Bledisloe Cup: Quade Cooper guaranteed World Cup sport regardless of
IF you thought Quade Cooper was playing for a World Cup spot then think again.
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THE All Blacks have vowed to torment Quade Cooper at Eden Park once more but Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says the under-fire playmaker is not playing for his Test future on Saturday because he’s already a certainty for Australia’s World Cup squad.
Cooper will be the man under the magnifying glass in the Bledisloe Cup decider on Saturday, and the Auckland crowd will show little mercy on the player who famously bombed at the ground during the 2011 World Cup.
But Cheika said Cooper’s performance will not sway his decision on taking the 27-year-old to England next month.
“When he was selected I spoke to him and said ‘There’s nothing to prove here, this is not some type of test for you, this is about you doing your job for the team’,” Cheika said.
“Those guys I’ve always spoken to them about their role going into this series and the World Cup as well. I’ve been quite open about the fact they’re coming — him and [Bernard] Foley.
“Quade is enjoying the role of our No. 10 and the shape that we play and he’s getting more confidence in how that works because he hasn’t played a lot of footy this year. I just want him to enjoy his game.
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“Foley and him, our playmakers that have been rotating around, they’re centre stage, they’re important players. They’ve performed over the Super Rugby season or in years past and they fit into plans nicely.
“I don’t think this is the appropriate match to say ‘play good here and you’ll get in the World Cup’.”
But if Cooper struggles, the Australian rugby public will certainly wonder whether he should be going to the World Cup. Bookmakers pushed Australia’s odds out further after learning that Cooper was starting in this match.
And Cooper’s arch-nemesis, All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, declared his side will fiercely target the Wallabies playmaker.
“From our point of view we’ve got to put as much pressure on him as we can,” McCaw said.
“He’s the flyhalf for their team and we want to make it as tough a night for him as possible.
“That’s all I’m worried about, and if the crowd help out that’d be good.”
Originally published as Bledisloe Cup: Quade Cooper guaranteed World Cup sport regardless of
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