Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Quade Cooper cited then cleared for knee in Richie McCaw's face

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Quade Cooper cited then cleared for knee in Richie McCaw's face

Quade Cooper dodged a bullet earlier today as he was cleared of any wrongdoing after being cited for kneeing the head of All Blacks captain Richie McCaw during the Wallabies' historic Tri Nations victory in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Cooper, who has had a recent history of niggle with McCaw for some reason, is now getting a bit of a reputation, particularly within the New Zealand camp, as a cheap shot merchant. It's not the first time he and McCaw have exchanged handbags.

SANZAR judicial officer Jannie Lubbe was quick to dismiss a charge of striking however. Cooper has admitted that he made contact, but said it was accidental as he was trying to get up.

"It's rugby and blokes are coming into contact belting each other week-in week-out, and it just so happens two blokes come into contact more often than not. I don't see any history there," he said.

Coach Robbie Deans acknowledged that Cooper needs to be mindful of how he behaves.

"There's a next generation of kids watching that game and it's important that the way we play the game is something we're proud of and something that we leave behind that they want to follow," Deans said.

Richie McCaw, who was at the bottom of a ruck up to his usual disruptive self, said that he didn't see it coming, but certainly felt it. Fellow loose forward Victor Vito has said that they're aware of Cooper's antics.

"I didn't get much of a view of it but apparently it was more than once anyway [the niggle]. Some of the guys are starting to say that sort of stuff about him," he said.

Coopers seems lucky to have gotten away with that one, as you'd have thought he could have avoided McCaw's face if he really wanted to.

What do you think of the incident, and the result of the judiciary process?

Time: 0:52

first

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 10:07 pm
cooper needs to get his act together and keep his calm like worldclass flyhalfs should

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 10:09 pm
As an aussie I must say that this was simply stupid and I wished he would leave it to Bakkies Botha or someone of his likes. It looked pretty deliberate to me, especially considering he was looking right at McCaw's head about 1 second before kneeing him. However, the knee didn't look to bad, and could've been worse/harder

He seems lucky to get away without any punishment, I would've probably banned him for the first WC game to send a message not to do that nonsense anymore. He'd be better off learning to tackle rather than doing this crap

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 10:09 pm
Cheeky

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 10:10 pm
Two things:
1) Highlights of Ireland vs England will be posted soon.
and B) Please keep things clean and constructive if you choose to discuss the incident. Anything else will be removed as it's not wanted or appreciated here. Thanks

By GMC, at August 28, 2011 10:10 pm
should have banned him till after the aussies play USA ;)

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 10:11 pm
Nice example for the kids, coward.

I mean, McCaw might be offside a lot of the time, but he never pulled this kind of crap.

Can't believe he ascaped a sanction. Is just saying it was an accident enough to convince the citing commisioner nowadays?

By Guy, at August 28, 2011 10:11 pm
Quade is a darn good player but sometimes he can be a heck of a c*nt....

By cigarr0, at August 28, 2011 10:21 pm
Nothing too major but I agree, that he shouldn't have gotten away with it and a ban from the first world cup game would be a sufficient punishment.
It's really confusing to see players do that, are they forgetting that they have multiple camera's pointed at them?

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 10:22 pm
disgusting, how he got away with it is bewildering. surely if rugbydump can get the incident so clearly then the citing board must be able to see it as they can get many more angles. cooper needs to stop acting the fool and just play the game, hes going to get caught at some point and will end up missing a big game in the world cup

By SM, at August 28, 2011 10:22 pm
idiotic stuff by cooper, admittedly not nearly as destructive or blatant as the manu tualigi assault on chris ashton but still thuggery none the less. The citing commissioners have really let themselves down here and the sport in general. There is no place for that kind of cheap shot in union and i think cooper (and tualigi earlier in the season) should have been made examples out of. otherwise this kind of rubbish will creep into the game and be very hard to abolish

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 10:24 pm
If that was Bakkies he would have been out for 10 weeks.
Double standards.
Cooper,what a coward.

By Fred, at August 28, 2011 10:28 pm
I thought that looked pretty accidental. Even if not, the Kiwis have had it their own way for years when it comes to citings (Umaga/O'Driscoll and Ali Williams stamping on Grewcock's head spring to mind) so I'm not going to feel too sorry for them.

