Sat 15 Oct 2011 | 06:00
Quade Cooper - Public Enemy Number One in New Zealand

13
Comments

Wallaby flyhalf Quade Cooper has had a tough tournament so far. The Waikato native has been anything but the all singing, all dancing performer he was for the Reds in Super Rugby. He's off form, and the Kiwis haven't given him an inch.

Sparked by his mini-feud with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, Cooper has become public enemy number one in New Zealand. He's been booed at every match of the tournament. He's not in the good books. The message? Mess with Richie, and we'll mess with you.

Whether that has affected his game, or it's been other factors, only the man himself will know. What is evident though is that he's been far from himself, and under pressure not only goes into his shell and fails to deliver what he's been known for, but he also makes mistakes, bad ones.

To beat the Wallabies you've got to rattle Cooper and get Will Genia's forward pack going backwards. Ireland did it, South Africa almost did it last week, and you can be sure that the All Blacks will be targetting the immensely talented halfback combo tomorrow.

Kurtley Beale is out, injured, so Australia lose a bit of firepower there. Anthony Fainga'a comes into the midfield though, which means they tighten up on their already impressive defense. Cooper will be targeted, but with Dan Carter out and Aaron Cruden in, he may just step up.

The entertaner is due a big game and tomorrow will be a true test of the man, as a hostile and unforgiving Eden Park do all they can to prevent him from bringing out his bag of tricks.

This fascinating clip from ITV looks at the way Kiwis view him in New Zealand.

13 Comments

  • iamashrimp
    12:06 PM 10/04/2012

    It's not like McCaw's innocent he probably does that every match and worse but we just don't see it.

  • romybb12
    11:19 PM 20/01/2012

    Geez take a break Newzealanders.I think ur all afraid to lose.

  • amurphy97
    4:24 PM 06/01/2012

    hes a genius but he had a shocker of a world cup :/

  • juggernauter
    4:22 AM 18/10/2011

    Jeez guys chill out.. lots of keyboard warriors in here, I'd like to see you out there playing in the biggest stage, see if you'd be struggling to back a strong Super Rugby season with all the pressure that involves...

    So, every soprt needs personalities. Back wwhen the Reds were creating havock in SR and Cooper's brilliance was shown here in RD, I'd bet every one of you was praising Quade and now you're all spitting shit at him...

    Ok he may not be as consistent or focused or likeable as O'Driscoll, Warburton or Carter, but he's a good player and if you guys just believe everything you hear on the press then you may as well believe that the world will end in 2012.

    Just enjoy our awesome game!! And thank the Lord for rugby

  • chino
    11:48 AM 17/10/2011

    Katman I see where you're coming from with McCaw but (guessing from your avatar) as a South African, rugby probably doesn't have such a hold over the nation. In New Zealand rugby is our livelihood, our religion. We see Richie McCaw as a leader and an incredibly well natured Kiwi. So when we see him taking cheap shots, we will have his back like hes our own blood. But respect to your argument all the same.

  • mendorugger
    2:09 PM 16/10/2011

    As I said before, Cooper is a non factor. No chatter from the cooper fans this time. Well played game by Australia though, hard fought all the way through, just how a semi final should be. Disappointed it wont be the Welsh playing the All Blacks though, but we have the IRB to thanks for that. Congrats to NZ

  • mendorugger
    8:20 AM 16/10/2011

    Home is a place your always welcome, dont think that skinny little twerp is welcome in NZ. As far as being a Kiwi, or an All Black fan, I am neither. I just dont care for dirty play. He obviously cant do anything to anyone other than run from, or run around them, when that gets stifled he takes a cheap shot when a man is down or not looking. I dont care what flag you call your own, thats a universal definition of a coward. Notice no comments were made in response to him being a non factor? the guy has not even shown up to play.

  • mendorugger
    8:17 AM 16/10/2011

    Home is a place your always welcome, dont think that skinny little twerp is welcome in NZ. As far as being a Kiwi, or an All Black fan, I am neither. I just dont care for play. He obviously cant do anything to anyone other than run from, or run around them, when that gets stifled he takes a cheap shot when a man is down or not looking. I dont care what flag you call your own, thats a universal definition of a coward. Notice no comments were made in response to him being a non factor? the guy has not even shown up to play.

  • uhtiger
    7:57 AM 16/10/2011

    Its not about being bullied, its about cooper being a dirty bastard. Mccaw knows that if he retalliates he'll get sent son he leaves it up to the refs but nothing is ever done.

  • anarchangel
    1:43 AM 16/10/2011

    Well he takes the pressure off Genia to be the most annoying guy on the field, the usual halfback duty. In fact, I always forget he's a 1st five; reminds me of a dirty version of Gregan.

  • ramrugby10
    1:13 AM 16/10/2011

    David Campese-- get a life.... Again...

  • 11:28 PM 15/10/2011

    I wonder if anyone on the Wallaby coaching staff regrets not having Giteau for the bench?

  • mendorugger
    9:07 PM 15/10/2011

    The fact that he has hardly shown up for the RWC says it all. Dead man talking. No real spine, all shots are dirty, and I wont be surprised to see one of the tight five give him a good bashing for any misconduct. where the rubber meets the road, talk is cheap, its in the doing not the saying. Cooper has not shown much of anything this tourney and the Aussies aught to make him give the money back for his plane ticket.