Wallabies veteran Quade Cooper proved he hasn’t lost any pace in his first match back since rupturing his Achilles tendon on international duty last August.
Cooper, 35, played a key role in Kintetsu’s dominant 36-14 victory over previously-unbeaten Urayasu D-Rocks in the first leg of their Replacement Battle.
Kintetsu, who had only won one game this season prior to the match, had conceded a whopping 854 points in 16 games. However, Cooper’s presence on the field provided a much-needed boost to the team’s morale and by halftime Kintetsu were leading 19-7, and Urayasu had already received two yellow cards.
Despite being withdrawn at halftime to manage his workload, Cooper’s impact on the game was undeniable.
His playmaking was the key difference between the two sides. Kintetsu coach Yoshitake Mizuma’s decision to manipulate the rules by playing Cooper for a minute in the last game of the regular season to ensure his eligibility for the relegation series seems to have paid off, as the team’s performance was significantly boosted by the Kiwi-born talent who Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones looks set to call on later this year.
https://twitter.com/QuadeCooper/status/165510116608957235
Cooper himself took to social media to express his delight at being back in action. He said, “It was a great feeling being back out there. Was nice to be part of the win and continue the journey another week. Felt good physically and clocked my 3rd fastest accelerations in the 4 years I’ve been at this club which is a good sign and also my 2nd best top speed.
“Sitting in the locker room for my first game reflecting on the journey so far. Grateful for every opportunity this game has provided along the way and more important the lessons we learn throughout the journey. One thing I’ve learned is that success is what you work toward every day.”
