Is Link's calculated approach hindering Coopers development?

[I like to watch]

As for the units primarily defending at 15 this season
Beale has made 18 and missed 5
Quade has made 12 and missed 9
McCabe has made 7
Shepherd has made 2 and missed 1

http://www.rugbystats.com.au/rugby/index.html

Stats only tell you so much, what about the try down the blind that QC (Quade Cooper) let in the week before, that was his fault but does not even show up on the stats sheet.
We all know he is soft, he admitted he is soft. everyone going to RWC knows he is soft. robbie is no chance of hiding him. If he goes to RWC he better have to pay for his ticket like me, cos we are the same chance of playing.
Zero.

 

[daz]

If he goes to RWC he better have to pay for his ticket like me, cos we are the same chance of playing.
Zero.

Missed tackles, etc, etc, etc. Soft as butter, etc, etc, etc.

All due respect, but saying that QC (Quade Cooper) has zero chance of playing at the RWC is simply poppycock. He will not only play, but he will be our starting 10, with Barnes as back-up 10/12. I have my criticisms of Cooper, but unless he has a real dog of a year or gets his body broken I see no change to the status quo.

It is far too late into the 4 year RWC cycle for Robbie to be tinkering with one of the key positions. Deans knows what Cooper can and can't do and will adjust accordingly. If he doesn't, then we are screwed and Deans should be on the first plane back to Kiwiville.

I would also argue that the style of Cooper differs somewhat from the Reds to the Wobs, which reflects a different fit with surrounding class/team of personnel as well as a different play book between Link and Deans.

And finally, QC (Quade Cooper) may not be the greatest all round 10 in world rugby, but he is a regular starter in the 2nd best team in the world to date. Seems to work more than it fails.....

 

[I like to watch]

We may not be able to win without him.
We are no chance to win with him.
No team can give the opposition 2 tries start in a World cup.
Deans will not start him.
Yes it's late in the cycle, but he hasn't worked there.Plan B or C needs to be implemented.
Every time he let's a try in it's another nail in the coffin. The way he is going we are going to run out of nails.
With respect to the different styles between the Reds & the Wallabies, why is the constant that QC (Quade Cooper) leads the missed tackles in both?
Remember the test against the Poms? he missed 9 of 11!
Let's see the the saffers & Kiwis do to him in the super season, if Link can't hide him better he won't finish as a starter for the Reds,let alone start for the Wobblies.

 

[Gnostic]

Missed tackles, etc, etc, etc. Soft as butter, etc, etc, etc.

All due respect, but saying that QC (Quade Cooper) has zero chance of playing at the RWC is simply poppycock. He will not only play, but he will be our starting 10, with Barnes as back-up 10/12. I have my criticisms of Cooper, but unless he has a real dog of a year or gets his body broken I see no change to the status quo.

It is far too late into the 4 year RWC cycle for Robbie to be tinkering with one of the key positions. Deans knows what Cooper can and can't do and will adjust accordingly. If he doesn't, then we are screwed and Deans should be on the first plane back to Kiwiville.

I would also argue that the style of Cooper differs somewhat from the Reds to the Wobs, which reflects a different fit with surrounding class/team of personnel as well as a different play book between Link and Deans.

And finally, QC (Quade Cooper) may not be the greatest all round 10 in world rugby, but he is a regular starter in the 2nd best team in the world to date. Seems to work more than it fails.....

As much as I hate to say it Daz is totally correct. For all Deans' hyperbole about "there are no Wallabies of 2011 yet" the RWC squad was basically set in stone with the starting 22 for the EOYT with inclusions for those unavailable through injury. Any wishful thinking for the inclusion of scrummaging props, different locks etc is just that.

 

[daz]

Deans will not start him.
Let's see the the saffers & Kiwis do to him in the super season, if Link can't hide him better he won't finish as a starter for the Reds,let alone start for the Wobblies.

What options do you propose?

We only have so many combinations that are tried and proven. I seem to recall that there was a pretty good chemistry and understanding between Genia, Cooper and Barnes (once the Crab was benched) at 9, 10 and 12 respectively. That combo was pretty effective, although I will temper that by saying the combo was really only effective when we had attacking ball, i.e. the forwards allowed good possesion.

I saw less understanding and/or effectiveness between Burgess, Barnes and JOC (James O'Connor) at 9, 10, and 12 for example.

I suppose the end result is that when we are attacking, we look pretty damn good. When we are scrambling in defense, obviously we look pretty ordinary. The Deans mantra of playing what is in front of you is great when what is in front of you is space to make some plays. It doesn't work so well when what is in front of you is a 120kg fella with the ball under his wing running at you at speed.

I seem to recall Barnes (and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)?) dropping back behind Cooper to cover his defense on the EOYT.

