Wallabies squad for Lions tour

[Ken Gargett]

G Smith wouldn't be back in the squad if they didn't want him. Maybe a bit wary of all these "miraculous recoveries" a la Digby Ioane, players saying they've recovered weeks earlier than expected and turning out to be not quite match fit after all. And as 7 there's no let-up, you're in the trenches as we saw in the 1st test...

I still can't wait to see him take to the pitch though as none of the 7s from either team have his nous at the breakdown. 3rd test will do here's hoping it's not a dead rubber!

they have long said that deans and smith don't get on. it is inconceivable that a fit smith, and every indication is that he is fit, shouldn't be at least on the bench (though i'd be furious to see gill go). unless another reason - deans petty personal battles. if his incompetence doesn't cost him his job, they surely must.

[Jeremy Festa]

With SportsBet odds on Wobblies at 2.35, worth a few bucks. Then I can afford the Krug to celebrate Deans' resignation.

A mate of mine, who had even more faith than me, totally cleaned up on these odds last night. Got over excited, drank a little too much, went to the Treasury, and completely rinsed them. So much luck it's crazy!

I'm still calling Aussies for the series.

[frenchkiwi]

Surprise lions squad for third test

Lions: Leigh Halfpenny, Tommy Bowe, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North, Johnny Sexton, Mike Phillips; Alex Corbisiero, Richard Hibbard, Adam Jones, AW Jones ©, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Sean O'Brien, Toby Faletau. Reserves: Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Richie Gray, Justin Tipuric, Connor Murray, Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi

Roberts, O'Brien, Faletau and Vunipola & Tuilagi on the bench is Gatland saying loud and clear "we're going to run it".

[frenchkiwi]

am a little stunned at the Horwill re-investigation.

He must have been cited by a back

speaking of backs and their opinions, here's a quote to help muddy the waters! :

Larkham went out of his way to stress the “lucky” bit, for he was bewildered as any of the Lions when Horwill escaped a ban for his footwork on the Jones bonce – and then escaped it again. “I’m extremely surprised,” he commented in an interview with the BBC. “When it was referred back by the IRB, I thought the verdict would definitely be overturned. I’ve seen the incident and it was pretty bad, pretty obvious. And I didn’t think it was accidental. But Horwill is not normally a dirty player. Maybe his good record counted for something.”

[El Presidente]

speaking of backs and their opinions, here's a quote to help muddy the waters! :

Larkham went out of his way to stress the “lucky” bit, for he was bewildered as any of the Lions when Horwill escaped a ban for his footwork on the Jones bonce – and then escaped it again. “I’m extremely surprised,” he commented in an interview with the BBC. “When it was referred back by the IRB, I thought the verdict would definitely be overturned. I’ve seen the incident and it was pretty bad, pretty obvious. And I didn’t think it was accidental. But Horwill is not normally a dirty player. Maybe his good record counted for something.”

No disrespect to a Larkham but as a back I would lump his opinion on forward play alongside that of my 16 year old daughter.

[Ken Gargett]

speaking of backs and their opinions, here's a quote to help muddy the waters! :

Larkham went out of his way to stress the “lucky” bit, for he was bewildered as any of the Lions when Horwill escaped a ban for his footwork on the Jones bonce – and then escaped it again. “I’m extremely surprised,” he commented in an interview with the BBC. “When it was referred back by the IRB, I thought the verdict would definitely be overturned. I’ve seen the incident and it was pretty bad, pretty obvious. And I didn’t think it was accidental. But Horwill is not normally a dirty player. Maybe his good record counted for something.”

what seems bizarre to me is that we are told that the first QC spent four hours pouring over 9 different camera angles because the opinion of the horwill defence was that the one video that has been circulated was misleading when compared to the other 8 angles. and then the canadian, bless his little cotton socks, spent 13 hours doing likewise. perhaps if they showed us some of the other angles this would not be the mess it has become. for two IRB appointed officials to come to the same conclusion from those angles suggests that it was far from the horror crime many believe.

