emuarse
Chilla Wilson (44)
I'd have Godwin in before Pat McCabe - he has much better attacking & passing ability and is definitely a Wallaby in the not-too- distant future
April Wallaby 30 Man Squad
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I'd have Godwin in before Pat McCabe - he has much better attacking & passing ability and is definitely a Wallaby in the not-too- distant future
Brumbieman
Dick Tooth (41)
You're like Gollum, hunting down any Cooper-positive sentiment and dribbling hate all over it.
It'd be pathetic if it wasn't so amusing.
Middle Earth = New Zealand, so it only makes sense Gollum would hate him too.
they were talking about his stats as compared to other Reds players and having the standard NZ bitch about Deans
RedsHappy
Tony Shaw (54)
Here's a quality piece of QC (Quade Cooper) analysis, like him or not. Balanced and fact-based, instead of the usual 'my lazy intuitive prejudices, un-researched hunches, and personal player favourites' model so typical of much Australian rugby commentary. Credit to Sully for his Daily Rugby News which drew it to my attention:
http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/04/15/david-lord-needs-to-watch-quade-more-closely/
Cooper is both an asset and a liability, he tries things, he pushes the envelope.
When they come off, he looks like a genius, when they don't he looks mediocre.
On Saturday, he did some great things, but realistically some of his work was patchy as well.
That's Quade, he is never going to enjoy playing any other way.
The question is whether Deans believes the balance is in Cooper's favour. I don't think he does. I think Deans will pick a unit who will revel in defending in the line, play the percentages and to the game plan.
Richo
John Thornett (49)
Good article, but I think the question is wrong. I don't think Quade is held to a higher standard, I think there is a narrative that says Quade is mercurial and Carlos Spencer-ish, so that writers assume things have happened because a dropped ball near QC (Quade Cooper) must be carelessness or lack of focus. Or nerves, or whatever.
I think you see the reverse happen with players like Genia, where their errors are rarely noted unless they have a particularly poor game. Preconceived narratives have enormous power on how people make sense of sports.
(Another example would be the numerous "Folau was in crap position and that's why the Hurricanes scored all those tries" statements. As Scott Allen showed in going back to the tape, Folau's positioning was actually fine in all four Canes' tries, even if he didn't execute his defense well in the Savea juggling one. But because he's a code-hopper, it must be his positioning (i.e. rugby knowledge and experience) that is at fault.)
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
That is true, but each of those players, most especially Nonu, have the fundamentals to play test Rugby in the structures in that Team. Conversely they don't have the same structures and balance in their provinces and that could be one reason why they underperform at that level. I have racked my brain for years trying to work out that about Nonu in particular.
The Nonu's are the exception rather than the norm. It is very few players who excel at test level without at least being consistent at Super Level. I would dispute that your examples are in any way similar to Nonu, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is consistent and Robinson's form has varied wildly over the last few years. In neither example is there a credible argument to pick them without Super form on the basis of a Nonu type form awakening at test level.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
That will be a first. It would be a first if Deans selected a cohesive whole to play with a game plan suited to his selections.
Quade's kicking from hand against the Chiefs was some of the best by an Australian 10 this year. It has been highlighted heavily that he missed touch from one penalty, by I would point out that both JOC (James O'Connor) and Beale have also done that and still have support from most here. This is IMO really a factor of Quade speaking out and telling the truth as he saw it. Australians in general do not like people who break ranks, even if they are proved right.
P
Paradox
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Actually AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was pretty average in 2012 and 2011 in super rugby and his test rugby was of a similar standard. Likewise with Robinson. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has rebounded this season which is good. Robinson got a kick in the ass as well from Cheika.
Nonu is an amazing player who just can't be bothered a lot of the time. He just chooses those moments to play which are usually under Henry or Smith (possibly due to their no dick head behavior policy). An interesting character. He also does produce the odd awesome performance at Super level.
There is a massive correlation between Super form and test form. However, not all Super rugby players are suited to test rugby.
thierry dusautoir
Alan Cameron (40)
I actually think that nonu is a player who is only as a good as those around him........
I thought AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was a solid performer in a shit team during 2011
I thought AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was a solid performer in a shit team during 2011
Nonu makes team shit, they improve when he leaves
Brumbieman
Dick Tooth (41)
Yeah, it was him leading all those stats for the Reds.
I couldn't resist leaving a big hook there for Qwerty to embed in his stomach.
P
Paradox
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Solid is fair but he wasn't busting tackles and his fend wasn't working. Seems to have his mojo back this year.
Brumbieman
Dick Tooth (41)
My pleasure. It's nice to know someone read that far into the post.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk HD
T
Train Without a Station
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If that's one of the main criteria for selecting our 10, no wonder we can't score any fucking tries anymore. We're picking a playmaker, not a fucking backrower. If you're 10 is making tackles, it means he is not using his energy to direct play. Personally I think a 10 should only need to be capable of defending if he has to, because you should be trying to cover him in defence anyway. Let your flankers tackle because they sure as hell can't throw a pass like Quade.
Scotty
David Codey (61)
You post a lot about what you think Deans will do, but we want to hear your opinion.
On playing to the game plan, the Reds probably have the most diverse of game plans in the super rugby comp, and Quade doesn't seem to have an issue playing to them. So would that be a QC (Quade Cooper) or Deans issue?
Scott Allen
Trevor Allan (34)
Interesting stats from last weekend with all the talk about the importance of defence for a #10 and defending in the line or not.
To'omua defended in the front line v Highlanders and made 7 tackles whilst missing 1.
Cooper didn't defend in the front line v Chiefs and made 7 tackles whilst missing 2.
JOC (James O'Connor) made 5 tackles and missed none v Kings.
SNK made 12 tackles and missed 1 v Crusaders.
To'omua defended in the front line v Highlanders and made 7 tackles whilst missing 1.
Cooper didn't defend in the front line v Chiefs and made 7 tackles whilst missing 2.
JOC (James O'Connor) made 5 tackles and missed none v Kings.
SNK made 12 tackles and missed 1 v Crusaders.
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