Monday’s rugby news has Michael Cheika slamming player agents, Quade Cooper a better player, Michael Hooper still hurting from the World Cup final loss and Steve Hansen fires shots at Michael Cheika.
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Cheika Slams Agents
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has slammed agents who sign players to overseas deals whilst still under contract with the ARU.
The ARU has granted the early release of Liam Gill and Greg Holmes from their ARU contracts to take up overseas deals with Toulon and Exeter respectively.
“They were put in awkward situations because they had two contracts, and one would have been put in jeopardy if the other one was adhered to,” Cheika said.
“It really put them in personal distress.
“Yes, we could play hardball but where is the bonus for me to cost Liam Gill his contract?
“If he really wants to go that much and doesn’t want to play for Australia so be it.
“It won’t happen again … Guys have been put in awkward positions by their management. When I spoke to Toulon about Gill they didn’t know he was contracted until December 31.
“Maybe the agents haven’t taken the ARU seriously.
“One of these guys was saying that if it doesn’t happen he’s going to take legal action against us. I don’t know where they get off.
“It’s only that we’re being nice people that they are able to fulfil those [overseas contracts].
“We’ve tried to do the right thing in this instance, we don’t want them to have personal life grief because of it.”
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Cooper a Better Player
Quade Cooper believes his experiences in France and with the Sevens has made him a better rugby player.
“Whether my time in France is seen as a success or a failure in people’s eyes, I know if I didn’t dive in I’d still be questioning myself on whether I should go and test it out,” Cooper said.
“For that nine months I had to find my feet on my own, I got to experience another culture and play in a team with a totally different mindset to any I’d been accustomed to.
“I played out of position a fair bit at fullback and then I wasn’t playing in a team under scrutiny but I did get a lot out of it.
“It was like boxing in terms of being out of my comfort zone.
Cooper said he also learnt a lot from other international stars at Toulon.
“With teammates like M’a Nonu and Duane Vermeulen I was able to get into the psyche of how they looked at me as a Test opponent.
“There was so much to get out of the French experience beyond game time and trophies.
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Hooper Still Hurting
Wallabies flanker Michael Hooper has admitted he still has not watched a replay of the Rugby World Cup final last year and is not sure if he ever will after the Wallabies suffered a heartbreaking loss to the All Blacks.
“[The World Cup final] was such a great time in my life, my rugby career, up until that point,” Hooper said.
“It sucks, I haven’t watched the game still.
“It’s a new year and the opportunities ahead massively outweigh looking back in the past.
“As a rugby player you’ve got to look forward because backwards is done, so what’s ahead is way more exciting than what’s been.”
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Hansen Fires Shots
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has fired shots at Wallabies coach Michael Cheika as the All Blacks arrived in Sydney ahead of their Bledisloe clash with the Wallabies this weekend.
Cheika said Hansen would have a number of selection headaches particularly at openside flanker and flyhalf.
“It’s good of an Australian coach to start picking our team,” Hansen said.
“I’d say he’s got enough problems of his own, probably.
“We’ll pick ours and he can pick his, and he’ll have a lot to say no doubt.”
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