very surprised o'driscoll dumped. expected him to be captain. not a huge series so far and they wanted roberts back but stunned he has not even made the bench. what if they are in strife and an injury or two? would you not want an old experienced head like that, and a bloke who has been exceptional, over a long time coming on?

surprised jones captain. gatland passed him over several times for wales and now he pops up.

finally, whilst i firmly believe that we'd be a better team with cooper and that we'd have already won the series with him, and that o'beiber is a poor choice for 5/8, i do like sporting sides to go for continuity and to stick with players where possible - unless obvious better options. it has worked magnificently for the maroons in origin (and as for the uk journo, michael cleary, i think - is he really so stupid? scathing about an interviewer asking izzy re a comparison of this and origin, mocking him for the comparison. well, as much as we may wish otherwise, in australia, the origin decider is far bigger, far more important than this rugby game. you can say it is only nsw and qld but those are also the two rugby states. cleary is simply inept and fails to understand of what he writes).

the lions have swapped and changed their team across the three games far too much - sure some is injuries but a lot is not. gatland will have a lot to answer for if the lions don't get up. i'm certainly no fan of our coach, the rugby vandal, but the lions have been ill-served as well.

[Ken Gargett]

just read, and so much for wallaby continuity, that ben mccalman (who'll ever forget the disaster of him at open side for the irish game in the world cup) has made the 23. not said who he'll replace.

that moronic idiot deans apparently believes he is a better backrower than smith. assuming mowen is a must to start from his performances, and ditto hooper, though i'd have no issue at all with gill starting as i think he does a better job in the tight and for turnovers and fewer missed tackles and less penalties conceded, is mccalman replacing gill (heard nothing re injuries so assuming all fit)? deans should be strung up if he does that. or palu? that is far more reasonable.

i wonder if he is planning on gill at 7, mowen at 8 and hooper 6 with mccalman on the bench able to cover 6/8 and if either gill or hooper injured, then the other can cover with mccalman at 6? it would be the first vaguely clever thing our rugby vandal will have done in 6 years.

[El Presidente]

Coaches are much maligned.

Deans has numerous problems. Our weakest links are also our key play makers (beale/O'beiber).

Gatland loses his Captain (and my man of the match by a country mile). The lions have scored 2 tries in 160 minutes +. he has to make changes.

The best back from both sides (again....by a country mile) has been Genia (wingers don't count as footballers really). The next two are North and Folau.

A lot of confidence came in to the Wallabies last Saturday night. Disparaged, written off (by me as well), but there is a real spirit if not great execution.

Should they get their game together they could win this last game by 12. ........and to Rob Fox....I won't go double or nothing !LOL!

[Ken Gargett]

coaches are oftem maligned for good reason!

genia has been superb. player of the series so far with warburton brilliant last week. will be missed.

for me, the series has shown how much talent there is in wallaby ranks - and that we have got this far in spite of, not because of, deans.

with white or mckenzie in charge for the world cup in two years, we could be a show. as long as the burger joints shut down early.

[Ken Gargett]

just got this from a mate.

I understand that the ARU has today approved a new local law 16.3(fa), below:-

16.3 Rucking

(a)

Players in a ruck must endeavour to stay on their feet.

Sanction: Penalty kick

(

A player must not intentionally fall or kneel in a ruck. This is dangerous play.

Sanction: Penalty kick

©

A player must not intentionally collapse a ruck. This is dangerous play.

Sanction: Penalty kick

(d)

A player must not jump on top of a ruck.

Sanction: Penalty kick

(e)

Players must have their heads and shoulders no lower than their hips.

Sanction: Free Kick

(f)

Subject to law (fa), a player rucking for the ball must not intentionally ruck players on the ground. A player rucking for the ball must try to step over players on the ground and must not intentionally step on them. A player rucking must do so near the ball.

