Cooper certain Reds will advance
QUADE Cooper has revealed a mystery foot ailment made it feel like he was kicking a 5kg medicine ball.
Queensland’s key playmaker and flyhalf has put fears of a serious injury behind him to focus on kickstarting a late season rally tonight against the Rebels in Melbourne.
Cooper is adamant the Reds can still sneak into the finals at the top of the Australian Conference but a sweep of derbies against the Rebels, Force ( May 26) and Brumbies ( July 7) is essential.
A 0- 10 run against Australian rivals, including two close losses to the Rebels, has left the Reds in a hole.
The night of no excuses has arrived in rugby’s dance of the desperates.
“The Rebels are a desperate team, playing for their future, and we are too to keep our season alive,” Cooper said.
“We have to win our three remaining derby games and every player knows it’s all or nothing.”
Cooper is feeling good after the misgivings of April 15 against the Southern Kings when a South African landed heavily across the top of his right foot.
“I didn’t kick for more than a week during the bye break and when I tried one crosskick it felt as if I’d kicked a medicine ball,” he said.
It was a factor behind his depowered kicking in the nailbiting loss to the NSW Waratahs even though a serious ligament injury, like the one which grounded James Horwill in 2008, was ruled out.
Lack of goalkicking practice contributed to his poor fourfrom- eight accuracy in the past two games, an area Cooper is ready to sharpen tonight.