By Ian M, at August 28, 2011 10:29 pm
Three thoughts:

1. It's not tiddlywinks. Seen / heard of / done / been on the receiving end of much worse than this in the bottom of a ruck. This is not really citing commissioner material, better for it to be sorted on the field. Now and in future engagements.

2. It is amazing how the same incident can look completely different from different camera angles. In the first angle, it definitely looks premeditated. In the second angle, it looks completely normal. Given QC's history with McCaw, the first camera probably told the more accurate story.

3. I'm happy the Kiwis are feeling hard done by the Com's decision, because now you know what the rest of the world felt like after Mealamu was cleared of headbutting last fall tour (against England, if memory serves me right). That was much worse than this and NZ’s reaction (saying he hadn’t done it because he was such a great guy and a family man, etc.) was just shameful.

I'm a neutral, by the way.

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 10:32 pm
@ Fred
The reason Bakkies would've gotten 10 weeks is because he is one of the most notorious players for things like that. While I agree that Cooper should've gotten some punishement, you can't expect them to judge him and Botha the same, as their history with such incidents is always taken into account by the citing commission. Cooper has no history of dirty play, apart from a few minor scuffles with McCaw and one relatively harmless spear tackle on Steyn I believe.

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 10:35 pm
Dazza,

Completely agree with the comments regarding family man Kevin Mealamu (head butter and spear tackler extrodinare).

Don't like it when you're on the receiving end do ya!

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 10:38 pm
Dirty play will a be dirty play.Doesn't matter who is doing it.
Only one set off rules apply for all players.
Bakkies is not as dirty player as being made of him.He is playing hard and the opposition don't like it.He made some mistakes but all players must be treated equal.

By Fred, at August 28, 2011 10:51 pm
I think this is a good example of how the citing process works. The commissioner is notified of an incident, has lots of material at hand to make a judgement and then prounounces on it.

Looking at the replay a few times, I'm on the fence. It looks like it could have been intentional but the body language from Cooper was also consistent with someone simply getting up off the ground.

Inconclusive thus no sanction. Fair call I would say.

Great game of rugby by the way, both teams should be proud of how they play the game. Makes us NH teams look so far off the pace.

By Irish Ref, at August 28, 2011 10:53 pm
.....Anyone see the hand to face action on cooper just before he gets up and knees mccaw?!

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:00 pm
lol i do that all the time when i play and get away with it every time
COME AT ME CITING BOARD

By Gabe, at August 28, 2011 11:01 pm
He clearly did that on purpose lmfao. So now kneeing people in the head is legal?

It's a shame Quade is such a moron, because he's got a lot of talent

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:08 pm
@Fred
Well they all are treated equally. However, once a player repeatedly does crap like that he will get treated more harshly. This is simply how our justice system (also outside of rugby) works. Surely a player who is well known for doing cheap shots (like dropping in shoulders every time he joins a ruck, head butting people, etc.) should be treated differently than a player who usually doesnt do this stuff. Clearly the previous times he was being let off more easily didnt make him stop it, so he should be treated more harshly.

And there is a difference between playing hard and playing unfair. The knee to the head and the cheapshots I don't count as playing "hard" but simply as playing unfair.

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:14 pm
I think the citing commissioner thought he probably couldnt see after having his face/eyes raked by an all black player!

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:14 pm
^Check 0:39 if you don't believe me!

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:16 pm
^^^
C'mon, there was nothing in that. While his hand shouldnt be there I cant see any intent in gouging. Im sure Cooper would've said something about it, if he felt the all black was trying to gouge him, and he would know best considering he was the player suposedly gouged.

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:20 pm
All these long explanations does not help.
He was wrong and should be punished accordingly.
There is a reason for a rulebook
He can just be glad he didn't do that to BAKKIES.Other wise his worldcup would have been over.