 

[daz]

As much as I hate to say it Daz is totally correct.

Sorry mate. I honestly did not mean to put you in that position... Shall I say something silly so you have a chance to resume normal service?

 

[Gnostic]

Sorry mate. I honestly did not mean to put you in that position... Shall I say something silly so you have a chance to resume normal service?

That's alright, I'll survive just don't make a habit of it, I might suffer some kind of seizure.

 

[I like to watch]

What options do you propose?

We only have so many combinations that are tried and proven. I seem to recall that there was a pretty good chemistry and understanding between Genia, Cooper and Barnes (once the Crab was benched) at 9, 10 and 12 respectively. That combo was pretty effective, although I will temper that by saying the combo was really only effective when we had attacking ball, i.e. the forwards allowed good possesion.

I saw less understanding and/or effectiveness between Burgess, Barnes and JOC (James O'Connor) at 9, 10, and 12 for example.

I suppose the end result is that when we are attacking, we look pretty damn good. When we are scrambling in defense, obviously we look pretty ordinary. The Deans mantra of playing what is in front of you is great when what is in front of you is space to make some plays. It doesn't work so well when what is in front of you is a 120kg fella with the ball under his wing running at you at speed.

All I know is that QC (Quade Cooper) has ruled himself out,as has Gits.
I think we have all forgotten that RWC's are not won 6 tries to 5 in the Final. They are dour, tight Test matches.So to my mind that means BB plays 10. He is solid, plays the percentages & puts pressure on his man.

 

[fatprop]

I expect Cooper to be the starting 10 and come through and improve, he is the most likely to win a test we have at 10. Barnes will be at 12.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I agree with the proposition that we pretty much know who will be the 22 for most of the year and frankly that's as it should be. You should not still be fiddling with the line up in the year of a RWC. For better or for worse and with a few blokes to come back (Horwill, Cliffy, TPN), the team we went with for the big games in the EOYT will be more or less what gets put out there at the RWC. At the moment, that means QC (Quade Cooper) at 10, with probably Barnes at 12. If Quade has a good season for the Reds I think I can live with that.

 

[Red Rooster]

Don't think so RR. Quade wasn't hidden as much last year.

No true - i asked one of the players at the fan day - same system is being used only difference was direct swap with 15 wheras last year Va'alu did it from the wing. No different and its not all the time btw

 

[Red Rooster]

Don't think so RR. Quade wasn't hidden as much last year.

his defence became an issue on the wallaby tour - no one noticed much about him at the reds last year so why the criticism now when it was done all last season

 

[Red Rooster]

Shock and horror - the Force are going to play O'conner in attack at 10 and 15 - shall we write a blog about the merits of this and say you can only play in the position that is the number on your back - heaven forbid there might be a tactical advantage by doing it - OK for everyone else but Link has stick to the norm and play quade only in the 10 position!

 

[Bullrush]

Shock and horror - the Force are going to play O'conner in attack at 10 and 15 - shall we write a blog about the merits of this and say you can only play in the position that is the number on your back - heaven forbid there might be a tactical advantage by doing it - OK for everyone else but Link has stick to the norm and play quade only in the 10 position!

Bahahaha....yeah right. Link has absolutley no concerns over QC (Quade Cooper) tackling and defense....it's purely an attacking strategy....LMAO

 

[slasher]

The only approach hindering coopers development is his own approach to commitment

 

[waratahjesus]

All I know is that QC (Quade Cooper) has ruled himself out,as has Gits.
I think we have all forgotten that RWC's are not won 6 tries to 5 in the Final. They are dour, tight Test matches.So to my mind that means BB plays 10. He is solid, plays the percentages & puts pressure on his man.

this is my problem with it. i dont see any situation where the finals are going to be running rugby at its best. the french wont roll over and die in a semi the same way they did in paris. they will beat the shit out of us. the debate about quade getting better at defence surely has to be over and the answer is he cant. in these big matches it seems berrick and gits should start in 10/12 that was starting to work anyway before berricks injury. Quade can have the last 30 if were chasing a win and need a spark when people are a bit tire and slower to react. but do we really want him facing up to england in the first 20?

 

[Gagger]

Hehe, tweet from QC (Quade Cooper) at the Classic match tonight

Gregan is carving! So is Cullen.. Campo is funny doesn't want a bar of the contact but who would blame him. He's still gt the skill

 

[I like to watch]

So does QC (Quade Cooper) have a wonderful sense of irony, or is he as dumb as wood?

 

[Scotty]

Let's not put that to the vote.

 

[MrMouse]

So does QC (Quade Cooper) have a wonderful sense of irony, or is he as dumb as wood?

Let's just say...Quade's got wood.