my first reaction was to scream' - John Cooney on his Ireland axe
John Cooney has lifted the lid on what it was like to be one of the five players so far cut from Joe Schmidt’s training squad for the World Cup.
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Ireland came into August working with 45 players, a figure that Schmidt must reduce to 31 by World Rugby’s September 8 deadline day for registering squads for the tournament finals in Japan.
Two were cut on August 5, Ultan Dillane and Rory Scannell being told their services were no longer needed, and the bad news then arrived for Cooney on August 11, the day after the warm-up win over Italy that he did not play in.
It was only three days later, on August 14, that the IRFU publicly confirmed Cooney, Finlay Bealham and Mike Haley would not be travelling to Portugal for the warm-weather camp and the disappointment has festered with the 29-year-old scrum-half who has eight caps, four coming off the bench in the 2019 Six Nations.
Speaking on the Coffee with Cave series on The Rugby Pod’s Patreon site, Cooney, who would have felt his ability to play both half-back positions would have earned him at least one Test match audition this month to show his worth, told Darren Cave: “To be honest I didn’t know it was coming.
Joe Schmidt's latest training squad cull has shed light on his way of thinking about the Ireland RWC half-backs https://t.co/TGK4lAHyRd
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 14, 2019
“I was actually watching the Gaelic football, the semi-final Tyrone were playing, and my phone was actually on silent. I went to look at my phone about 10 minutes after the game and saw I had a missed called from Joe, so straight away my first reaction was to scream.
“I knew well I was going to be cut at that stage. It was a bit of a surprise because that week I had done fitness and gym all week because I wasn’t playing against Italy. In my head the week before I thought I could be dropped.
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“I wasn’t so then I thought I might be playing England, so I kind of kept the head down and got to work that week. That way it was kind of pretty upsetting that I didn’t get to play a game but yeah, I think I knew well once I saw the phone call off him that was it.
“I rang him back and he must have been on the phone to someone else so I had to wait about 15, 20 minutes for him to call me back. It was a bit of a limbo at that stage. Yeah, as you probably know yourself, once you get a phone call out of the blue you kind of know something is up.”
Having subbed for Conor Murray for the majority of this year’s Six Nations and scored a try against England following on from a first Test start last November versus the USA, Cooney felt he was in with a credible shot of challenging to go to the World Cup.
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However, his hopes were dashed without any game time following a tough pre-season training with Ireland. “Personally I would have liked to have played a lot more and there has now been two Italy games that I have been involved which I would have liked to have least gotten a start or at least off the bench the last day.
Having watched Ireland get torn asunder by England, the legendary Brian O'Driscoll has stated his preferred midfield partnership for the World Cup
https://t.co/vdKfCFJhxz— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 27, 2019
“That is what hurt me the most, that I didn’t even get a chance. I don’t see why I didn’t even get a few minutes to come on even against Italy. I’m not sure why that is. Also, even against the USA I got a start and played average enough.
“But you know that type of year where you are carrying a few little niggles and stuff, I remember my AC was at me, little hindrances that sometimes if you get one soft game you don’t get to make up for it.
“Since then I thought I did quite well in the Six Nations, got to play four out of the five games. The year before my goal was to play in one of the games and I didn’t so to get four out of five the year after was huge for me.
“I thought I did quite well when I came on and obviously would have liked a bit longer, but I haven’t actually had a chance since then. In one way I’m pretty happy with how I went when I got my opportunity but then it doesn’t really do much for you when you don’t get another go.”
WATCH: The RugbyPass stadium guide to Yokohama where Ireland will kick off their World Cup campaign against Scotland on September 22
Comments on RugbyPass
True Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
21 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
10 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
78 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
21 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
10 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
21 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
21 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
21 Go to comments