Cooper’s absence gives Sharks a gap
17 Jul 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes the Reds will miss Quade Cooper’s attacking influence as well as his kicking game when they host the Sharks this Saturday.
Cooper has been suspended for one match following a dangerous tackle on Berrick Barnes, and not for the first time this season Ewen McKenzie will ask a utility player to fill the Reds’ flyhalf void.
A serious knee injury sustained at the 2011 World Cup sidelined Cooper for most of this year’s Super Rugby competition. As a result, the Reds haven’t been as much of a threat on attack, and haven’t been as effective at implementing their kicking game via that imposing Wallabies halfback pairing.
The Reds have looked a better side since Cooper’s return, and scored a bonus-point win over the Waratahs last Saturday to claim the Australian conference title. However, it is Cooper’s transgression and subsequent suspension that could prevent the Reds from advancing any further in this tournament, as they don’t have another player in the same class.
Former Wallabies centre Tim Horan said as much following Cooper’s dangerous tackle. Predictably, McKenzie has responded by pointing to the Reds’ earlier performances when Cooper was still on the sideline. McKenzie cited wins that were achieved without Cooper, and believes that the Reds will cope with the most recent setback and progress to the semi-finals.
McKenzie has also said that the Reds ‘owe the Sharks one’, referring to the Sharks’ win against the Reds in the league phase. It was in this match where the Reds’ flyhalf problem quickly became a nightmare, as further injuries to flyhalves resulted in Will Genia finishing the game at pivot.
Genia will miss having Cooper on his inside this Saturday. The Wallabies halfback pair was integral to the Reds’ success in the 2011 Super Rugby competition as well as the Wallabies’ Tri-Nations victory. Both are outstanding individual players, but that halfback combination is more than the sum of its parts.
Every opponent of the Reds has been on a ‘Get Genia’ campaign this season, and attempts to disrupt the Reds at source is no new tactic. The Sharks will surely aim to bully the Reds up front and deny Genia a platform from which to play, but they should also work to further negate his space.
The fact that Cooper is not on Genia’s outside means there should be more pressure on the scrumhalf to play the role of general, as well as provide the attacking impetus. It’s a lot of responsibility, and the Sharks would do well to use this pressure to their advantage.
The Sharks will be without three key players of their own, as Pat Lambie (ankle injury), Pieter-Steph du Toit (ankle injury) and Frans Steyn (ineligible) will not be available.
However, it is more significant that their heavy hitting Springboks should be back in the starting line-up. The inclusion of Willem Alberts and Bismarck du Plessis will aid the Sharks’ quest for gainline supremacy, as well as the aim to stifle Genia’s influence.
Steyn has made a massive impact since joining the Sharks, and the Durban-side will miss his physical influence as well as his prodigious boot. Coach John Plumtree has the option of moving Tim Whitehead to No 12 and bringing Paul Jordaan in at No 13, but a like-for-like replacement would be more prudent. Meyer Bosman is an imposing physical specimen and has the type of kicking game that is so often the difference in tight play-off matches.
It’s a big ask to travel across the world and win a play-off, and I’m not suggesting that the Sharks will have it easy in Brisbane. But there’s little doubt that the absence of Cooper will effect the Reds’ balance and increase the chances of a Sharks upset.
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827 Comments
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17 Jul 2012, 05:12 am
Would think Harris at 10 and Ben Tapuai back in the centres, hard to replace the burgaring DRAGON because of his uniqueness but not the end of the world for them.
Suncorp is a hard place to beat the Reds and the Sharks will have to play well…
17 Jul 2012, 05:18 am
burgaring = a person who steals burgers!
17 Jul 2012, 05:21 am
In other news…
Former All Black John Kirwan is the new head coach of the Blues, with incumbent Pat Lam being shown the door after four years in charge.
Kirwan returns to coach in New Zealand after stints with Japan (2007-2011) and Italy (2002-2005) and will take over the Blues in August. He has signed a two-year contract for the 2013 and 2014 Super Rugby seasons.
“This is an exciting time. I am honoured to be given the opportunity to lead the Blues next season in what I hope will be a new era of success and innovation,” Kirwan said.
“I’m also thrilled about coming back to New Zealand and home to Auckland after several years overseas. I am a proud Blues man and I started my rugby career in the region so I am really excited about connecting with fans and working with the Blues community. There is certainly some hard work ahead and I am looking forward to the challenge.”
17 Jul 2012, 05:23 am
Some more stuff, is keo the love-child of James Dalton? Shave the little hair he has and we have a mirro image..