(fa)

In test matches in the State of New South Wales, played in months beginning with the letter “J”, players whose initials are or include (in this order only) “JH”, and who are captains of the home team, may use sharpened sprigs (on one boot only) and brass knuckle dusters (on one fist only) to persuade opposing players that they are in the way and/or to move out of their then current position; provided always, in the spirit of the game, that while such sprigs and knuckle dusters may be used successively in one ruck, they must not be used simultaneously.

In typical cry-baby fashion, the Poms are screaming “no fair”.

[mazolaman]

very surprised o'driscoll dumped. expected him to be captain. not a huge series so far and they wanted roberts back but stunned he has not even made the bench. what if they are in strife and an injury or two? would you not want an old experienced head like that, and a bloke who has been exceptional, over a long time coming on?

surprised jones captain. gatland passed him over several times for wales and now he pops up.

finally, whilst i firmly believe that we'd be a better team with cooper and that we'd have already won the series with him, and that o'beiber is a poor choice for 5/8, i do like sporting sides to go for continuity and to stick with players where possible - unless obvious better options. it has worked magnificently for the maroons in origin (and as for the uk journo, michael cleary, i think - is he really so stupid? scathing about an interviewer asking izzy re a comparison of this and origin, mocking him for the comparison. well, as much as we may wish otherwise, in australia, the origin decider is far bigger, far more important than this rugby game. you can say it is only nsw and qld but those are also the two rugby states. cleary is simply inept and fails to understand of what he writes).

the lions have swapped and changed their team across the three games far too much - sure some is injuries but a lot is not. gatland will have a lot to answer for if the lions don't get up. i'm certainly no fan of our coach, the rugby vandal, but the lions have been ill-served as well.

Still havent seen the second game.

I thought O'Driscoll had been playing well, while not being highly visible, but using his brain...

Gatland could have won this series by now, had he a bit more nouse. He picked his favourite Welsh boy as captain, who may have played brilliantly last week, but was still injured....came back too early,and is now out. I don't think there is a better captain in Britain and Ireland than Chris Robshaw...who is at home...a travesty. Maybe Shane Williams could play? Or maybe he could call up Gareth Edwards? Rubbish.

While it is normal that the Lions coach picks his own favourites, there are too many Wales players here, not on merit.

Turpuric is dropped, Mike Phillips takes too long to pass, and I still havent seen Lydiate do too much.

Roberts will be a great addition, if fit.

just got this from a mate.

I understand that the ARU has today approved a new local law 16.3(fa), below:-

16.3 Rucking

(a)

Players in a ruck must endeavour to stay on their feet.

Sanction: Penalty kick

(

A player must not intentionally fall or kneel in a ruck. This is dangerous play.

Sanction: Penalty kick

©

A player must not intentionally collapse a ruck. This is dangerous play.

Sanction: Penalty kick

(d)

A player must not jump on top of a ruck.

Sanction: Penalty kick

(e)

Players must have their heads and shoulders no lower than their hips.

Sanction: Free Kick

(f)

Subject to law (fa), a player rucking for the ball must not intentionally ruck players on the ground. A player rucking for the ball must try to step over players on the ground and must not intentionally step on them. A player rucking must do so near the ball.

(fa)

In test matches in the State of New South Wales, played in months beginning with the letter “J”, players whose initials are or include (in this order only) “JH”, and who are captains of the home team, may use sharpened sprigs (on one boot only) and brass knuckle dusters (on one fist only) to persuade opposing players that they are in the way and/or to move out of their then current position; provided always, in the spirit of the game, that while such sprigs and knuckle dusters may be used successively in one ruck, they must not be used simultaneously.

In typical cry-baby fashion, the Poms are screaming “no fair”.

Kenny, darling, so pleased you finally found the shift button, for your Big Letters!