By Fred, at August 28, 2011 11:21 pm
first, i'm quite fan of quade cooper, as he's one of the rare rugby union player who accelerate the game and take some risks. sometimes, it's a bit too show-off (like a certain chris ashton) but rugby needs a bit of crazyness.

but that type of cheeky action is really not my cup of tea. the knee was not so bad, but certainly deliberate!
he was maybe cleared because it was not violent, but the cowardice is not for rugby

better use your kness for runs, dear quade

By Colombes, at August 28, 2011 11:22 pm
Looks intentional to me, should have been suspended for a couple of days. This kind of behaviour is no good, it sets a bad example for us amateur players. There is always some dumbass at my level of rugby who'll try to hurt the opposition in rucks, Cooper here reminds me of this type of person.

However am I the only one to have seen Ali Williams' leg trip on an Aussie player, which is pretty cheap too?

By moddeur, at August 28, 2011 11:22 pm
@Fred
I already said that I agree with you that he should have received some sort of punishment, all I'm trying to do is explain why players like Bakkies get treated more harshly than players like Cooper.

In this case the citing comissioners gave Cooper the benefit of the doubt that he did not do it on purpose and let him off because of that.

And the rulebook also says that previous actions are taken into account when judgin the severity of the punishment.

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:25 pm
Um, i never said that cooper was gouged! I said his eyes were raked.... there is a difference!!!

I do not know about the law rules and whether they see a difference! but I have experienced both a gouge AND a rake across my face...

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:28 pm
@Anon
My understanding of a rake is that the fingers are bent (hence the name rake), however as far as I can tell, his fingers were straight, and it was more a sweep than a rake (though I could be mistaken and those too are considered the same).

Again, as I said above, his hand shouldnt have been there, but I don't see any bad intent behind it.

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:33 pm
I think every person who viewed this incident knows that it was on purpose and that Quade Cooper was let off purely because he is an attraction of the sport and there would have been uproar if he had gotten the ban (despite the fact it would have been deserved).

Absolutely disgraceful, weak decision by the IRB. It just shows exactly where there morals lie. On this occasion, the IRB willingly didn't live up to their own standards. What happens if a similar incident occurs again, not necessarily involving Quade Cooper? This knee is as purposeful as they come yet the IRB still let him off. If the IRB lowers the disiplinairy standard once, the lower it for a very long time.

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:38 pm
.....I don't really get the fuss that is being kicked up by the kiwi's...

You guys are forever getting away with murder...

Mealamu headbutt
Richie McCaw....say no more..
Carter and his high tackle a couple years ago...

I'm not even going to mention that incident a over 5 years ago...

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:45 pm
NZ does cheap stuff all the time. Ali Williams trip and Mealamu punching an aussie in the head are 2 examples just from this game.

Cooper no doubt did it on purpose but who cares. Niggle is designed to get under the other teams skin.

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:55 pm
That was intentional for sure, Cooper had been going after Richie all night, I seem to remember Wepu pulling the two apart at one point before this happened. As far as I can see he just does it because Richie can't/won't react for fear of jeopardising his world cup, something Cooper obviously doesn't care about.

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:55 pm
@RD

as an Irish fan.. take all the time you need getting the highlights.......dont really need to see it

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:56 pm
How the fuck did he get off a ban? this was much worse than Mealamu's headbutt and even harder to argue since you can see cooper look at McCaw before he hits him yet he gets nothing. absolute disgrace. it's not even a mistake by the irb, they know he should have been banned and if this were any other year he'd have gotten at least 4 weeks.

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:58 pm
How the fuck did he get off a ban? this was much worse than Mealamu's headbutt and even harder to argue since you can see cooper look at McCaw before he hits him yet he gets nothing. absolute disgrace. it's not even a mistake by the irb, they know he should have been banned and if this were any other year he'd have gotten at least 4 weeks.

By Anonymous, at August 28, 2011 11:58 pm
After watching the game and now this all I will say is "it's rugby" Quade Cooper is getting a rep for stuff like this but if want's to let himself and the team down then let him go for it. This will be forgotten come the start of the World Cup but remembered the next time these 2 players meet probably World Cup Final then Cooper needs to wary of some good hard (legal) hits on him by captain tackles. Oh yeah i am a AB supporter

By Hori Axe, at August 28, 2011 11:59 pm
Looked intentional, can see Cooper look for McCaw's head before the strike.

Fair enough that you do get players who try to wind up and niggle opponents but a knee to the head shouldn't be accepted in the game. What if McCaw broke his jaw/nose? Would that have been a case for assault?

