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Quade Cooper's omission from the Wallabies squad sparks heated fly-half debate

By Josh Raisey
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Two of the most interesting stories in this Super Rugby season have been the comebacks of fly-halves Christian Leali’ifano and Quade Cooper. 

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This was Leali’ifano’s comeback season in southern hemisphere rugby after being diagnosed with leukemia in August 2016, while Cooper returned to Super Rugby with the Rebels after being completely dropped from the Reds last season and forced to play club rugby. 

As the season progressed, both players staked legitimate claims to be selected for the Wallabies. Cooper started the season in sensational form, as the Rebels soared to the top end of the table. However, their season – and his – lost momentum and spiralled out of control. 

Conversely, Leali’ifano’s season went from strength to strength, as he guided the Brumbies to the semi-finals. Consequently, he has got the nod from Michael Cheika alongside Bernard Foley to represent Australia again this Rugby Championship at the expense of Cooper. 

Many fans are dismayed by this decision, believing Cooper should be a part of the squad. While his form did drop towards the end of the season, many feel the 70-cap international’s showings at the beginning of the season were good enough to be selected, with the additional bonus of his club partnership with Will Genia. 

However, the consensus seems to be that Cooper should not be selected at the expense of Leali’ifano but rather Foley. The Waratah has been a favourite of Cheika’s over the past four years and it would be a major statement to drop him now, but the fans feel he has not warranted a place this season. 

The Waratahs had a dismal Super Rugby campaign and Foley failed to sparkle. He has never been the most adventurous or attacking fly-half, which seems to go against the DNA of the Wallabies. 

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However, he has always been the dependable option for Cheika during his tenure as head coach. This is what the fans have said: 

Cheika has gone with just the two fly-halves, presumably looking at Matt Toomua as a back-up option or even Kurtley Beale. 

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This is unlikely to be the squad for the World Cup, as injuries occur and some players come back from spells on the sidelines, but it is an indication of what is to come. While it was a dream comeback season for Leali’ifano, Cooper fell just short. 

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Trevor 2 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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B
Bull Shark 6 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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