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Quade Cooper to mastermind Wallabies downfall
By Matthew Scott
Quade Cooper cannot get a look-in for Australia under Michael Cheika, but the fly-half will get a chance to impress when he captains the Barbarians against the Wallabies next month.
Cooper's last Test outing of his 70-game Wallabies career came against Italy in June.
Cheika said he wanted to see evidence of Cooper "enjoying his footy" before he would consider a recall for the mercurial back, who has struggled to inspire after returning to Queensland Reds.
But Cooper will get a chance to strut his stuff with Cheika in close quarters in Sydney on October 28.
Baa-baas coach Alan Jones tweeted: "I'm pleased to announce that @QuadeCooper will captain my Barbarians side against the @qantaswallabies."
"I really want to make it entertaining," Cooper told rugby coach turned radio host Jones on 2GB.
"I love the style of Barbarians and I'm looking forward to being out there.
"There's a lot of emphasis these days being put on defence and that in turn slows the whole game down. Having the focus on attack can break down defences but you can also make it entertaining.
"It's always fun to do, come up with new ways to be able to break down these defences."
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I like to see the Crusaders lose as much as the next non-Crusaders fan, but the fact that most of their best players have not been available this year is being hand waved away like it shouldn’t effect them. It’s no coincidence that their first dominant performance came when they had more of their best players back. This is not rocket science. If they can stay fit their team at the business end of the season will include Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Quentin Strange, Ethan Blackadder and Cullen Grace in the forwards - most of whom have barely, or not played this year. That is an outstanding pack that have not played together this season. McLeod, Havili, Aumua, Reece, and Halfpenny will be a very different prospect behind their first choice pack as well. Having said all that Penney’s record is scratchy at best, but given the players that have left and their injury list I’m reserving judgement. Penney’s appointment, a bit like Foz, has a similar stench of the incumbent having too much say in his replacement. They are lacking a truly high quality and experienced 10 which will make it hard for them to go the whole way IMO, but the list of teams who would want to play them in the finals will be very short.
Go to commentsWhere’s this people's champion come from? Irish people yes….other people? Their arrogance has become breathtaking. Not tested? Oh dear.
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