More unbelievable is that Cooper got away without a ban. Most of us would agree that it looks intentional and could have been easily avoided.

By Spuff, at August 29, 2011 12:02 am
Look at how many Aussies attack Brad Thorn. They have always been a bunch of cowards. Love to see a one on one with Brad. Not that I like Brad, but like the Aussies even less, and would love to see Brad give them a hiding.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 12:16 am
Sooner or later, he will get what he deserves (a lenghty ban). Cooper has been doing this kind of things quite often. He might be awesome when attacking but cant tackle and behaves like a douche. If I were Deans I would put Giteau as 10 and leave this clown in the bench until he learns to behave.

Whats up with Giteau not being in the team btw??? Really weird to me

By Pipo, at August 29, 2011 12:17 am
"As far as I can see he just does it because Richie can't/won't react for fear of jeopardising his world cup, something Cooper obviously doesn't care about."

Yeh, because I didn't see mccaw throwing a punch at cooper or at least flailing arms right before the aussie first try....

Yeh and spuff, totally agree... If a player is fouled off the ball then surely it is assault, like if a player is tipped upside down and has his shoulder dislocated, surely that is assault too?

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 12:17 am
I can't help but feel that if he was in a green and gold jersey, the Rugby world would be calling for his head!

Watching the video, it's definitely grounds for a banning.
Saying that, it should just be one game as it looked more of a niggle than a knee

By Hesk13, at August 29, 2011 12:22 am
@ Pipo
Giteau hasn't been playing great in the last couple years. I think ever since he missed that easy kick infront of the goalposts against Scotland in 2009, which sealed the deal on Australia losing the game, he's been on the out. This was sped up by the fantastic rugby Cooper and Barnes have been playing, whom I both rate higher than Giteau right now.

A further reason for the sacking of Giteau is his personality. There are often reports that he doesn't get along with the coach and also large parts of the team. He seems (or that's at least how he's portrayed in the media) a selfish player, which doesn't go well in a sport like rugby. He showed off his character again after being informed that he was not going the WC and asked to keep it quiet until it was officially announced, he however chose to tweet it about two seconds late.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 12:31 am
Give it a rest.
McCaw is not a saint. He's been doing this kind of stuff a decade before Cooper. Kiwis love to go on a rampage every time someone else is called out for foul play and ill-will.
Didn't seem that serious to me. Hopefully, Cooper has had enough controversy for a few good years.

By S.P.N., at August 29, 2011 12:33 am
Seems like a talented fella..!! bit silly to be pissing about like that. come on mate get some points against him surely that'll hurt more...?

By NorthernHillMen, at August 29, 2011 12:54 am
its funny quade cooper just giving mccaw a taste of his own medicine, all of richies cheapshots look accidental, take a look back to last years bledisloe in hong kong, scrum centre and richie cleats the loosies hamstring if anyone remembers.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 1:01 am
"I can't help but feel that if he was in a green and gold jersey, the Rugby world would be calling for his head!"

huh?!?! Cooper was wearing a green and gold jersey...

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 1:18 am
@ Anon Idiot: Mealamu and Dan Carter both got suspended for those incident (1 Week for Carter, 2 for Mealamu).

Learn your facts before making a comment... It will help you not look like such an internet muppet.

By God Help Us, at August 29, 2011 1:29 am
All you faggots can suck a dick, don't hate on Richy McCaw because he's the greatest player of all time... Just accept it and enjoy watching him play. 3 IRB player of the year awards and counting!

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 1:30 am
Lol, only way Australia can get a shot at ACTUALLY winning! They have to cheat their way through the games

Cooper is a pathetic thief! First he robs a house, then he has a little tickle with richie in the Super 15, and now he plays around in this game trying to hurt richie, its the only way that he actually win against NZ.

Look forward to the World Cup, at least you only have a short flight home when we destroy you!

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 1:34 am
scumbag

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 1:41 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcwqk7MYMmM&feature=related

Even Quades Wallabie team mates hate him, seems like SBW is the only person who doesn't hate him!

SBW and QC piss off to Leauge please.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 1:53 am
^^^^ lol

And even Richie McCaw's All Black team mates hate him too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpnIenTjXUU

See... not really much of an argument you put forward is it...

