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'Of course': Quade Cooper gets backing for 2023 World Cup

By AAP
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Coach Dave Rennie says “of course” a 35-year-old Quade Cooper could lead the Wallabies into the next World Cup after the maligned playmaker took down world champions South Africa in his first Test for more than four years.

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That scenario would have seemed bizarre even after the 33-year-old was drafted into the squad during his Japanese off-season, primarily as a mentor to budding No.10 Noah Lolesio, earlier this year.

But it doesn’t any more after his fairytale return on the Gold Coast on Sunday which saw a calm Cooper slot a perfect eight off the tee, including the match-winner after the siren from 40 metres out and 12 metres in from touch.

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Cooper is now in the box seat to keep Lolesio on the pine and also delay what appeared the inevitable Rugby Championship return of James O’Connor (groin), who at 31 could become the junior playmaker of the side.

“We didn’t think it was risk,” Rennie said of picking Cooper, who hadn’t played a professional game in five months.

“Based on form (in training) it was hard to leave him out.

“He’d be a young fella (at the 2023 World Cup) if he was in the Springbok team.

“Of course he could (be Wallabies No.10 at the World Cup), but we’re not thinking too far ahead at this stage.

“He was excited to get an opportunity and delivered big time and I know he’s keen and available for the rest of the year.”

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Less was more for Cooper in his 71st Test, resisting the urge to throw long cut-out passes and instead servicing his outside men with sharp, clean ball or kicking for territory.

His pass to Samu Kerevi set up Andrew Kellaway for Australia’s only try while the Springboks, fresh off a 2-1 series win over the British & Irish Lions and two straight wins over Argentina, scored three rolling maul tries.

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But the Wallabies showed they have the low gears necessary to beat the visitors, who were at full strength aside from injured winger Cheslin Kolbe, at their own game.

“They can mix it up; if they want to play expansively they can, if they want to play a conservative game they can,” South African coach Jacques Nienaber said.

Cooper was cast aside by former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans and incoming Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn before moving to the Melbourne Rebels and then to Japan, where he remains contracted to second-tier outfit Kintetsu Liners.

Still waiting to hear if he’s been granted Australian citizenship after four failed attempts – “fingers crossed” he said post-game – New Zealand-born Cooper admitted he had made an effort to become a better man after spending his youth as simply “Quade Cooper, the Wallaby”.

An ironic by-product of that has been his Wallabies second-coming.

And now, with fellow returning Japan-based stars Kerevi and Sean McMahon, who will join camp next week, he has given captain Michael Hooper another wise head to turn to.

“He was calm, made good decisions, gave us a bit of direction … it’s a great story for him, hey,” Hooper said.

It comes after three comprehensive losses to New Zealand and a tight 2-1 series win over a France side missing a host of their best players.

“I think we’ve got a lot more in us,” Hooper said.

“Next week (in a Brisbane rematch) it’s going to be a level up again, but we’ll savour this one for the moment because there’s plenty of great stories there.”

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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