Brad’s not mad to bypass Cooper
OPINION: Too right Brad Thorn has dismissed talk of a Quade Cooper comeback.
The Reds don’t look like they’re going to win Super Rugby this year. They probably won’t even emerge from the Australian conference. But Thorn, in his first year as head coach, is still building something admirable.
He is not seeking quick fixes. There has been no compromising of his famously high personal standards.
He’s picking guys on character and work ethic and wearing a few losses while they all learn how to play.
Thorn’s distanced himself from baggage-laden blokes such as Cooper and Karmichael Hunt, for which he ought to be applauded. Instead, following Saturday’s 37-16 defeat to the Waratahs at the Sydney Cricket Ground, he was forced to defend his position. Again.
‘‘Like I said at the start of the season, we’re going in a different direction, so that’s all I’ve got for ya,’’ Thorn said, when asked if it was time to send for Cooper.
The reaction was much the same when Hunt, who hasn’t played rugby since an arrest for cocaine possession in December, was brought up.
‘‘Yeah well, he hasn’t been in and he’s not playing club rugby at the moment so that doesn’t look to be happening,’’ said Thorn.
Cooper is a myth. At his best, around 2010-2011, he was electrifying.
He’s rarely been since. There’s been flirtations with France and sevens and any number of ‘‘Quade’s never been fitter/happier/in a better headspace stories’’ in that time and not a lot to suggest he’s an elite player anymore.
He comes with history and would be a distraction and impediment to what Thorn’s trying to build. The same with Hunt.
Which made it so odd that a Reds and Wallaby legend, in Tim Horan, would tweet after the Waratahs games that it was time Thorn summoned Cooper.
If Thorn ever makes a habit of taking punts on people, they’re likely to be in his own image, not someone as flakey as Cooper.
The Reds are like so many teams in this competition, in that they try very hard but lack quality and the ability to execute under pressure.
Week after week we see foreign opponents compete with, and even push, New Zealand’s sides. But when it comes to turning opportunities into points, the Kiwi teams manage it and the others can’t.
The Brumbies, inspired by the terrific David Pocock, threw plenty at the Highlanders on Saturday night. The game was a real contest, despite the final score of 43-17 to the Highlanders suggesting otherwise.
It was nice to see the Jaguares get a bit of reward for their efforts, in Melbourne.
Down for much of their match against the Rebels, the Jaguares fought back to lead 25-22 with time almost up. They then hung on at the death to register a really worthy win.
The round had begun at Westpac Stadium, where the Hurricanes beat the Chiefs 25-13. Both teams were in a pretty sorry state afterwards, following a typically ferocious New Zealand derby.
The Blues found a way to beat the Sunwolves 24-10 in Tokyo on Saturday afternoon, while the Bulls were 40-10 winners over the travel-weary Sharks.