Quade Cooper is Back
With many negatives coming out of the game, for me and from a Wallabies perspective their was one big positive, Quade Cooper again looking a match winner.
Much has been said about Foley’s limitations as a test five eighth, but he seems to recognise this himself and tends to play high percentage rugby. In the last two tests however, he has been well targeted by defenses and has been found wanting. While still kicking well, we needed another option, someone who can crack staunch defenses with flair rather than graft. We needed Quade back and with fifty nine minutes on the clock we got it.
Sure he didn’t set the world on fire, but after watching his lack lustre display against the Barbarians I was worried repeated injuries might take the edge off his game, this was not so. It really looked like the Quade of old, assured and composed he seemed to carry the least baggage and the most belief even as he found ways to get involved. In his twenty or so minutes he managed 12 passes which is quite impressive as Foley only managed 28 in the full eighty. He also found a way to create a try, collecting a tough offload from Folau, he committed the defense and off loaded sweetly to a well placed Rob Simmons.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts in ten for the next fixture against Ireland. While Foley has been kicking well it seems much of the rest of his game has fallen away and as Quade improves, so will our chances for victory.
