Quade Cooper's inglorious comeback
A yellow card and a 27-point hammering have marked an inglorious start for World Cup outcast Quade Cooper as he began his quest to earn a Wallaby recall.
Playing his first match for Kintetsu Liners in Japan’s League One since being overlooked by Eddie Jones for last year’s global showpiece in France, the 84-test veteran was sent to the sin bin in the 11th minute as his side slid to a 14-41-14 loss against Black Rams.
England loose forward Nathan Hughes opened the scoring for Black Rams with a try two minutes after Cooper’s departure, a punishment for his side’s repeated infringements.
The score had blown out to 21-0 by the time the 35-year-old returned, leaving his side a mountain it could not climb.
The Black Rams, who are coached by Australian Peter Hewat, scored three tries in each half, with Queenslander Isaac Lucas getting on the scoresheet in the second half.
Matt McGahan – the former Reds fullback and son of Kiwi Rugby League legend Hugh – and Wallabies prop Paddy Ryan also featured for the Black Rams in their first win of the season.
Two former coaches of Australia’s national team endured contrasting afternoons.
再会できてよかったですね！
🇿🇦🏆ADVERTISEMENTReunion for the boys from the rainbow nation @Doogz @toyotaverblitz
⚔️ 43 – 27 ⚡️
埼玉WK 43 – 27 トヨタV#SPWK | #埼玉ワイルドナイツ pic.twitter.com/cDLs8fqY2a— 埼玉ワイルドナイツ公式 Saitama Wild Knights (@Panasonic_WK) January 6, 2024
An eye-catching result came at Kumagaya, where the Robbie Deans-coached Wild Knights stormed home to beat Verblitz 43-27.
The Wild Knights routed the visitors 35-0 in the second half, with the Australian-born Brave Blossoms pair of No.8 Jack Cornelsen and centre Dylan Riley among the try-scorers.
Verblitz, who are coached by former New Zealand boss Steve Hansen and featured All Blacks Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith as well as Springbok legend Pieter Steph du Toit, arrived with high hopes.
The Wild Knights, conversely, were without two of their overseas stars in Wallaby wing Marika Koroibete and Springbok lock Lood de Jager.
Verblitz’s confidence seemed justified as the visitors rocked last year’s finalists with four first-half tries to lead 27-5 on the stroke of half-time.
Saitama have lost at home just once since 2019, and the second period showed why – Cornelsen beginning the comeback with a try in the 47th minute.
By the time Riley crossed for his team’s fourth of the second period, the Wild Knights had gobbled up Verblitz’s lead.
They added a fifth before full-time to complete a remarkable victory which keeps them top of the table.
One of Deans’ successors in the Wallabies hotseat, Dave Rennie, had a less enjoyable outing, as his Kobe Steelers side featuring world player of the year Ardie Savea lost 36-44 to the Eddie Jones-advised Sungoliath.
⏳🔨🦅🔴 pic.twitter.com/1RtUnQrXWe
— Jesse Kriel (@JesseKriel15) January 5, 2024