British and Irish Lions: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Jamie Roberts (Wales), George North (Wales), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), Mike Phillips (Wales); Alex Corbisiero (England), Richard Hibbard (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Alun Wyn Jones (captain, Wales), Geoff Parling (England), Dan Lydiate (Wales), Sean O'Brien (Ireland), Toby Faletau (Wales)

I'd say we'll boss the scrum again, and am pleased that Parling will call the line out, which I hope will get back on track.

Pleased we will have players capable of breaking the line...will Tuilagi get a game...maybe when Roberts inevitably comes off injured.

Would be a better team with both Youngs in, rather than Hibbert and Phillips.

But the choice of captain seems to say that it is a "back of a *** packet" team.

[Ken Gargett]

Kenny, darling, so pleased you finally found the shift button, for your Big Letters!

don't be ridiculous! cut and paste - came from a friend.

interesting comment re bossing the scrum. you might not think so when you watch the 2nd game. it was the first time in years i felt we had a seriously impressive scrum (a few lapses). kudos to andrew blades. great job. but an aussie scrum dominating one from the northern hemisphere? just doesn't feel right. and i think the changes to yours will improve it considerably. be happy if we can hold our own.

[Smokin_Safari]

I was also reviewing IRB’s latest updates & saw this;

10.4 Dangerous play and misconduct

(k) Dangerous play in a scrum, ruck or maul.

Players must not be seen to move any body part near (within 1 metre of, per definition) another player’s body part. If accidental contact is made, the offending player must admit pursuant to 10.4 (m).

Sanction: Penalty kick

(m) Acts contrary to good sportsmanship.

A player, must not, while the ball is out of play, commit any misconduct, or obstruct or in any way interfere with an opponent. This includes ruffling hair, giving dirty looks, blowing kisses, turning away from the referee and wearing gold jerseys.

[Ken Gargett]

this also from a mate. he shares my view of the rugby vandal.

The tip is that he’s done it – Gill is gone. See http://www.stuff.co....t-against-Lions

The following tables are available to me, so I guess Robbie Dingo has access to them. In none of them does the 32 year old George Smith, or Ben Macalman come near Liam Gill. In fact, Smith features only in one (Most Pilfers) and Macalman in none. Indeed, of the 20 tables kept by the Super Rugby stats gnomes, Most Pilfers is the only table in which either Smith or Macalman features. Neither of them is noted for Runs, Run Metres, Lineout wins, offloads, tackles, tries, or try assists.

I suppose we mortals must be content with the evidence of one’s eyes and ears. Deans perceives reality differently. I hope, however, he can discern the sentiment behind, “**** off Kiwi!”

Super Rugby: Most Pilfers

1. Liam Gill (Reds)

9

2. Rene Ranger (Blues)

8

2. Sam Cane (Chiefs)

8

4. Chris Alcock (Force)

7

4. George Smith (Brumbies)

7

6. Luke Braid (Blues)

6

6. Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs)

6

8. Deon Fourie (Stormers)

5

8. Jack Lam (Hurricanes)

5

8. John Hardie (Highlanders)

5

8. Michael Hooper (Waratahs)

5

8. Pieter Labuschagne (Cheetahs)

5

8. Scott Higginbotham (Rebels)

5

14. Alby Mathewson (Force)

4

14. Bryan Habana (Stormers)

4

14. Colby Faingaa (Brumbies)

4

14. Deon Stegmann (Bulls)

4

14. Jacques Botes (Sharks)

4

14. Nick Phipps (Rebels)

4

14. Sam Whitelock (Crusaders)

4

Most Tackles Made

1. Pieter Labuschagne (Cheetahs)

247

2. Wimpie van der Walt (Kings)

232

3. Matt Todd (Crusaders)

201

4. Phillip van der Walt (Cheetahs)

199

5. Heinrich Brussow (Cheetahs)

192

6. Scott Fuglistaller (Rebels)

189

7. Ed Quirk (Reds)

188

7. Michael Hooper (Waratahs)

188

9. Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs)

