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Angry senior Wallabies have fired back at Quade Cooper's "toxic environment" claims, saying Cooper should take a walk if prepared to reject the honour of representing Australia.
And that scenario could be on the horizon, after the Australian Rugby Union hinted on Friday it may withdraw its contract offer to Cooper in the wake of his outspoken TV interview on Thursday night.
Cooper continued his criticism of the Wallabies environment on the Rugby Club on Fox Sports, saying a negative and toxic Wallaby culture was destroying him so much he would refuse to play for Australia if fit.
Cooper's comments sparked anger Friday among many Wallaby players.
"To say you would deny the opportunity to play for your country if selected is incredibly disrespectful to the guys who will wear the gold jersey this weekend, to people who have worn it in the past and every supporter who wears it as well," one senior Wallaby said.
"It is a privilege to be able to play for the Wallabies. If you feel like you are better than that, it is time to move on."
A second senior player, who also requested to remain unnamed due to them breaching ARU media protocol, said: "The state of Australian rugby and the Wallabies is not as grim as is being made out. " Cooper said he had supporters but the senior players said a vast majority of Wallabies did not back the "toxic environment" assertions.
It was confirmed team elders had been concerned for some time about the attitudes of a group of younger players, including Cooper, and the impact of the leeway given to them by team officials.
"There are things said and done, guys feel like 'if that was me, I would get my contract torn up'," one player said. "Can you imagine Stephen Larkham, or even Dan Carter, saying these sorts of things?
Though he is entitled to his views, the second player said, "the way Quade went about it, that's the disappointing thing."
"It's just not a good look for the game in general," he said. "And it's disappointing we are talking about this when they boys are playing an important Test in Pretoria. Benn Robinson is playing his 50th Test."
ARU boss John O'Neill broke a week of silence on Friday on Cooper, saying he was "utterly confused" by many of the grievances outlined.
"Most disturbingly, he was firm about not playing for the Wallabies unless things change," O'Neill said.
"If that is how he feels, then that is his choice. The reality is a decision on whether or not he stays in Australian Rugby has to this point rested with him since he received an ARU offer in early July."
The words "to this point" suggest the ARU could withdraw their contract offer.
Cooper has signed a deal with Queensland to 2015 and wants to play for the Reds, but has to sign an ARU contract to be registered.
All contracted players must be available to play for Australia and can't just elect to play for a province.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wa...ce=twitterfeed
Unfortunately i can point out 3 young players within the group that these comments are referring to.![]()
another article quoted a tweet from drew on Thursday night that said "finding it harder to bite my tongue" or something like that. i wonder if this wallaby was drew, and if not. which side of the fence he would come down on.
Goodbye spoilt brat!
May the FORCE be with you!
in the wake of mounting public criticism jon tries to make it look like he has some balls but fails miserably. two senior wallabies virtually ignoring his media ban and forcing him to distance himself from a petulant brat. when will this poser stop destroying aussie rugby
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IF his talents could back up his mouth he may be worth listening too.
To refer the Wallabies Jersey as that yellow jersey is disgusting and just proves he has no respect for the 100plus years of Wallabies Rugby or the greatest players in the history of Australian Rugby all of whom wouldn't let Quade Cooper tie their boots for them.
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
He's been exceedingly stupid if he wants to stay in Rugby. He will not get any more than a $200,000 per year in RL, if that. IMO. His only options are likely to be Japan or Europe. But he isn't likely to get a whole whack more from them either, initially at least. He has no leverage there either and his long term fitness is under a cloud. Dud.
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
QC has the self destruction gene
He has the world's most destructive manager
QC has a rare talent that had the potential to transform Australian rugby into a feared attacking machine of yesteryear
I am an enormous fan of his talent. I respect a lot of what he does off the field with fans etc
His rant is an immature dummy spit following an insiders vent at his late night escapades.
The Beale, Cooper , JOC late night side show has become a destructive force within the team. Coopy poo didn't like a few senior wallabies tell him he was bang out of order and to pull his head in
There can be only one outcome from this. QC's ARU contract and Reds contract should have been torn up Friday. He can go and play subbies in Brisbane, head to minileague for peanuts or go and insult japanese people in karaoke bars in the wee hours
Goodbye and good luck d1ckhead
The belters on teh rugby show should not have indulged the w@nkers ego and instead as ex wallabies, should have pointed out a few home truths
The Rugby Show needs to get rid of Marto as a beginning. He seemed to be inspired by d1ckheads info about Deans and seemed to be encouraging him.
It's a farking circus.
Time to get people in the wallabies that will spill blood for the jersey, be out of bed at 5AM running and doing weights instead of arriving home from a nightclub.
The culture is certainly toxic QC. It is the d1ckheads who are getting drunk and causing a public disturbance and arriving home at dawn full of p1ss and bad manners and missing recovery sessions and team photo shoots. It is the dickheads who spend their time in the dressing room tweeting teenage girls about how many pubes they found on their balls this week. That is why Australian rugby is not firing. That is why the culture is "toxic"
Have a good look at yourself in the mirror Quade
Controversy corner
Can one possibly imagine what the rest of the Rugby fraternity world wide is thinking about this disgraceful behavior from a Wallaby? The PLONKER is making Australian Rugby a laughing stock! As some one else commented ...Could one imagine the likes of John Eales, Richie McCaw or any other coming out with such verbal "poo"....publicly sack the spoilt twit...on your way PLONKER....we do not need the likes of you anywhere near our Rugby! You are not fit scape the S*** off Sharpie's boots!![]()
It's time to get the big broom out.
These princesses have been allowed to get away with this sort of crap for too long.
Now is the time to sort it out. Draw a line and expect those who are willing and proud to wear the jersey to not step over it.
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Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.
QC has made it sound that we should be grateful and privileged that he plays for his country...WT?
QC has made it sound that we should be grateful and privileged that he plays for his country...WT?
Cooper has managed the impossible, to become more hated in Australia than New Zealand!!!
Good luck playing Pro Union in the SH again...
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.