17 Jul 2012, 05:34 am
mirro = very short mirror used by keo!
17 Jul 2012, 05:45 am
I think the soft Aussie underbelly is going to show its face again this weekend!!!
17 Jul 2012, 05:51 am
@christianels22(christianels22)-6:
Which one is that? The one of the 2011 Super champs or the one where we have only beaten them once in the last two years…
Love to give them stick but we don’t have much to give of late.
17 Jul 2012, 06:03 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-7: The same one where they try and run everything from everywhere and without Coopers pulling the strings and the Sharks pack, the Sharks have a chance. The difference is you need a bunch of backs that can take the odd opportunity when it comes
17 Jul 2012, 06:11 am
@christianels22(christianels22)-8:
You have to give the Reds respect on the basis they are defending champions, so they certainly know how to win these type of games, or you think they going to toss the ball willy nilly.
17 Jul 2012, 06:14 am
@christianels22(christianels22)-8: @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-9:
I recon Link is the cleverest coach in Super rugby, people forget the dire state the team was in before he took over. Bunch of no names who he turned not only into champions last year but also a bunch of Wobblies. We are way to quick to write them off.
17 Jul 2012, 06:16 am
Having said that, Sharks looking sharp at the right time and their pack may just be to strong…but it won’t be easy either way.
17 Jul 2012, 06:18 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-9: Im not writing them off, they are the defending champs and def showed last year they could mix it with the best of them. I just think with out cooper there, Genia will take on more responsibility which usually ends up with him kicking away too much of their ball. Here’s hoping!!
17 Jul 2012, 06:23 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-10:
Is that what the call him, “Link” as in Missing. I respect your opinion,and cannot argue with that statement”I recon Link is the cleverest coach in Super rugby”
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-11:
Sharks are a fine side and I think will acquit themselves very well, will it be enough to win it, have to wait and see I spose.
17 Jul 2012, 06:27 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-13:
Yip, like in Missing…maybe not to his face!
Your second statement is spot on, Reds must be favorites if nothing but home town advantage but not much in it.
17 Jul 2012, 06:33 am
@christianels22(christianels22)-12:
Yeah mate, Cooper not there means alot more pressure on Genia, you could be right.All the best for the Sharks
17 Jul 2012, 06:41 am
Anyone feel Sharks should start Alberts at lock?
leave the loose trio the same as last weekend
I know most prefer him at 7 but do you drop Daniels I doubt plus he is captain
17 Jul 2012, 06:49 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-16: I would be tempted, maybe start with him at 7 and sub one of the locks for Coetzee later on and move Alberts to lock then
17 Jul 2012, 06:52 am
@christianels22(christianels22)-17:
Wow yes hard to have Coetzee on bench too playing great rugby.
I just feel add him at lock give you that ball carrier from the start with the fast loose trio,
17 Jul 2012, 06:57 am
Plus with Alberts at lock he is somewhat a loose forward and lock, and having Coetzee and Bismark contesting tackle ball, it allows Daniels and Kanko ( a lesser extent) to chase Genia and disrupt his game totally, because you know he is going to do a lot himself with Cooper out.
17 Jul 2012, 07:00 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-19: We just need Freddy to have a good game
17 Jul 2012, 07:02 am
@christianels22(christianels22)-20:
Yeah he can blow hot and then cold
Key is to disrupt Genia take him out of his game, and reds will fade away in the sunset
17 Jul 2012, 07:13 am
This will be the tighter of the two contests IMHO because oddly enough it seems the Bulls aren’t the same team when playing in Chch (beaten 27 – 0 last year) and likewise the Crusaders have recently struggled in Pretoria.
17 Jul 2012, 07:45 am
Genia and Cooper were responsible for whipping the Crusaders last year, so this has given The Sharks a significant advantage. The inclusion of Alberts and Bismark is huge! As much as I like Craig Burden he was strangely found wanting against the Cheetahs. The influence of Francois Steyn is vital. He was influencial for the Boks in the RWC and his eventual injury basically saw our hopes go down the crapper…such is his influence. He will be sorely missed against the Reds.
17 Jul 2012, 08:01 am
Sharks have no advantage, we are without Lambie and Francie, Reds obviously have the advantage it being homeground and no long distance travel for them.
17 Jul 2012, 08:04 am
True championship teams don’t use the travel issue as an excuse.
17 Jul 2012, 08:07 am
It’s absolutely amazing to witness the level of sharks supporters arrogance on this forum.They have absolutely no respect for the Reds,even considering they haven’t won at Suncorp for over a decade now.Sharks supporters gonna pay for this arrogance come Saturday.
17 Jul 2012, 08:08 am
good luck sharkies
you can do it
so just do it
17 Jul 2012, 08:10 am
What’s with the barking fox terrier? Needs a swift kick out the house.
17 Jul 2012, 08:12 am
Reds took down the chieffs in their prime this year…without cooper! This was also done not just throwing the ball around…the plan was to take it up the middle on many occassions and send it wide.
The chiefs match was the first time where they got all their players back but one!
I think it will be close on paper i.e. close before the game but i think the sharks will need to put a big score on in the first 30 min otherwise it is not going to be pretty.
17 Jul 2012, 08:12 am
Jeepers !!!! Seems the Kings saga is not over after all. Meeting on 16 August where the unions will decide the Kings fate
17 Jul 2012, 08:13 am
Correct ARCSC.The Stormers showed playing away is no hindrance to them.
17 Jul 2012, 08:18 am
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-30:
no, it was over a long time ago.
the rest is just face saving.
17 Jul 2012, 08:19 am
The biggest problem for the Sharks is Turnstile Bosman at centre.. No use Bissy wins every ball at breakdown time for Bossie to screw it up.. Steyn will be a big loss come Saturday.
the other important thing to remember is that the Sharks have struggled away from home. Even against the lions…
17 Jul 2012, 08:24 am
As a reminder: The sharks have played all the lower ranked teams away from home: The Tahs, Brumbies, Canes and blues. of which they lost to the Tahs, the Canes and recently the Lions. So the away record seems a bit worrying. Who knows what will happen when they face a top six team away from home.
17 Jul 2012, 08:30 am
@Trehugger 30: its become a REAL soap. 16 August is so late and you can be guaranteed there will be another postponement
17 Jul 2012, 08:31 am
Lets rather talk about the Stormers. In fact, this headline should really read “Excellent Stormers season gives them a (weeks) gap!”
That’s better…..
17 Jul 2012, 08:34 am
@Provvas(Provvas)-33: I don’t think Bosman will play, Tim and Paul in the midfield most likely.
17 Jul 2012, 08:39 am
36@Stormersboy…..gap !…..bergie team
17 Jul 2012, 08:40 am
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-26: Jeepers you still going on with your Sharks hating? It was all confirmed yesterday that you lot were the worlds, most arrogant supporters with your “1880″ speeches. Is this Skaamkwaad?
17 Jul 2012, 08:40 am
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-38:
17 Jul 2012, 08:41 am
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-38: You managing to stay out of the “tjoekie”?
17 Jul 2012, 08:47 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-11: Yeah I reckon we got the easier play off game but it will still be a battle, the Reds may not be as strong as they were last year but they are well coached have a solid pack and some dangerous backs.
17 Jul 2012, 08:47 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-37: That is a serious untested combo and not one of them strikes fear in ht ehearts of any oppo…
Bosman will be picked for his boot I believe..
17 Jul 2012, 08:48 am
@Skeppie(Skeppie)-42: Reds have won something lime their last 7 games on the trott.
They will be no picnic.
In fact I suspect it will be them doing some feasting of their own.
17 Jul 2012, 08:48 am
As a Stormers fan it’s just nice to sit back,relax……and watch the also- rans smash the hell out of each other.
17 Jul 2012, 08:50 am
@Provvas(Provvas)-43: That was thier first choice combo for the games before Frans arrived, and it looked pretty solid then, so I’d be surprised if they change it. For me Bosman works well off the bench as he covers 10 too.
17 Jul 2012, 08:50 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-44: I don’t disagree we have our work cut out for us and they certainly go in as favourites. I am sure though as a Saffa you will be supporting the Sharks this weekend?
17 Jul 2012, 08:53 am
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-26:
“It’s absolutely amazing to witness the level of sharks supporters arrogance on this forum.They have absolutely no respect for the Reds,even considering they haven’t won at Suncorp for over a decade now.Sharks supporters gonna pay for this arrogance come Saturday.”
What nonsense is this you spew?
“…considering they haven’t won at Suncorp for over a decade now.”
The second last visit of the Sharks to Brisbane – 7 April 2007 – saw the Sharks score NINE tries to ONE in smashing the Reds 59-16.
As I said, your comment is sheer nonsense.
17 Jul 2012, 08:53 am
Stormerforlife please go check the stats again before making a fool of yourself… A decade??
17 Jul 2012, 08:54 am
@Provvas(Provvas)-43: hello Skyewalker multinic!
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