185

10. Luke Braid (Blues)

178

11. Cornell du Preez (Kings)

177

12. Siyamthanda Kolisi (Stormers)

176

13. Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)

169

13. John Hardie (Highlanders)

169

13. Matthew Hodgson (Force)

169

13. Sam Cane (Chiefs)

169

17. Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)

161

18. Francois Uys (Cheetahs)

160

19. Andries Strauss (Kings)

159

20. Liam Gill (Reds)

155

Most Pick And Drives

1. Matthew Hodgson (Force)

30

2. Kyle Cooper (Sharks)

29

3. Deon Fourie (Stormers)

27

4. Andrew Hore (Highlanders)

23

5. Corey Flynn (Crusaders)

21

5. Hugh McMeniman (Force)

21

5. Luke Jones (Rebels)

21

8. Liam Gill (Reds)

20

9. Laurie Weeks (Rebels)

19

9. Pekahou Cowan (Force)

19

9. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Sharks)

19

12. Luke Braid (Blues)

18

12. Ma'afu Fia (Highlanders)

18

12. Rob Simmons (Reds)

18

15. Chris Alcock (Force)

17

15. Ged Robinson (Rebels)

17

15. Saia Faingaa (Reds)

17

15. Sam Carter (Brumbies)

17

19. Culum Retallick (Blues)

16

19. Liam Messam (Chiefs)

16

and for what it is worth, my response to him -

you forget that gill was rested by mckenzie for at least one game so he has done this on a game less than a number of those players.

i think hooper is a fine player but he likes the flashy stuff, the speccy 20 metre dash etc. he does feature in the linebreak stats but is that why you pick an openside flanker? i suppose it might be why deans does.

gill does all the hard work. he is also more effective in lineouts, as we saw with his ‘plank-like’ steal at the death last week, as he is light and can be lifted. and hooper’s missed tackles are a concern. as are his turnovers. these from your secret site. is it not a concern that your open flanker is fifth in the comp for missed tackles and 6th for penalties conceded?

yet that disaster of defence, quade cooper, doesn’t even make this list?

toxic is the nicest possible way to describe that rugby vandal.

as much as i want the wallabies to win, the seriously massive silver lining is that surely that will be the end of deans. i saw a report suggesting the rebels might be keen to pick up deans if he goes from the wallabies. so that means that there is at least one person dumber than the idiots at the aru.

just imagine a serious traffic accident between deans and krudd. be enough to make me think about going to church.

the sooner the brainless grub crawls back to nz the better.

best

kbg

Most Missed Tackles

1. Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs) 36

2. Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs) 34

3. Chris Noakes (Blues) 33

3. Mitch Inman (Rebels) 33

5. Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes) 30

5. Michael Hooper (Waratahs) 30

7. Brad Shields (Hurricanes) 27

7. Tom Marshall (Crusaders) 27

9. Lodewyk de Jager (Cheetahs) 26

9. Schalk Ferreira (Kings) 26

11. Ali Williams (Blues) 25

11. Anthony Faingaa (Reds) 25

11. Demetri Catrakilis (Kings) 25

11. Johann Sadie (Cheetahs) 25

11. Matthew Hodgson (Force) 25

11. Ronnie Cooke (Kings) 25

11. Rory Sidey (Rebels) 25

18. Jacques Engelbrecht (Kings) 24

18. Pierre Spies (Bulls) 24

20. Willie le Roux (Cheetahs) 23

Most Penalties Conceded

1. Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders) 27

2. Ali Williams (Blues) 23

2. Greg Holmes (Reds) 23

4. Ben Mowen (Brumbies) 21

4. Steven Kitshoff (Stormers) 21

6. Angus Ta'avao (Blues) 20

6. Ben Franks (Hurricanes) 20

6. Matthew Hodgson (Force) 20

6. Michael Hooper (Waratahs) 20

6. Schalk Ferreira (Kings) 20

11. Ben Alexander (Brumbies) 18

12. Coenrad Oosthuizen (Cheetahs) 17

13. Scott Higginbotham (Rebels) 16

14. Laurie Weeks (Rebels) 15

15. Ben Tameifuna (Chiefs) 14

15. Pieter Labuschagne (Cheetahs) 14

15. Sam Carter (Brumbies) 14

15. Scott Fuglistaller (Rebels) 14

19. Deon Stegmann (Bulls) 12

19. Liam Messam (Chiefs) 12

[El Presidente]

What a tragedy to see Liam Gill dropped.

