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Video - Quade Cooper has last laugh in Thorn feud
By Online Editors
Melbourne playmaker Quade Cooper has enjoyed a victorious return with a leading role in the Rebels' dominant Super Rugby win over Queensland.
In his first Super Rugby match against the Reds since his acrimonious departure, Cooper set up two tries as the Rebels secured a 32-13 win at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
The win lifts Melbourne to the top of the Australian conference following the Waratahs shock loss to the Sunwolves on Friday.
Cooper made an instant impact against his old team by slotting a penalty after just two minutes.
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The Rebels dominated territory and possession in the game's opening half but the two teams traded penalties for a 6-all scoreline nearing the break.
With the halftime siren looming, a pinpoint cross-field kick by Cooper allowed Jack Maddocks to outjump Hamish Stewart and give the Rebels an 11-6 advantage.
After the break, the Rebels capitalised on an early Reds penalty to again hold the territory advantage with Anaru Ra ngi peeling off the back of a maul to score.
Another Reds error, this time a dropped ball led to a third try for the Rebels in the 47th minute.
Cooper pounced on the loose ball near the halfway line, twice soccering through before Maddocks won the race to extend the lead to 25-6.
The home team thought they'd got one back when Brandon Paenga-Amosa crashed over from close range but a TMO review after the try had been awarded detected a knock-on by Reds halfback Tate McDermott.
The Reds did eventually get a try when Taniela Tupou scored late in the game but the scoring wasn't done with Rebels substitute Rob Leota capping a 15-phase move to score in the final minute and secure a bonus point.
Fittingly Cooper ended the action with a conversion, giving him a personal points haul of 12 with two penalties and three conversions.
Melbourne host the Sunwolves next week while the Reds are at home against the Stormers.
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Latest Comments
We can all see this problem, eh? Love the clips showing how smart opposition coaches exploit it though. Thanks, Nick.
Borthwick has obviously earned the right to expect people to look elsewhere when the sort of personal problems likely at the heart of Jones' departure occur but it's hard to believe he's, if not entirely to blame, at least most of the problem.
England seem between choices in every aspect of their play to me right now
Go to commentsBM My rugby fanaticism journey began as a youngster waking up in the early hours of the morning with a cup of coffee to watch the Boks play the ABs on that 1981 rebel tour, where we lost the last game in the dying seconds to a penalty, and ended up losing the series 2-1. Danie Gerber, Naas Botha, Ray Mordt, and DuPlessis, to name a few; what a team! I believe we could've won another World Cup with those boys playing in their prime.
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