John McBeth: Quade Cooper To Hit Back?

Quade Cooper To Hit Back?

Report – By John McBeth.

All Black fans and media might get payback for their relentless attacks on the Wallaby first five Quade Cooper.

The mercurial New Zealand-born playmaker has been mercilessly abused and unfairly and unreasonably vilified throughout the Rugby World Cup.

Sure he did have a couple of altercations with one of our favourites, Richie McCaw, but even the most patriotic and myopic supporter must realise it's all gone much too far. Radio talkback hosts and callers have been unceasing in their bad-mouthing of this talented player. Television reporters have gleefully referred to Cooper's ordinary performance against South Africa. Newspaper stories have described him as 'the player New Zealanders love to hate' and worse.

It has been taken much too far. From what could have been a good natured campaign it has turned into something approaching nasty and nobody deserves that from a New Zealand public. Worse than that, we as a New Zealand sporting public have slumped to a woeful low.

Of course much of this has emerged because we are very worried about the impact Quade Cooper could have on the outcome of this weekend's semi-final. We know how good he is so let's get stuck into him!

So, if Quade Cooper is the high class athlete that many believe he is, then we should watch out on Sunday. Like anyone on the receiving end of such over-the-top abuse, he will be desperate to stick it to his attackers- the New Zealand public.

I don't think the Wallabies will win, but I won't mind at all if Cooper has a brilliant game.

© Scoop Media