Friday, April 01, 2011
Quade Cooper's audacious stepping and crosskick

Quade Cooper has been up to his tricks again, with two sensational moments in particular standing out in the past two weeks After many requests, here they are.
Against the Rebels Cooper produced a similar hop, skip, and sidestep to the one he did to Cory Jane in the Tri Nations last year. On this occasion was two players he beat though, with ease.
That was two weeks ago, and in the last round of Super Rugby cooper pulled out a trick that has probably not been seen before in pro rugby- a 40m kick-pass from behind his own tryline.
While there was advantage to the Reds for a Cheetahs knock-on, Cooper has since said that he wasn't aware of it, and it just seemed natural to go for the kick, mostly based on the 29-3 scoreline at the time. The match ended 41-8 incidentally.
"I just looked up and they weren't putting too much pressure on me," Cooper explained. "Digby was out there, no one on him. If I could throw the ball that far, I'd have passed it to him but obviously I can't throw a pass 40m so I kicked the ball to him and he nearly turned it into a try.
"I just got the ball to him as quick as possible and he runs 50m and palms a few blokes off and we just drop the ball with the link pass. So we have to get better at finishing that sort of stuff. People say it's risky, but if you trust your players I don't see it as being risky."
If it had come off it would have been outstanding, and another rap for the gifted Wallaby playmaker. His Reds teamate Will Genia wouldn't have been to surprised. "He does what he does. Sometimes he's an absolute shocker, but you wouldn't ever try to curb him," said Genia.
Both moments of magic are posted below in a short playlist
Posted at 5:39 pm | 100 comments
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Viewing 100 comments
Laz April 01, 2011 4:42 pm

Alexander April 01, 2011 4:55 pm

Anonymous April 01, 2011 4:55 pm

nicmaheu April 01, 2011 5:06 pm

Von April 01, 2011 5:11 pm

The side-stepping is bonkers - if you watch the slow-motion replay he's bounding around like a demented kangaroo, (to paraphrase Mr McLaren).
Anonymous April 01, 2011 5:22 pm

I reckon Benji would run rings around him.
Anonymous April 01, 2011 5:38 pm

anyways....
Cooper has great skills!
Australias back line is immense!!
Cant wait for the world cup and thanks RD for posting this!!
Anonymous April 01, 2011 5:40 pm

Ben April 01, 2011 6:25 pm

Anonymous April 01, 2011 6:34 pm

Canadian Content April 01, 2011 7:41 pm

Doesn't matter love the vision and would like to see more players trying this stuff, great to watch!
Anonymous April 01, 2011 7:49 pm

he reminds me of one of my prime roosters in the spring not sure why
Anonymous April 01, 2011 8:48 pm

themull April 01, 2011 10:34 pm

great skill though from a great player, in both clips
coops April 02, 2011 2:39 am

de ville April 02, 2011 2:46 am

Anonymous April 02, 2011 4:31 am

(u-p)rick April 02, 2011 4:34 am

Fuck, I was wondering where my laptop went!!!!
Anonymous April 02, 2011 9:43 am

i am assuming a tad bit here, cause after all there is no offside line in the try area
amsi
Anonymous April 02, 2011 10:25 am

Anonymous April 02, 2011 11:37 am

NO.8's are awesome:D
David April 02, 2011 1:59 pm

:D
Anonymous April 02, 2011 2:51 pm

Canadian content April 02, 2011 4:16 pm

We've always been very proud of al charrons bas bas status here in Canada, signifying him as one of the games greats. Would love to see the same recognition for other players outside the top countries.
Anonymous April 02, 2011 9:21 pm

tony April 02, 2011 9:33 pm

And kick to your winger!!!!!!! LOL f**k!!! What a rarity in professional rugby, a CROSS FIELD KICK!!! sorry about the caps lock, it's for the slower members of the forum (kiwis and aussies). xoxo ;)
Anonymous April 03, 2011 9:03 am

Josh April 03, 2011 9:36 am

Greiffel April 03, 2011 9:40 am

Ian April 03, 2011 11:38 am

Anonymous April 03, 2011 1:04 pm

Anonymous April 03, 2011 1:43 pm

Juggernauter April 03, 2011 8:48 pm

Keep it going
Juggernauter April 03, 2011 8:54 pm

Anyway, Cooper is brilliant. We Unioners should be praying together to whatever-God-you-believe-in for him to stick to our sport, 'cause he's just pure class. A little bonkers, yes, but shher class.
Anonymous April 03, 2011 11:02 pm

Jono April 04, 2011 2:15 am

It's laughable, because there are only a tiny number of players who step like that in the pro game, and very few players have EVER done a crossfield kick to their winger WHILE BEHIND THEIR OWN TRYLINE.
Some people really don't know rugby.
Anonymous April 04, 2011 9:51 pm

Jono April 05, 2011 3:32 am

We've always been very proud of al charrons bas bas status here in Canada, signifying him as one of the games greats. Would love to see the same recognition for other players outside the top countries."
Interesting idea Canadian, but the problem with that is the same one that prevents most NH players from being bah bahs.
Basically it's outside the international window, so the NH clubs (who are in mid-season at that point) don't want to release their players, which is understandable.
So it ends up being all the SH players who are still in Europe at the end of their November tour.


















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