Double Wallaby joy as Cooper cleared
Source: Agencies |
August 29, 2011, Monday
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THE continuing animosity between Australia flyhalf Quade Cooper and New Zealand captain Richie McCaw took the focus momentarily off the Wallabies' first Tri-Nations tournament win in a decade.
Both teams hope it provides a compelling story line right into the Rugby World Cup final.
On Saturday, Australia beat the All Blacks 25-20 in Brisbane, giving the home side a confidence boost ahead of the sport's showcase tournament and handing New Zealand its second loss in a row.
Yesterday, coach Robbie Deans and the rest of the Wallaby brains trust breathed a little easier after Cooper had a charge of striking thrown out by a SANZAR judiciary hearing. A suspension could have ruled Cooper ineligible for Australia's first World Cup match on September 11 against Italy and possibly against expected tough Pool C rival Ireland on September 17.
The No. 1-ranked All Blacks and No. 2 Wallabies, drawn in different World Cup pools and on opposite sides of the draw if they qualify for the quarterfinals and beyond, can only meet in the final at Auckland's Eden Park on October 23.
Cooper and McCaw first clashed in the Wallabies' 26-24 victory in Hong Kong last October when the flyhalf shoved the head of the All Blacks skipper after Australia's late winning try. Their most recent tussle on Saturday was either nothing or something, depending on who was speaking.
Cooper said after the match that he didn't recall his knee making contact with McCaw's head
"I can't remember ... but that's rugby, it's a contact sport," he said. "Bodies are colliding left, right and center, there's a lot of niggle going on."
McCaw also tried to be diplomatic: "I didn't see it but I felt it. I don't know if it was intentional or an accident. Someone else will decide that."
That someone else - judicial officer Jannie Lubbe - needed only 45 minutes yesterday to rule that Cooper should be cleared.
A clearly upset All Blacks coach Graham Henry said Cooper makes an art form out of cheap shots.
"I was disappointed," Henry said before Cooper was let off. "I thought it was outside the spirit of the game. It's happened before, it creates an irritation obviously."
Even Deans wasn't overly supportive of Cooper, admitting that the 23-year-old playmaker needs to set a better example.
"There's a next generation of kids watching that game and it's important that the way we play the game is something we're proud of and something that we leave behind that they want to follow," Deans told Australian Associated Press.
Both teams hope it provides a compelling story line right into the Rugby World Cup final.
On Saturday, Australia beat the All Blacks 25-20 in Brisbane, giving the home side a confidence boost ahead of the sport's showcase tournament and handing New Zealand its second loss in a row.
Yesterday, coach Robbie Deans and the rest of the Wallaby brains trust breathed a little easier after Cooper had a charge of striking thrown out by a SANZAR judiciary hearing. A suspension could have ruled Cooper ineligible for Australia's first World Cup match on September 11 against Italy and possibly against expected tough Pool C rival Ireland on September 17.
The No. 1-ranked All Blacks and No. 2 Wallabies, drawn in different World Cup pools and on opposite sides of the draw if they qualify for the quarterfinals and beyond, can only meet in the final at Auckland's Eden Park on October 23.
Cooper and McCaw first clashed in the Wallabies' 26-24 victory in Hong Kong last October when the flyhalf shoved the head of the All Blacks skipper after Australia's late winning try. Their most recent tussle on Saturday was either nothing or something, depending on who was speaking.
Cooper said after the match that he didn't recall his knee making contact with McCaw's head
"I can't remember ... but that's rugby, it's a contact sport," he said. "Bodies are colliding left, right and center, there's a lot of niggle going on."
McCaw also tried to be diplomatic: "I didn't see it but I felt it. I don't know if it was intentional or an accident. Someone else will decide that."
That someone else - judicial officer Jannie Lubbe - needed only 45 minutes yesterday to rule that Cooper should be cleared.
A clearly upset All Blacks coach Graham Henry said Cooper makes an art form out of cheap shots.
"I was disappointed," Henry said before Cooper was let off. "I thought it was outside the spirit of the game. It's happened before, it creates an irritation obviously."
Even Deans wasn't overly supportive of Cooper, admitting that the 23-year-old playmaker needs to set a better example.
"There's a next generation of kids watching that game and it's important that the way we play the game is something we're proud of and something that we leave behind that they want to follow," Deans told Australian Associated Press.
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