Drop our future for our past. The Wallabies wouldn't even be in the position to win this Lions series if it wasn't the miraculous lineout jump and catch by Gill that no human had a right to control.

So Smith gets one more test. Hasn't played for a month and will go back to japan post.

Gill is in the squad from day one, plays his guts out, will likely be a 10 year Wallaby and potential Captain. Yet that piece of excrement Deans robs him of possibly a once in a lifetime chance.

There is a lot of hate for Deans.

[Danston]

So you guys aren't big fans of deans?

[Ken Gargett]

So you guys aren't big fans of deans?

toxic was the kindest thing one could say about this joke of an incompetent, daft, self-centred joke.

[westg]

So you guys aren't big fans of deans?

The man has an IQ and the personality of a plant.

[mazolaman]

What a tragedy to see Liam Gill dropped.

Drop our future for our past. The Wallabies wouldn't even be in the position to win this Lions series if it wasn't the miraculous lineout jump and catch by Gill that no human had a right to control.

So Smith gets one more test. Hasn't played for a month and will go back to japan post.

Gill is in the squad from day one, plays his guts out, will likely be a 10 year Wallaby and potential Captain. Yet that piece of excrement Deans robs him of possibly a once in a lifetime chance.

There is a lot of hate for Deans.

There is a similar mood brewing for Gatland, for dropping O'Driscoll, for different reasons. He should be captain. But he picks a Welsh bloke that isn't really up to it.

He is not playing, or picking to the spirit of the Lions.

We are without a talisman for the final test, and have a team with little flair.

[michaelhealy]

Gill being dropped is a joke. His10 minute cameo last saturday night was brilliant.

[frenchkiwi]

Rob is right about coaching being a biatch... whatever you do you get blamed.

Gill was the second preference behind Hooper. Smith comes in as per everybody's wish except for the Lions (and Rob?) - so goodbye Gilly. If he hadn't been injured, Smith would have been first choice 7 from the first test. Fair enough.

Gatland handed BOD his first test back in '99. He's waited until 2013 to dump him. BOD has been solid but unspectacular and the Lions need line breaks. Unfortunate for BOD, but he hasn't been making his own line breaks for some time now (unlike, say, Tuilagi). A bold strategic call - if he loses Gatland knows that all of Ireland will be after him. He said he's picking a team before he picks a captain, makes sense.

Same with O'Brien and Faletau coming on - at least it's a coherent strategy - all guys who can run the ball. Youngs had no impact in that test and Philips who is a proven big-game player has recovered from injury (which he was apparently carrying in the first test, good news, cos he certainly looked lame!).

[mazolaman]

Agreed, all careers must end.

Cuthberts try in the first test was created by O'Driscoll drawing his man, and creating the space...it is that kind of brain that will be missing from the next side. He may not burst through, but there are others who can do that (Tuilagi, Roberts).

Having Whyn Jones as cap, and losing O'Driscoll and O'Connoll means will have no natural leader in the side.

Someone like Robshaw would do. Still can't believe he isn't even there.

Gatland is trying to make his players fit his system, rather than see what he's got, and finding the best fit. This may or may not be the best aproach..time will tell. I think both coaches are doing this in fact.

Gatlands Welsh bias is also against the spirit of the Lions.

[frenchkiwi]

Agreed, all careers must end.

