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He's got no option but to have a stellar season really.

Watching cooper box will certainly be interesting. He's a good athlete but there is more to being a good boxer than just the physical state. Maybe an outing or two in the ring will do his confidence in defence a world of good.

I think that provided he is not being paid peanuts it is reasonable for the ARU and reds to dictate that rugby is king and boxing is not on. But at the same time, when you look at the NZRU, they have started handing out sabbatical contracts to their key players: Dan Carter has a sabatical up...

He'd complement James well at clermont, and skrela is getting on a bit.

His fight is before the season starts anyway. I can't see quade not playing for the reds next year. It is too late for an NRL deal, the japanese season will pretty much be over by the time he has had his fight and even if he went to france it would only be half a season at best. I reckon...

So as it stands, the ARU will not ratify a contract between the reds and Cooper that allows for Cooper to box and play for the reds. Quade will train with the reds for another month, then train with them on an invitational basis until the week before his fight. He will then fight some mug...

Taking Pocock on tour was a total waste of time and money.

The reds had the money for higgers, but not the cap space. If there was no cap he would probably still be playing for Queensland next year. Furthermore if he had got the ARU top up he was hoping for he would have stayed at the reds. The second part is reasonable as the ARU have to cut costs...

I see Ezra Taylor is back in town, any chance he will be making a few appearances in prem grade? Also interested to see what club Ben Meehan heads to next season.

He signed with the rebels full time so I doubt he'll play much club rugby.

I reckon my biggest problem is that it's nearly December and the contracts of key players are still not finalised. I also don't like the way the ARU pit the provinces against each other to make up for short comings in their own finances. I guess I'm a bit old fashioned but seeing guys like...

If Coopers gone I reckon Lucas or maybe even Jono Lance to 10. Then bring Lane on slowly (assuming he comes back if Cooper leaves).

Do the ARU have to approve every contract signed between the super rugby teams and players? Could quade now go and sign a separate contract with the reds that allows him to box and play in japan in the off season?

Yep. I reckon Cooper will play super rugby with the reds then have a couple of boxing matches, maybe a game or two with the barbarians, then off to Japan for a season and back to the reds when the Japanese season is over. Wash, rinse and repeat until deans is gone, link is coach and the ARU...

Important to note that Cooper is not the only player still in negotiations over next years contract.

Are douglas and Pocock fit? This would be my team: 1, Fatcat 2, Moore 3, Alexander 4, Timani 5, Sharpe 6, Higgers 7, Hooper 8, Palu 9, Sheehan 10, Beale 11, Ioane 12, Tapuai 13, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 14, Cummins 15, Barnes 16, Hanson 17, Slipper 18, Kepu 19, Douglas/Neville 20, Pocock 21, Phipps 22, Harris...

Folou is not all that as a footballer. Inglis, Slater and Hunt have natural instinct for space to go with their athletic abilities, whereas folou is just a very good athlete. He is not worth throwing money at. Especially not at a time like this when the ARU can hardly afford to pay the players...

By saying "it's not about the money" - Cooper was stating he was happy with the amount of money originally offered but was holding off signing because he was not happy with other parts of the wallaby program. Personally I think he was waiting for deans to be sacked, which due to those at the...

Yet they can afford to pay deans a million dollars a year.

About the only thing the ARU does competently at the moment.