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SPORTS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013 Cooper’s credibility depends on frontline defense MELBOURNE: Don’t be surprised to see Springboks today? McKenzie won’t say. for many things on and off the pitch. The ing back a A$1.8 million ($1.64 million) recalled Australia flyhalf Quade Cooper “You’ll see on the night,” he told journalists timing of Cooper’s re-introduction is a deal to play in Europe so he could prove defending in the number 10 channel this week. Cooper has been equally tight- double-edged sword. He comes into a side himself again as a Wallaby. against South Africa in Saturday night’s lipped. “You can’t give all your secrets under immense pressure to win after three “Quade definitely wanted to prove a Rugby Championship match in Brisbane. away,” he said. “You have to keep some- straight losses. A fourth could well tip sup- few things in Australia. He knocked back a The New Zealand-born playmaker is run- thing for the game.” The mystery of where porters over the edge, leaving Cooper great offer in France,” Nasser told ning out of time - he either proves he can Cooper defends is a big talking point lead- once again exposed to his harshest critics. Brisbane’s Courier Mail newspaper. Nasser defend in the frontline at test level, or he ing into the match and even has the While a loss could kill off his career once went on to talk about how Cooper had settles for life as a very good Super Rugby Springboks stumped. and for all, it could also be his last chance become tougher because of his foray into player who for want of an effective front- They’re expecting James O’Connor to to bury the perception that he can’t tackle the fight game earlier this year. “Boxing on tackling technique never quite made it come off his wing to defend for Cooper. It’s to save his life. Against these psychological makes you look at yourself. You have to be at international level. an understandable line of thought given pressures stands Cooper’s record against real because it’s only you making the call It’s a career-defining moment for the selection of the Wallabies’ most potent the Springboks - 7-2 in nine tests, including on how hard you train and being honest Cooper - his first start as Wallabies flyhalf in attacking weapon Israel Folau at full-back. five wins from his last five. Unlike the All about your weaknesses,” Nasser said. almost a year. Some would say Cooper is McKenzie is unlikely to burden Folau with Blacks, Cooper can truly claim to have the “And you’ve got to have balls to stick lucky to even be in the side, his interna- any instruction other than ‘get the ball in Boks’ number. So in that sense, provided your head in any ring,” he said in closing. tional career only revived thanks to the your hands and run’. And, besides, Folau he can handle the pressure of a must-win It was a curious interview. Nasser only appointment of his mentor at the Reds, doesn’t need a job-sharing arrangement test match, the timing couldn’t be better. talks to journalists when it suits him to do Ewen McKenzie, to the coaching job. against a team likely to keep him busy so. The perception Cooper can’t tackle is There’s some truth in that. McKenzie has enough with high balls. CONTROVERSIAL AGENT bad for Nasser’s business, though, as it been an unabashed admirer of Cooper’s In fact, the only possibility that hasn’t Speaking of timing, it’s always worth lowers his client’s market value, whether attacking capabilities and, at the Reds at been explored in depth is the most obvi- noting when Cooper’s manager Khoder it be in Australia or France. It’s in Cooper’s least, has been prepared to overlook his ous one: Cooper actually defending his Nasser surfaces. The controversial player best financial interests to tackle in the turnstile tackling by allowing him to switch channel like every other international fly- agent, who also represents former All Black frontline. Perhaps that’s why Nasser has to fullback in defense. half. It ought to be the obvious solution. Sonny Bill Williams, rarely speaks in public surfaced, to send out a message to the Will McKenzie, as national coach, make But then again, we are talking about these days. Yet, Nasser was out there this marketplace: ‘My client can tackle. Wait that same concession against the Cooper, who has rarely been a clear-cut fit week pushing a story about Cooper knock- and see’. — Reuters All Blacks unconcerned Springboks, Aussies aim to end by the Argentina style differing droughts HAMILTON: All Blacks captain Richie BRISBANE: Springboks skipper Jean de Villiers readily McCaw said yesterday that New