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
Kiwiinaus says...
Go to league Quade. You'll do we'll right up to the time you have to make a tackle or put your body on the line. Then you'll be exposed as the gutless wimp that you are. Rugby won't miss you at all we want people with heart and guts as well as skill and while you have the later, you are well short of what's required with the former.
Posted 10:42 10th October 2012
Ramage says...
It is sad to see a player believe he is bigger than the team.Rugby is a team game and although Cooper may have his thoughts if the system is toxic for him then he needs to make himself unavailable for selection.
One thing stands out though if his main supporters are the likes of georgesmith and trinuts2 then for sure he is on the wrong path. They don't realise that in any combatitive venture the main problem the force or the team face is the fifth column within.
i know that Cooper brings out the worst in people but I must say that whilst I dont agree with him it is obvious he is taking on the system he dislikes. he may have bitten off more than he can chew time will tell. However, like some of the posts against McCaw I believe are distasteful so to are some of those against Cooper. i appeal to everyone on here to be circumspect on what you say and if you have argued about the McCaw statements.don't use the same tactic about Cooper.
Finally editor I see you have removed a distasteful post from this site. When I read some of the posts on here including some of my own this post must have really have been the pits. I never thought you censored anything apart from now and again not printing articles but sometimes not printing could be they never got through.
Posted 01:52 09th October 2012
georgesmith says...
Q. Cooper is not the problem here. First M. Giteau and now him. Surely tis the rotten potato from NZ, R. Dean who is the cause of all this rot. The guy knows no shit and the result is before us. Kick his ass back to Kiwiland and lets see who gives him a chance. R. Deans' teams have no game plan or structure. Great Wallabies backs known for running and breaking tackles but Deans' is all about kicking ball to the opposition. Not set-plays, never what-so-ever from the Wallabies. Only losses against Scotland, Samoa and Ireland. Also Fiji,Pumas and Italy on the way if this Kiwi clown is allowed to continue.
Posted 14:11 02nd October 2012
Ferdie says...
Trinats2 born in NZ but QC is a Queenslander first, then a Wallaby.
Sadly, a NZer first. As at August 15 2012 he was still on a NZ passport according to Oz media; never applied for permanent residency or citizenship, therefore not eligible for an Oz passport. Can't see it happening either- he would have to pass police/criminal record and character tests for Oz Immigration . . . ha ha as if!!
He remains in Oz on a Special Category Visa, (not special needs, though many would argeu that)
A pity, you can keep him!
Posted 12:06 29th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
ruckingkiwi:
Could be worse, they could have still wanted to be kiwis !!!
It may effect some of the newer guys, but they wont be there if Deans is ousted. Most of the senior players are right behind Cooper.
As for a "punch" that's not the Australian way (maybe in league) I think you have been watching your doco, once were warriors, too much !!!
Posted 10:39 29th September 2012
piriaka says...
a bit rude Quade!! The ARU kept you out of jail when you burgled! And this is your response! Sook
Posted 06:44 29th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
I doubt many Kiwis cross the Tasman wanting to become an Aussie, getting that high pitch nasal twang would be enough to put most people over the edge..
Hey Trinats, do you think any of what Cooper has said during the week may have helped Australia prepare for this weekend or possibly acted as a distraction and will be detrimental to their chances of winning? The money would be on Blooper getting a punch in the mask from a few of his 'team mates', wouldn't you think?
Posted 06:14 29th September 2012
whykikamoocow says...
bye bye blooper pooper scooper cooper,go join ya mate sunny runny dunny bill at the roosters :)
Posted 02:27 29th September 2012
Boltsy says...
At best he showed promise.Lets go back to the year 2011. The Reds Super Rugby campaign, at times his passing bordered on being forward good sidestepping.Roll on to the RWC 2011, what a difference a few months makes.
The British scribes summed Cooper up for exactly what he was average, couldnt handle the pressure read the game and his passing, lets just say schoolboys can do better. You have to laugh at the Rugby club panel following the Reds Victory last year hailing Cooper as the best number 10 going. The maestro Dan Carter in the Bledisloe gave Cooper a demonstation on being N0 1.
