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Quade Cooper sin binned in Wallabies vs Uruguay at Rugby World Cup

OH BOY, it just keeps happening. Quade Cooper was sent to the sin bin in a performance that has yet again divided rugby fans on whether he should be a Wallaby.

Tyson OttoTyson Otto
@tottodtsport
3 min read
September 27, 2015 - 11:27PM
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 18: Quade Cooper of the Wallabies runs the ball during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and the South Africa Springboks at Suncorp Stadium on July 18, 2015 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 18: Quade Cooper of the Wallabies runs the ball during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and the South Africa Springboks at Suncorp Stadium on July 18, 2015 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

WALLABIES great Greg Martin declared Quade Cooper “blew it” with his chances of forcing himself into Australia’s first strength team.

Cooper was sent to the sin bin again in the Wallabies’ 65-3 Rugby World Cup win over Uruguay at Villa Park.

Cooper was shown a yellow card in the 15th minute with Australia leading 12-0 after a review by the Third Match Official (TMO) ruled his tackle on Uruguay No. 9 Agustin Ormaechea was worth a 10 minute rest in the sin bin.

He started strongly by giving a snazzy flick pass to gift Joseph Tomane a try, but his performance appears destined to be remembered for his small brain snap in defence and some junk goalkicking in the second half.

Standing at the base of the breakdown, Cooper grabbed Ormaechea around the chest in an attempt to tackle.

The Queensland Reds playmaker’s hand wrapped around the Uruguayan’s shoulders as Cooper slung him into the turf.

After consulting with the TMO, the match referee did not hesitate to summon Cooper for a chat and issue him a yellow card.

It comes after Cooper was also shown a yellow card in the Wallabies’ Bledisloe Cup loss to the All Blacks.

Quade Cooper let his teammates down.
Quade Cooper let his teammates down.

Cooper’s tackle was described by some as “soft” while some fans believe the 27-year-old has shown he can’t be trusted when Australia comes up against the big teams in the tournament.

“I don’t think there’s too much too it,” Wallabies great Greg Martin said.

“It’s around the chest. That’s a legal tackle.

“I thought he was a bit harshly dealt with.

“That’s not what he or the Wallabies needed at all.”

Former Wallabies flyhalf Rod Kafer said Cooper’s tackle was at the very least a penalty.

He said the evidence suggests Cooper really needs to change his entire tackling technique.

“No. That’s a high tackle Marto. His hand is around the shoulder,” Kafer said.

“That’s a soft yellow card really.

Sean McMahon was the Wallabies best, but Quade Cooper stole the headlines.
Sean McMahon was the Wallabies best, but Quade Cooper stole the headlines.

“I think there’s a requirement now for Quade Cooper to think about his tackle technique. He does tackle high. He likes to go high at the ball. He’s not a leg tackler.”

While Cooper warmed the pine for a spell, the Wallabies conceded a penalty goal and did not score a point.

His return helped the Wallabies to 31-3 half time lead.

Cooper had a mixed second half, committing a number of errors, but he was also responsible for the game’s best highlight when he made a break and set-up a try with a 20m cut out ball to Kurtley Beale while in full flight.

Like the Fox Sports’ commentary team, fans were divided on whether Cooper should have been sent off.

Many believe Cooper was harshly dealt with.

Others pleaded with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika to never select Cooper again.

Even more concerning for the Wallabies was Cooper’s goalkicking.

With some commentators saying Cheika is still looking for his No. 2 kicker behind Bernard Foley, Cooper did himself no favours spraying the ball all over Villa Park, much like the Stadium’s English Premier League team has been doing recently.

He finished with just five successful shots at goal from 11 attempts.

The Wallabies’ 65-3 scoreline made Cooper’s goalkicking superfluous, but his form from the tee will have Aussie fans nervous if he gets thrown the ball against England or Wales.

Cooper still had the support of some fans after he played a part in a number of second-half tries.

He finished with one clean linebreak, 10 runs for 73m, six tackle breaks and three handling errors.

Martin said the performance would not even have been enough to win a spot on the Wallabies bench against England at Twickenham (next Sunday) on October 4 AEST.

He said Kurtley Beale, Matt Toomua and Nick Phipps should be the three backs chosen on the bench against England with Bernard Foley and Will Genia keeping their starting spots in the halves.

He kicks to the left. He kicks to the riiiiiight...
He kicks to the left. He kicks to the riiiiiight...

“I think Quade blew his chances of being on the bench with a pretty mixed performance,” he said.

“I know there were some good balls, but there were some mistakes in there.”

Cooper was spotted almost immediately after the game, practising penalty goals with Wallabies goalkicking coach Chris Malone.

Meanwhile, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said he was happy with the performance.

He said his team has attempted to downplay the hype of their clash with England.

“It hasn’t been easy, but we’ve done a pretty good job of shutting a lot of that out, until it becomes apparent that that game is next. It’s just a day to day process.”

Originally published as Quade Cooper sin binned in Wallabies vs Uruguay at Rugby World Cup

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/rugby/quade-cooper-sin-binned-in-wallabies-vs-uruguay-at-rugby-world-cup/news-story/10638a3fa4cb08e662b97c0ad3afbec2