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‘Just shows the person he is’: Wallaby reveals ‘message’ from dropped star Quade Cooper
Playmaker Quade Cooper was a shock omission from the Wallabies’ 33-man squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, with rising star Carter Gordon picked as the sole flyhalf.
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Cooper underperformed in four Test matches under Eddie Jones this year, including two appearances off the bench, but was still expected to be on the plane to France.
But when the Wallabies fly out of Sydney International Airport on Thursday afternoon, Cooper won’t be on the plane. The Test veteran didn’t even make the Australian A squad to play Portugal.
Quade Cooper’s illustrious career in Wallaby gold appears to be all but over, while young flyhalf Carter Gordon has only just begun his journey in the Test arena.
But there’s no bad blood between the two – far from it, in fact. Gordon revealed earlier this week that Cooper, 35, had “sent me a really nice message when the squad came out.”
“Obviously I have learned a lot from Quade and he has been massive for my growth in the last few months,” Gordon said.
“We are still super close and we still talk a little bit. He sent me a really nice message when the squad came out and said he is here for me, and is going to continue to help me as much as he can.
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“So that just shows the person he is, and how good a bloke he is.”
With no Cooper in the squad, coach Eddie Jones decided not to bring another flyhalf into the squad. Gordon was selected as the only No. 10, while ‘utility’ Ben Donaldson will play a backup role.
Donaldson has shown plenty of promise at Super Rugby Pacific level with the Waratahs – although has signed for the Force from next season – but has yet to take the field under coach Jones.
With only two Test appearances to his name, including just a single start against Wales in Cardiff last year, Donaldson is somewhat of an unknown ahead of the World Cup.
As for Gordon, who made his Test debut against South Africa in Pretoria last month, the exciting talent has only started two matches. There’s a lot of pressure and expectation following Gordon to France.
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“Being the only 10 on the sheet doesn’t mean too much to me, it is more about getting better and still earning my spot,” Gordon added.
“If you go out there and play some bad rugby, you’re going to be giving it up.
“I am just making sure I am growing as a player every day and doing everything I can to keep the jersey.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
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