Lets just sum it up the master showing the student. Say no more
Au revoir Quade failure
Posted 02:09 29th September 2012
tha_mai says...
from newspaper The Australian today: "Quade Cooper carry-on stains a jersey he should be proud to wear. Quade Cooper played so poorly in the Wallabies' win against Argentina on the Gold Coast that an ARU official wondered if he had done so deliberately to try to get coach Robbie Deans sacked."
What a disgrace - and utter lack of respect to the jersey others have worn with pride, and an utter coward for trying to undermine the team before the test in SA.
Also from an Oz site - cruel but fair:
"In the battle of wits, Cooper has entered the arena unarmed".
So, not even a half-wit then?
Posted 00:52 29th September 2012
Cdn_content says...
QC is a spoiled brat, I predict a league move! This is a set up!
Posted 13:41 28th September 2012
piriaka says...
Thank goodness - he is overated and over here!! And a sook to boot. Sounds like the Giteau type stirrer that consigns Aussie rugby to barely average
Posted 13:04 28th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
ruckingkiwi
cheers mate, good to have Mike there. Although he hasn't been in Aus all that long (grandparents Aussies) and has a lot to learn. And one of 700,000 kiwis that wants to be an Aussie. But a good 5th choice fly to have on standby !!!
Posted 12:47 28th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Hope you're ok Trinats? Stay strong little guy, you'll get through this.
He just doesn't have the same love and passion for the yellow that his team mates, fellow Australians, fans, colleagues, friends, you, his other boyfriend or anyone else has... it'll be tough but you still have us, brother..
And Mike Harris..
It's all good.
Posted 11:29 28th September 2012
startledwombat says...
I've been following Steve Allen's discussions of the Wallabies' tactics and aspirations at greenandgoldrugby. They are excellent. There's quite a bit happening in the Australian game plan but we are only seeing glimpses of it from these players. It is also not as sophisticated as the All Blacks game plan.
However, given that the Wallaby players appear unable to deliver what it being asked of them currently, it seems futile to try to get them to aspire to anything where the bar is raised even higher.
The analogies with Campese are apt, even though Cooper is still in short pants by comparison. Campese was always good for a try or two for the opposition, and you never knew whether he would be worth one, two, or more tries for the Wallabies to make up for it. But test match rugby these days is about teams working as units and once you've got that foundation then individuals can give you the edge.
With a full fifteen front-ranked players out injured, the Wallabies don't yet have the team-unit "let's impose our game plan" mastered yet. It's coming along and having Cooper out for good will help the team-unit thing.
Anyway, team first to get it together before individuals can express themselves. Wallabies are better off without Cooper.
Posted 10:56 28th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
porridge_time:
Of course not ! Trying to keep him in the Reds !!!
He might have been born in NZ but QC is a Queenslander first, then a Wallaby.
Posted 10:38 28th September 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Trader2, come on though, there is a bit of irony about it all though, don't you think?
Okay, maybe its like the water spiraling down the bath waste in the opposite direction depending on which hemisphere you're in. but you had Johnno getting mullered for being too restrictive in the N-Hem and Cooper getting crucified for being a loose cannon in the S-Hem. And the craziest thing is that it was the english fans who were moaning about being shackled and the Aussies grumbling about the lack of structure... cue the twilight zone theme tune :)
Posted 08:34 28th September 2012
porridge_time says...
Trinats2...
Wonder if your support for QC would as strong if he were not a Reds player? The guys has shown some real touches of class, but he is to self absorbed and immature to be taken seriously in my opinion.
Posted 07:36 28th September 2012
Kiwikev says...
At least he knows what his country is...Thank God...
Posted 03:50 28th September 2012
Mace says...
The editor says.... Your distasteful post has been deleted. Keep it up and you'll get banned.
Posted 03:11 28th September 2012