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 2:18 am
He shouldn't have done this, but Mccaw was in his face the whole game, with swingin arms and the like. Mccaw has it in for Cooper, Cooper hates Mccaw right back. They messed with each other the whole game.
I'm actually really impressed with the way Cooper never backed down from Mccaw (who is obviously a much bigger and stronger player and would no doubt towell Cooper in a fight).

There was no need for this knee, but Mccaw was roughing Cooper up at every opportunity, so I don't really feel sorry for him.

And right before this knee, Cooper got smacked in the face by another All Black.

If the All Blacks are going to niggle him, you can't expect him to not do it back.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 2:29 am
Pipo, Gitaeu ahsn't played well in about two years. He simply doesn't deserve to be in the team. only his reputation was kleeping him in the national team. His attitude stinks, and his form ahd taken a steep nosedive.
Barnes and Cooper are a much better pair of fly halves these days.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 2:31 am
"Look at how many Aussies attack Brad Thorn. They have always been a bunch of cowards. Love to see a one on one with Brad. Not that I like Brad, but like the Aussies even less, and would love to see Brad give them a hiding"

This is a hilarious comment.
Brad Thorn is basically as Australian as he is Kiwi. He played rugby league for the Australian national team, and lived in Brisbane for as long as he's ever lived in New Zealand.

He is well respected by Australians, and he respects Australia (obviously since he lived here for many years, and played for this countries national team in league).

In this incident Cooper's team mates were running in to protect their team mate, just as Thorn was protecting his team mate in Mccaw. You know, like you do in rugby.

Grow up.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 2:35 am
^^^ Fuck off, you piss off to league they can stay in Rugby lol

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 3:09 am
"Mccaw (who is obviously a much bigger and stronger player and would no doubt towell Cooper in a fight)."

Unless he forgets to bring a towel...

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 3:17 am
It all started in Hong Kong when Mccaw (that's right he was the the guy who did the first cheap shot), kicked Cooper in the leg after Cooper cleared him legally from a ruck.
Cooper then got petualnt and shoved Mccaw in the head after Australia scored the winning try:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkDTkXuxr7Q

It got started by Mccaw, who carried it on in this game. He backhanded Cooper earlier in the game, and got this knee as a result.

They are both as bad as each other.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 3:17 am
"^^^ Fuck off, you piss off to league they can stay in Rugby lol"

Oh, you're a moron, my mistake.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 3:18 am
You gotta give it up to Quade though, hes pretty tough for a 1st 5.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 3:18 am
The kneeing incident aside, I thought Cooper did a pretty good job of niggling McCaw through the game, and maybe throwing him off his game a little - such as when he didn't stand down to the punches McCaw threw at him when Cooper was trying to clean him out of the ruck, just before the Aussie's first try (a useful distraction perhaps?). Don't see many people talking about that "dirty" play by McCaw...

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 3:19 am
Obvious retaliation from McCaw's cheap shot on the goal line prior to Genia's try. See the expanded vid of the game. Thanks Rugbydump.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 3:23 am
Dirty play like this needs to be stamped out. It is clear to see that McCaw headbutted Quade Cooper's knee. How was McCaw not cited?

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 4:25 am
So many bitter kiwis on this site. You lost. Let it go.

By Ache, at August 29, 2011 4:30 am
That was a pretty obvious intentional knee strike to me. He's lucky I wasn't on that SANZAR commission. Thorn saw it. I saw it. The six other ruggers drinking beer and watching the match saw it. We're in Texas so we were just glad to get to see some top notch game. Don't get to comfy on the bottom of those rucks, Quade.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 4:39 am
Copper is just such a classless little punk. Not the kind of bloke I'd ever want in my side. Talented player with a two cent head.

I really, really wish someone wouldn't get stopped when they go after him next time.

By Douglas, at August 29, 2011 4:44 am
Yeah, Cooper did do a good job of being a "niggling" player.

He also did a good job of looking like a bitch. Goes in, swats and McCaw, then keeps pulling at him as McCaw turns back and focuses on the ruck. Then, if another AB comes up to get Cooper away, he runs off like a little girl.

I'm all for players getting into other guys' heads, but Quade Cooper is building a reputation of being the kind of player who actually gets out of the way to avoid tackles, and the kind of guy who takes a swing/throws in a knee or elbow and then runs off.