Cuthberts try in the first test was created by O'Driscoll drawing his man, and creating the space...it is that kind of brain that will be missing from the next side. He may not burst through, but there are others who can do that (Tuilagi, Roberts).

Having Whyn Jones as cap, and losing O'Driscoll and O'Connoll means will have no natural leader in the side.

Someone like Robshaw would do. Still can't believe he isn't even there.

Gatland is trying to make his players fit his system, rather than see what he's got, and finding the best fit. This may or may not be the best aproach..time will tell. I think both coaches are doing this in fact.

Gatlands Welsh bias is also against the spirit of the Lions.

The BOD thing is clearly tactical, because despite terrible form in the lead-up to the tour, BOD has looked ok on the field. BOD and Davies looked poor side by side as neither of them is a 12. With Roberts at 12 things will be looking up for the man outside him.

I think the Lions just need to put the best team on the park and win... that's the coach's job anyway... the tabloids worrying about "how many players from each country" happens every tour and is a silly distraction (elsewise the scots could claim injustice on every recent tour)

[Ken Gargett]

[Ken Gargett]

cooper on cooper.

interesting that he does not regret his comments, if that is what he really meant to say.

tragedy he is not there tomorrow.

Finding that point of difference

Tom Hamilton

July 3, 2013

In full flight

© Getty Images

There are rare moments in sport when in the stands any sense of partiality goes out of the window. Something unique happens on the field which makes the crowd sit up and applaud regardless of team or nation. They are caught in the moment, it is an involuntary occurrence.

It was about 55 minutes into the Reds' game against the Cheetahs in 2011 when an example of this occurred.Quade Cooper took the ball inside his in-goal area, after a Cheetahs' knock on, and instead of looking for touch or perhaps running it from deep, he looked up and saw Digby Ioane free on the other flank. An immaculate cross-kick found Ioane's hands and off the winger sped.

"No one knows what Quade Cooper thinks. What brazen confidence and arrogance to do that behind your own tryline," the commentator said. Cooper never takes the easy option.

At just past 10pm on Saturday evening, Melbourne was basking in the glory of the Wallabies' second Test win over the British & Irish Lions. 545 miles away in Sydney, Cooper was sat in Sonny Bill Williams' house watching the match. While quick to add his support for the team, Cooper admitted seeing his friends and colleagues run out in Australia's biggest match since the 2003 World Cup final was akin to "watching your girlfriend go off on a date with someone else".

The Reds fly-half divides opinion the world over. His half a million Twitter followers either praise him, or chastise him. Going on the inches of newspaper column Cooper has taken up over the past two years, it is difficult to remember he is just 25.

I'm in this game to win, it's the same drive I had a kid. If you're afraid to fail, then you put yourself in the position where you can't be the best

Growing up, Cooper wanted to be Superman. "Then I figured I couldn't fly, I didn't have superhuman strength and couldn't shoot lasers out of my eyes, so I gave up on that quickly," Cooper told ESPN. "When I was able to pick up a rugby ball and started recognising the rugby superstars, my first childhood heroes were Christian Cullen, Carlos Spencer and Jonah Lomu.

"I looked at all three of them and thought who would I be most like and it wasn't going to be Jonah and Christian had lightning speed. So it was Carlos Spencer, I used to have a big poster of him on my wall. I loved the way he played it, every time he ran out it looked like he was having a good time."

While he now has 38 caps for the Wallabies, Cooper could have worn the black of New Zealand had fate dealt him a different hand. Despite being born in Tokoroa, he moved to Australia when he was 13. His decision to pull on the green and gold of the Wallabies was one of the major subplots of the 2011 World Cup. Any time the ball came near him, he was greeted with a cacophony of boos despite his grandmother's assertion: "He is not a whakahihi boy".

It was unbecoming of a rugby crowd, let alone one with as proud a heritage as the All Blacks. It got to Cooper. But it is something he has since channelled.

