Feb 11 (Reuters) – Australia’s conservative tactics
may have contributed to their failure and his own disappointing
display at last year’s rugby World Cup, flyhalf Quade Cooper has
said.
Cooper whose enigmatic playmaking could turn a game either
way, was lacklustre during the World Cup in New Zealand as the
Wallabies adopted a conservative, territory based game.
The 23-year-old was heavily criticised for his performances
but the Queensland Reds flyhalf, who suffered a knee injury in
the third-place playoff that will keep him out of Super Rugby
until at least April, said his free-spirited approach may have
been stymied by coach Robbie Deans’ tactics.
“I went out there and played the football I was allowed to
play inside a game plan,” Cooper told Australian Associated
Press on Saturday.
“It might not have necessarily been the best game plan.
“There was half the games that we didn’t play very smart.
Whether that was on the back of my shoulders, who knows?”
The Wallabies were outmuscled by Ireland in pool play and
then New Zealand in the semi-finals before adopting a more
expansive approach in the playoff for third place, where they
beat Wales 21-18.
Deans had preferred to use his inside centre to run straight
and take the ball into contact in an attempt to get over the
gain line.
In the playoff, the New Zealander used the more creative
Berrick Barnes at inside centre to act as a second playmaker,
which contributed to the Wallabies’ victory Cooper said.
Continued…