Because of that, I love seeing Cooper get smashed in tackles.

But whatever, glad Australia won. Hopefully someone other than the Kiwis can also end up with this world cup (I'm just tired of every game they play being pretty much a given that NZ will win).

By le tired, at August 29, 2011 4:49 am
hahaha, you kiwis are the most one eyed fans in the world.
Go watch the other highlights where Genia scores. Cooper rucks Mccaw, legally, Mccaw backhands him then jabs him in the face. This is before any knees to the head. Mccaw started the cheap shots, as usual. Mccaw always does cheap shots when NZ is losing.
Go look at the Hong Kong test. Mccaw kicked Cooper in the leg, again when he got cleared from a ruck.

Mccaw started this shit in Hong Kong, and carried it on in this test.

So fuck Mccaw, whatever he gets he deserves.
Good on Cooper for sticking up for himself when faced with the cheap shots of a much bigger player. He didn't back down in Hong Kong or Brisbane, and Australia won both games.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 5:00 am
Its not Coop's fault he has a gammy knee, seems to always flinch whenever McCaws head is near (38 sec) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83A4OG73QOo

onale

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 5:28 am
@ Fred

maybe if he did it to Schalky then he would of got gouged back and they could both have a beer later laughing about how they got off scott free.

The nerve of the Saffas in 2009 to moan about justice a week after Burger gets a sin bin and just 8 weeks for the most blatant gouge in history (Attoub, 72 weeks in comparison)...

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 6:17 am
Those guys are criminals

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 6:48 am
Cooper is nothing more than a coward, as soon as he saw Brad Thorn he went straight down on his back like a defenseless cat. Surely there is no room in the game of rugby for this type of character, it's better off without him.

By JG, at August 29, 2011 7:33 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkDTkXuxr7Q

@ the guy who posted this link... its not even the same game!!!!

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 7:37 am
I think kiwis are the nicest people in the world... but, if you ever got into a fist fight with one of them. You are fucked!!! Lol

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 7:46 am
Christ, are you thick?
The fued between Cooper and Mccaw started in THAT game, not this recent one in Brisbane.
It started last year in Hong Kong, and it all initiated from Mccaw kicking Cooper in the leg.
Cooper then petulently shoved Mccaw in the back of the head at the end of the game.

This is why they are going out it now in Brisbane. And again in this game Mccaw started the BS by elbowing then punching Cooper at a ruck right before Genia's try.
Cooper then retaliated by getting in the cheap knee.

And who's the coward really JG? Is Mccaw some kind of hero for punching and elbowing the smallest guy on Australia's team? Such a big man, why doesn't he try that shit on Elsom or Vickerman if he's so tough?

Is he any different from Cowan?

One eyed assesments by NZ fans.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 8:05 am
"Cooper is nothing more than a coward, as soon as he saw Brad Thorn he went straight down on his back like a defenseless cat. Surely there is no room in the game of rugby for this type of character, it's better off without him."

But it's alright for Mccaw to kick him in the leg and elbow and punch him in the face?

What a load of bullshit. Whyis Mccaw attacking a five eight anyway? Not very tough.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 8:06 am
@Anon (whichever one answered me) Common Assault: a person who causes another person to apprehend the immediate use of unlawful violence.

Tackling someone high or dumping someone upsidedown is one thing. These things are illigal but what Cooper did was cowardly and dangerous and has nothing to do with playing rugby.

Rugby is a mans game and most players except the niggle and to catch a shoeing at the bottom of a ruck and take it. Being kneed in the face while you on the floor... *shakes head*

By Spuff, at August 29, 2011 8:20 am
So can Mccaw kick him in the knee? That's ok?

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 8:34 am
In regards to the 'If it was Bakkies Botha he'd have been lined up against a wall and shot' argument - he has got one hell of a knee...

