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TOBY ROBSON
Last updated 15:17
20/08/2013
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and wing Julian Savea have renewed calls for rugby fans to stop booing Wallabies first five-eighth Quade Cooper.
New Zealand fans have been giving Cooper a hard time all season and that continued during the opening Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney on Saturday.
The Reds pivot has been enemy No 1 for many Kiwi fans since taking several cheap shots against All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw in 2010 and 2011.
Hansen understands where the sentiment comes from, but believes the time has come for all concerned to move on.
''Two things, firstly we are probably all over it. Secondly, he probably brought it all on himself,'' Hansen said today.
''I don't boo him and I'll continue not to boo him. I think he's a good player and not a bad bloke either when you have a quiet chat to him.
''But it probably would be good if we all got over it.''
Savea had a similar view and urged Wellingtonians not to continue the trend on Saturday.
''Nah, it's not [good]. If someone was booing me all the time I know it would be pretty tough. I don't know what else to say on that, but I guess it's tough on [him].''
Asked what he'd say to Wellington fans Savea said: ''Just enjoy the game and be good spectators I guess.''
The pair's comments echo those of Wallabies openside Michael Hooper who labelled the crowds actions in Sydney as ''unreasonable'' and ''below the belt''.
All Black fullback Israel Dagg has previously also said publicly he is not comfortable with New Zealand fans booing Cooper, who has come back into the Wallabies set up under new coach Ewen McKenzie.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/i...p-booing-Quade