Quade Cooper: Turning his back on the Wallabies
Wallabies pivot Quade Cooper has revealed that he will not play for Australia in the current environment which he says is 'destroying' him.
The 24-year-old, talking to Fox Sports program, The Rugby Club, explained his recent criticism on social media website Twitter of the Wallaby set-up and was clearly disappointed with the tactics employed by current coach Robbie Deans.
"I'm just striving to be the best that I can be and that's why I said (in reference to his Twitter comments) I didn't want to be involved in that kind of environment," he said.
"For me to continue to improve as a player and as a person you want to be in the best possible environment.
"And I feel that that environment is destroying me as a person and as a player, so that I can't do the best that I can do to represent my country and my family and my friends, to the best of my ability."
Cooper is currently out of action due to a knee injury but said if he was fit and selected he would not play for Australia in the future.
"No (I would not play), like I said, it's the environment there at the moment," he said.
"(The environment) is one that I don't feel comfortable in and if I don't feel comfortable and if I don't feel that I can give 100 per cent for my country and that yellow jersey, that's a very big problem."
Cooper - who said his comments were not a personal attack on Deans - insisted that money was not the reason for his attack and that he would continue to honour his existing three-year contract with the Reds.
"Money has nothing to do with it," he explained.
"I've got a contract with the Reds that I'm happy with and I signed that a long time ago."
Comments
Rugbyphile says...
Kevin Pietersen /-- except KP has proved himself a world class batsman---while QC has proved himself a good provincial player for one season
Posted 02:50 28th September 2012
JayStarr says...
I don't care how talented this guy is, I don't have time for prima donnas. He needs to go. League, AFL, NFL, NBA, Wimbledon - wherever... just get lost you wuss.
Posted 01:24 28th September 2012
kitch says...
good riddance scum... you were a dirt bag stealing laptops before ... youve been a cheap shot dirt bag as a player.. so i hardly can see how playing for your country is affecting you as a person.. and to blame others for your lack of form confirms that you are the only toxin in the wallaby setup
Posted 01:23 28th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
I wonder if one of his toxic team mates will pull him aside and give him a punch in the face for being a clown. Is there anyone with that mentality in their set-up?
Posted 01:23 28th September 2012
ruggerrat says...
I reckon Cooper's a big loss to the Wallabies. Sure, a few poor games, but still the best talant we've seen for a long time and he has shown that for the Wallabies. Not to disimilar to Campese, who had his moments and probably said more than some would have liked, but was magnificent for the game.
Posted 01:03 28th September 2012
Trader2 says...
rugby_rockstar
Why not have 15 players and just give them all the freedom to express themselves that they want, no need for a coach then... great. Give me a break "freedom to express" what a load of crap. Just let Quackey go off and "find himself" and you stick to being a rockstar, for which I am sure you are very suited.
Posted 00:13 28th September 2012
runnrugby says...
"I feel, I dont feel, I, I, I". Theres no "I" in "TEAM" Quadey. This is why your passes go to ground and touch on the full. Not a team player.
Posted 00:06 28th September 2012
LeftRightOut says...
Throwing his stolen laptops out of the cot.
Posted 00:04 28th September 2012
CARTER_010 says...
Very rarely, if ever, brought his Super Rugby form to the test arena. Not a loss for Australian rugby. Seems as if he's paving a way to the NRL at some point.
Posted 00:01 28th September 2012
hayj05 says...
It's funny how I don't see any fellow NZers claiming him now. He well & truly is a top Aussie bloke. I think he has delusion of granduer & believes he's the messiah of Union because he's got the most twitter followers lol.
Look the environment may not be great but you don't betray the teammates & coaches of your national side by spouting off to media & the public. He needs to be a man & approach them directly.
I feel a lot of his failings at test level are his own anyway, you just don't get the time you have at Super Rugby level, especially not these days. It means you have to have a solid kicking (territorial), passing, & defensive game which Quade definately has the potential for as he's a very talented player but he's too stubborn to realise that his bag of tricks just can't come out every second play. Opposing teams prepare meticulously to expect the unexpected everytime he touches the ball. He needs to find rhythm & then when the opportunity presents itself he can take on the glory play.
I really think someone needs to step up & change his diaper, he's getting way too cranky.
Posted 23:46 27th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
Thought at first, shut up Cooperman, no one is bigger than the game.
Watched his interview on rugby club last night, and I'm 100% behind him now. The guy just wants what he is getting at the Reds franchise, professionalism.
Since his rant, there have been many others who voiced the same and there are other Wallabies in SA that will not say anything for fear of been dropped, but think the same. He is one of the best attacking players in the game (when he's allowed to play that way !!) and it would be a shame to lose him to League.
ARU needs a big reshuffle and start with one Dimensional Defence Deans. On their way back from Argentina (after two losses) can the Wallabies drop Deans off at NZ.
Justice 4 Cooperman !!!
Posted 23:35 27th September 2012
koalabyte says...
Yay! The Wallabies have a chance!
Posted 22:53 27th September 2012
Darth_Hans says...
No one is bigger than the team!!! It's not a small club the 'superstar' is playing for, its the Wallabies - one of the true great rugby teams! Quade is a stunning player, but his inconsistency has been exposed - big time. He was exposed in three big matches in a row at RWC, and pretty average in the 2 tests this year, although very difficult opposition. Stop whining, and do your talking on the field. He needs to win back support first. TEAM means together everyone can achieve more. Its not about the individual
Posted 22:45 27th September 2012
dangerous says...
No 'I' in team mate. Forget about league, that's also a team game. Try. . . Lawn bowls. No offence.
Posted 21:56 27th September 2012
MacTavish says...
Funny. The Aussies all thought he was the next big thing, the saviour at 10... while he was mocked from afar by Kiwis and Saffas for being a joke. We all knew he was a muppet, burglar and a big mouth who cant tackle. Took you a while Australia to open your eyes, but now the REAL Quade Cooper has appeared. I still laugh out loud at the fact all the Aussie Fans actually compared this dork to Carter, some said Cooper was even better. Do you still think so Australia? One is a fine wine while the other is a bad batch of home brew...
Shame, he was such a liability on the pitch and was worth a good 10 points a game to the opposition. Sure knew how to wind up the All Blacks and Kiwi fans. Where do we turn to now to get our weekly dose of drama?
Posted 21:55 27th September 2012
rugby_phile says...
Bad news for the ABs Saffas etc, they just lost their biggest weapon against the Aussies. Good riddance.
Posted 21:07 27th September 2012
StunTheMullet says...
Tradesman who is a tool blames tool for not being able to kick, catch, pass or tackle.
Posted 21:07 27th September 2012
Qkram79 says...
Crying cos he's playing sh@t. Was a pansy.
Posted 19:55 27th September 2012
jmanngod says...
what an insufferable cxck he is. There's been a few in Aussie rugby over the years... but that guy is right up there.
Posted 19:51 27th September 2012
startledwombat says...
Yeah I know this bloke. I've seen him on the footy pitch. He doesn't play for the Wallabies when he's picked. We know this already. Chargedowns, missed tackles, running sideways, silly grubber kicks, the lot. It's not news.
Posted 18:45 27th September 2012