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Quade Cooper's omission from the Wallabies squad sparks heated fly-half debate
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.
A huge day for the #Wallabies!
Congrats to the 34 strong Rugby Championship squad! #GoldBlooded #AUSvARG pic.twitter.com/OyMDiwkgqZ— Wallabies (@wallabies) July 4, 2019
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:
Hahahahahahahaha what are they thinking…. Cooper by far the best Australian flyhalf this super rugby campaign…. Then with his partnership with He is you would think it's a no brainer hahahahahaha ????
— bruce baxter (@brucebax) July 4, 2019
We aren't getting anywhere with Foley at 10. Should be CLL to start and Quade off the bench. AAC, Latu, Robertson shouldn't be in. Would take Meakes, Mafi and Harry Johnson Holmes over those three.
— Lachie Russ (@LachRusss) July 4, 2019
They’ve got bolts in their heads or something no Quade Cooper what are they thinking ?????
— luke condick (@luke_pies) July 4, 2019
Quade Cooper didn’t make the Wallabies squad? What a shit show
— VANTABLACK ???? (@UraJerkhov) July 4, 2019
@QuadeCooper left out of the Wallabies first World Cup Training Squad. I know sport politics are a serious issue but how can he be overlooked after that homecoming season with the Rebels?!
— SG | The Performance Coach (@Sana_Govender) July 4, 2019
@rugby_podcast wake the fuck up. Get on the mics. Where the fuck is quade cooper in the wallabies squad? Like, what the actual fuck!? Foley is the worst fly half of all the top ten nation teams.
— Steven monteith (@Stevenronmon) July 4, 2019
Sheesh Australia really like shooting themselves in the foot… you sack your best player(Folau) and now you omit your form flyhalf in @QuadeCooper ??? absolutely crazy
— bruce baxter (@brucebax) July 4, 2019
I'd be a lot more excited about the squad if @QuadeCooper was in it but congrats to Christian. Hopefully Cheika not just going with the same gameplans that have failed since 2015. #Wallabies
— Jamie (@jamiesportstwit) July 4, 2019
No @QuadeCooper in the wallabies squad ? I actually give up if he isn’t in our best 40 players in the country #Wallabies
— taran wood (@taran_88) July 4, 2019
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.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments