Cooper’s absence gives Sharks a gap

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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  • 401.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:20 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-391: Divvie was just as whacked out on religion. Oom Angus the works – front row seats….

    Which is why, if you go back and read my little synopsis from the 1st post – you will see I have no time for our national psyche full stop – which happens to include an irrational dependence on religion, to the detriment of certain other things :)

  • 402.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:20 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-397:
    Well good for you.
    Thought some others may not have seen him and provided the link.
    If you had seen it and know him, dont really need to comment do you?

  • 403.TooMuchRugby: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:22 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-391: Oh I see, you actually think all boneheads are inferior to you, so one dare not act superior to the other.
    That explains a lot of your psyche.

  • 404.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:22 pm

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-375:

    Yes but how quickly can he shear a Merino?

  • 405.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:23 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-394: is this about skop saying he was banging swiss or scottish women back in the cut?

  • 406.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:23 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-404:
    Quicker than you probably.

  • 407.ufo: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:23 pm

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-398:

    makes sonny bill look like dowdy jill…

    :wink:

  • 408.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:23 pm

    @fitz1ella(fitz1ella)-400: Pardon the fairly obvious question, skoppie, but what the fck does the amount of kids one has have to do with anything at all? What does your 5 mean against my 2? Are we both better that someone who has none? For once, say something clearly, with no waffle and ambiguity. What exactly do you mean?

  • 409.TooMuchRugby: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:24 pm

    @Skeppie(Skeppie)-381: @ufo(ufo)-392:
    I’ll take your word for it. You obviously know him better.

  • 410.Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:25 pm

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-408:

    It’s a cultural thing…like how many cows he has compared to you.

  • 411.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:25 pm

    @TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-403:

    Not at all.

    Where do you get that?

    Pay attention now.

  • 412.stormerforlife1: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:25 pm

    Pretoria lost one of it’s boneheads and now we stuck with Gunther in the fairest Cape.Eish!

  • 413.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:26 pm

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-388: I’m going to take another look :) You Kiwis and Aussies are fortunate to have League in your veins as well as union. I’m certain it gives you fellows a huge advantage in the skills stakes. (From an early age)
    I have been whinging for years, that 1st my Stormers, and then the Boks get hold of a League man as a backline coach – or even as a skills coach.
    We are way behind in this department in ALL age groups and I really do believe a League coach or two in our systems could help with this.

  • 414.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:26 pm

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-401:

    He thinks you excluded Divvie cos he’s black.

    Why dont people just say what they mean.

  • 415.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:27 pm

    Ja!!

    What is this new thing with Skop of how many kids everyone has.

  • 416.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:28 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-407:
    lol

  • 417.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:28 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-414:

    Not at all.

    You should know better than that.

    Then again perhaps not.

  • 418.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:28 pm

    @TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-409: I have yet to be convinced. And I doubt I am going to be.

  • 419.ufo: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:29 pm

    @TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-409:

    didn’t say that i know any better…

    just stating my opinion… as you did yours…

    we shouldn’t need to meet with flintlocks at dawn over that should we…? :wink:

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-408:

    so i must be the fakest of all as i don’t have kids… how easy it is to see through me… :cry:

  • 420.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:30 pm

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-402: you asked, i answered…are you being precious?

    8)

  • 421.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:30 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-417:

    Unless ……..

  • 422.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:31 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-419: Must be. Can’t believe you have the gall to post here at all with no offspring to speak of.

  • 423.stormerforlife1: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:32 pm

    I don’t like the way how Meyer only selects along the religious Pretorian Calvinistic line.I watched the recently completed Junior WC and all the Bulls baby Boks,in interviews, started off with the same mantra in a trance-like state.

  • 424.TooMuchRugby: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:33 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-391: Actually I prefer the term “rokspaaider”

  • 425.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:33 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-414: Why would he think that. Ai tog. I hauled Divvie’s Kumbaya butt over the coals in my very next post.
    Pink, white, green, black, yellow of brown: Calvinists – one and all.

  • 426.Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:33 pm

    I only have one so I’m really not qualified to take part.

  • 427.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:34 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-420:
    lol
    Ok i think i may have taken your answer like you being a bit of a smart a$$ but we all know you didnt mean it that way….isnt that right?
    But anyway, i am sure you agree this guy is quite a player and would be a good little catch if he played rugby instead.

  • 428.ufo: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:35 pm

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-422:

    fortunately i’ve never known my place…! much to the chagrin of many… :wink:

    and anyway the old ancestors do come from gallway bay…

  • 429.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:36 pm

    @Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters(Predawn)-426:

    Obviously you dont qualify

    Gbye

  • 430.TooMuchRugby: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:36 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-419:
    Apologies, no gripes with you at present. A bit hot under the collar for a certain German gentleman.

  • 431.ufo: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:37 pm

    hurricane… he’s a heckuva player…

    please ask him if he wants to play union for a winning team…?

    the stormers need a flyhalf…

  • 432.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:39 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-431:
    I am sure he would go there just for the Cheerleaders :-)

  • 433.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:39 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-415: katman dared to ask skop to regale us about his alleged s.exual exploits with scottish or swiss lasses and he skop didn’t take kindly to it and thought his cassanova status was being questioned and fired back with the “how many kids you got retort”

  • 434.ufo: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:39 pm

    @TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-430:

    the ‘at present’ sounds ominous… :wink:

    don’t sweat it… keo (and life) would be very boring if we all held the same opinion…

  • 435.TooMuchRugby: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:40 pm

    @stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-423: It’s almost like they believe that g.o.d. specifically gave the talent to them and only to them to be the best rugby player in the world and that said g.o.d wants only their team (mostly the bulls) to win.
    It’s so fu.ck.ing irritating that I almost switch off the TV at that stage.

  • 436.ufo: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:41 pm

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-432:

    :lol:

    we do love our DHL cheerleaders…!!

    Damn
    Hot
    Ladies…!!

    :lol:

  • 437.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:41 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-421:

    Unless..

    It’s because he’s a bull.

    Now sort yourself out.

    Sharpish.

  • 438.fitz1ella: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:41 pm

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-395: who represents your state of jaundiced self aggrandized two face judgment… you reckon you judge and jury in the land of sanity… think again.. you are the ultimate fake.. and you think you are the epitome of highfalutin grandeur .. you need the lesson of what represents sanity from delusions of highfalutin grandeur…. go enlighten Tacitus on what highfalutin means.. you are the epitome of a highfalutin fake who thinks his highfalutin sh’t don’t stink…

  • 439.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:42 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-433:

    *sigh*

  • 440.ufo: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:42 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-436:

    how else do you think they fill newlands weekend after weekend…?

    it’s obviously not to watch the stormers score tries…!!

    :lol:

  • 441.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:43 pm

    @TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-430:

    Don’t get hot under the collar.

    I am helping you through your issues.

    There is light at the end of the tunnel my friend.

    :lol:

  • 442.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:43 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-437:

    Who’s a Bull now.

    Divvie?

    Dont you sharpish me!

  • 443.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:43 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-440:
    :-)

  • 444.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:44 pm

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-427: yeah, we were all in awe of benji’s skills, hence i say when the links made an appearance on keo he was showered with nothing but praise.

  • 445.Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:44 pm

    @fitz1ella(fitz1ella)-438:

    What constitutes the ultimate fake?

    How many nics can one have before falling into that category?

  • 446.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:45 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-440:

    Amen! I hope I don’t get labelled for that? :lol:

  • 447.Skeppie: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:45 pm

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-384: I do not want to enter the religous debate but that incident was cringeworthy

  • 448.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:46 pm

    What is the brawl about? I don’t have time to read through everything.

  • 449.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:46 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-442:

    No man.

    Meyer.

  • 450.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    17 Jul 2012, 14:47 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-431: the stormers would blunt benji! make him make 17 tackles a match :D

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Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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