The man of steel

© Quade Cooper

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"Whenever I look back at it now, there was an opportunity for a young kid to learn a lot from that, I've come a long way. For the future, it was beneficial for me. Being amongst the hype, the pressure and how the fans of both sides of the fence reacted to the way we were and to me personally as a player."

Injury ended the bronze medal playoff prematurely for Cooper, for him the layoff was a "blessing in disguise". "After all I had been through mentally, it was my body telling me I needed a break."

But even greater scrutiny was to come. In the aftermath of Australia's 23-19 win over Argentina in the Rugby Championship, Robbie Deans admitted he was close to dragging the fly-half from the field after he was charged down for Tomas Leonardi's try. There was no recognition for his part in Pat McCabe's score.

It was the straw that broke the camel's back. Cooper took aim at the Australian Rugby Union. He labelled the environment in the camp "toxic". A record fine followed and he is yet to play for Deans or the Wallabies again.

"I am passionate about the game and about winning. Ever since I was a young kid, I hate losing. When I said those things, I never regret things. I feel it has helped me improve as a player and a team member. I don't regret it, but you learn from those sorts of things and how you approach things and get your point across. It is what it is and I have learnt a lot from it. I just want to be the best I can and improve as a player for the team I'm a member of."

But while the Wallabies used the stick rather than the carrot to defuse the situation, the Reds took him further under their wing. It became apparent from my visit to his old school Churchie in Brisbane, he prospers when an arm is put round him. The Reds have understood this with Ewen McKenzie at the forefront of this approach.

And although the Wallabies are not on the radar at the moment he is still enjoying running out for the Reds, though questions about his Test future are still asked at every opportunity. "It's part and parcel when you're not involved so I don't have much to say about it."

But while his Australia ambitions are at a standstill, what became apparent when talking to Cooper is his inbuilt drive to succeed in everything he does. He has been strongly linked with rugby league and while he admitted he did get "itchy feet" watching the State of Origin the other night, a cross-code switch is not on his immediate agenda.

He may play the odd informal game of the 13-man format of the game alongside "older brother" Sonny Bill, but it is behind closed doors. When he took to the boxing ring against Barry Dunnett, it was very much in the public eye.

Standing triumphant after a win in the ring

© Getty Images

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"I love boxing. I've been training nearly every day for the past few weeks. I've been sparring most days. When someone picks up a tennis racket they say 'I love the sport' and they are drawn to it, that's what boxing was like for me. When I put the gloves on, it was immediate. When you put the gloves on you want more and more."

Striving to be the best, it is his credo. Despite all the media attention, criticism and attempted amateur psychology, Cooper still loves union. He spoke of his passion for the 15-man format of the game on a frequent basis throughout our talk.

"I love the game, I play the game because I love it and it's a bonus we get paid. If you think back to the days when you played rugby in the backyard, you did it because you love it; the chip kicks and the passes. And just because you play in front of 52,000 people, that shouldn't change it. I train to do those things and I try and add something to the game. Everyone has to try and find their point of difference these days."

One thing Cooper has achieved, without doubt in his career, both on and off the field is find a "point of difference". The Wallabies may yet go on and win the series against the Lions and only he will know what he feels if James Horwill ends up clasping the Tom Richards Cup on Saturday night in Sydney.

It will be something he reflects on in later life when his rugby career comes to an end. And it is that thought of what people will think of his time in the sport which forever plays on his mind.

"I always ask myself this question, over and over. Whenever I'm sitting in the lounge, driving my car, this question pops into my head. There's lots of things I'd like to achieve but for me the thing people don't necessarily see is how hard I work for the game and how hard I try and be the best player I can be.

"Whether people say that at the end of my career? Who knows. But I will continue working and try and be the best player. I'm in this game to win, it's the same drive I had a kid. If you're afraid to fail, then you put yourself in the position where you can't be the best. I'm going to continue to work hard and that's my goal."

© Getty Images