In every sport there is no doubt that the fans want to see that player who is a little different, who can show skill that most of us can only dream about. They are the players who thrill the crowd and have them on the edge of their seats. They are the same players the opposition fans curse but wish were playing for them. They are the players that we talk about long after they have hung up their boots.
Quade Cooper has the potential to be one of those players. He has undoubted gifts as a rugby player, but has sadly not yet learned when to play it safe and when to try that millionaire ball that if it comes off will be sublime, if it doesn’t could be extremely costly.
Then again is that not what these players are all about, backing themselves. Who can forget one of the true greats David Campese against the British and Irish Lions? He backed himself but cost the Wallabies the game and ultimately the series. Then there was the miss-out pass that Carlos Spencer tried in the semi-final of the 2003 World Cup that saw New Zealand fail again in their quest for the World Cup when it seemed it was almost within their grasp.
Cooper is copping a lot of the blame for Australia’s defeat against the Irish, but one man should not have to shoulder all of the blame, even thought his judgment at times was questionable to us mere mortals. The truth is Ireland played with greater intensity, their pack dominated and they played as a team, they deserved to win. It could however be a blessing in disguise as it may galvanize the Wallabies to pull together and continue their march to the final.