highlighted Australia’s strengths ahead of today’s Rugby Zealand would not let any foul play by Championship clash, ranging from South Africa’s winless Argentina put them off their Rugby record at the venue to the recall of Quade Cooper and Championship Test at Waikato Israel Folau’s switch to fullback for the Wallabies. He was Stadium today. The World Champions more hesitant to expand on South Africa’s advantages: the will draw level with France as the scrum and huge forward pack that can give them a glut of most successful Test playing nation to possession, the absence of Australia captain James Horwill through injury and the fact the Wallabies have lost four of date if they win this weekend and their last five tests. McCaw insisted they would not be The Springboks have lost all seven times they’ve played affected by any underhand tactics. Australia at Suncorp Stadium, but have the ideal chance to Argentina have acquired a reputation break the drought. “The challenge this time is a really big as an uncompromising side with loose one in that we don’t have a good record here,” de Villiers forward Leonardo Senatore currently said yesterday, “but that creates an opportunity where serving a nine-week ban for biting. hopefully we can make history.” South Africa are 2-0 after Last year, prop Juan Figallo was sus- two rounds after thrashing Argentina at home but then pended for three weeks for head- struggling at Mendoza before getting on top late in a grit- butting. ty 22-17 win over the Pumas. Although the All Blacks have pre- “It was a poor showing, but 12 months prior to that we ferred to describe the South drew that (corresponding) game - felt like a loss,” de Americans as “physical” rather than Villiers said. “So it shows we’ve progressed as a team. The “dirty”, McCaw said New Zealand game tomorrow, we need to take the negatives out of that would stick to their game plan. “You game and turn them into positives and get the right don’t take a backward step, but we’re result. “Despite the expected new dawn with Ewen here to play rugby and if we do that HAMILTON: Argentinean players attend their captains run at Waikato Stadium McKenzie as coach, Australia is 0-2 in the Rugby properly, not worrying about the in Hamilton yesterday. Argentina will play against the New Zealand’s All Championship after being outplayed twice by the All opposition doing those sort of things, Blacks today, as part of the Investec Rugby Championship. — AFP Blacks. then you’re probably on the front foot Cooper, overlooked early in 2013 by previous Australia expected to win every Test, whether to amass 1,400 Test points. from the start,” he said. “The boys def- coach Robbie Deans, is expected to make a difference you have never lost to them before or Argentina, who tightened up their initely won’t step down. It’s a physical with his unpredictability in his first test start at flyhalf in whether you have had one or two or defense after losing by 60 points to game and you’ve got to bar up and almost a year. Folau was moved from wing to fullback to three losses,” he said. the Springboks and reduced the there’s ways of imposing yourself better utilize his strong running game and aerial flair. “Once you’ve embraced that it’s deficit to just five a week later, have physically. There’s no place in the Sekope Kepu was elevated to start at tighthead, with actually quite a motivating factor. As a made four changes. Influential captain McKenzie relying on his adaption to the new scrum rules game for any stuff like that.” group of people, we want to win Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, who to shore up Australian rugby’s Achilles heel, while lock An All Blacks win in the third-round every game we play and we want to returns after missing the opening two Kane Douglas was drafted in late to replace the injured Rugby Championship match would play well.” The reigning World matches with a calf injury, said their Horwill. take them to 382 victories from 504 Champions, who are also defending aim is to push New Zealand as hard as “They’ve got players in there that want to prove a point matches. It took France 695 Tests to the Rugby Championship crown, have they can. “There is no other way and that makes them dangerous,” de Villiers said of the achieve 382 wins while third best assembled a battled-hardened side against the best other than push them Australians. “But we’ve also got a point to prove.” The England have 356 wins from 665 containing 663 caps with only centre to the fullest and try to make them downside for Australia of Cooper’s high-risk style is the matches.

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