By Michael, at August 29, 2011 9:34 am
I have yet to see anyone comment on Cooper's display of cowardice on the Nonu try. Cooper may as well have put a welcome mat on the try line for Nonu to clean his boots on before scoring five. Cooper clearly jumped out of Nonu's way... dedication towards winning? Clearly a lack thereof. He can muster a cheapshot, but when it comes down to manning up, Cooper's a no show.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 9:58 am
^^^
While I didn't enjoy it much to see him just stand there and not doing much, he hardly jumped out of the way. I think he was simply wrong footed (as you can see that all his weight is on the inside) because like the rest of the team (kepu and guinea) he drifted to the outside because the ABs had an overlap there. He didnt expect Nonu to make the run and couldnt switch directions anymore to make the tackle

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 10:22 am
^^^^^^^^
so it wasn't Nonu's awesome side step and skill that scored that try but Coopers coward like rugby skills?

I hope for NZ sake that all the teams they come up against forget to bring their 'A' game otherwise NZ won't win due to a lack of skill!!!

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 10:25 am
As a Saffa I have to say that looked deliberate. Not a fan of Cooper at all.

By Wessel, at August 29, 2011 11:07 am
"So can Mccaw kick him in the knee? That's ok?"

Are you for real? *Rolls eyes*

That stuff belongs in MMA/UFC, not on a rugby field.

Anyone who acts like an ass and thinks they can dish out these sort of cheap shots should face a ban.

Regardless of who they are.

By Spuff, at August 29, 2011 11:21 am
imagine a decent fistfight between them in the worldcup, it would probably make my day

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 11:37 am
cheap cheap shot, but i don't think the kiwis can really complain with their track record, which is only slightly better than south africa, (or the islanders in whatever shirt they wear)

By Just mee, at August 29, 2011 12:09 pm
Cooper should piss off to league with that beauty queen SBW and his 2 idiot friends Mundine and Nasser.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 12:19 pm
Things happen in the heat of the game, i'm sure they behave off the field.

By Gazz, at August 29, 2011 12:21 pm
mccaw deserves whatever he gets the dirty cheat

By zacaria, at August 29, 2011 12:33 pm
if it was any other player who copped it i would have said ban cooper for 1st world cup game

By zacaria, at August 29, 2011 12:35 pm
I haven't seen anyone talk about all the other cheap shots that happend during this game. I beleive a MUCH more dangerous one was by Sam Whitelock (the NZ second rower) on James Horwill in the 69min and 45seconds. Horrible hit from the back, he could have broken his neck/back. That should be a ban ! for those who want to see it :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVtU8BLay6w&feature=feedu

the 34th sec of the video

Great game the aussies !!!!

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 1:33 pm
Can we just ban him for the ireland game?

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 2:09 pm
"I haven't seen anyone talk about all the other cheap shots that happend during this game."

Your right, did anyone see that cheap shot that Genia put on Horwill? Kicked the ball right into his head. I suspect that Genia wanted the captaincy and was upset that Horwill got it.

By JG, at August 29, 2011 2:31 pm
"Sam Whitelock (the NZ second rower) on James Horwill in the 69min and 45seconds. Horrible hit from the back, he could have broken his neck/back. That should be a ban ! for those who want to see it :"

You must be kidding me mate? A ban for tackling someone?

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 2:32 pm
For those that said Richie McCaw did a cheap shot on Cooper before the Genia Try, its is totally obvious looking at the reply that Cooper is trying to get a reaction out of McCaw. He's grabbing hold of McCaw, basically just being being niggly, in the hope that Richie will respond and get banned before the World Cup.

Thats the sort of person Cooper is, a prick.

He'll get his payback and he won't forget it :-)

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 3:34 pm
you can't tackle someone in a ruck, especially when he is leaving the ruck,getting up, not interfering in anyway... ask Tony Woodcock who got a suspension when he did the same thing against Saia Faingaa ...

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 3:46 pm
As I've always said -- Quade Cooper is the toughest guy in world rugby...when the opponent is already on the ground.

By Douglas, at August 29, 2011 4:39 pm
Just hoping cooper will get his come upance some other way. We ve seen his own aussie team mates having a pop at him in super 15 games because of his behaviour. There are very few 10s that get away with playing the big man and its a matter of time before he gets whats coming to him

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 6:32 pm
I don't think it was a stupid mistake or accident at all. Look at the replay. Cooper starts getting up, looks at McCaw, knows he's there, then drives a knee into his jaw. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy people taking it to the All Blacks, but not with cheap shots and foul play. The game is already physical enough with out this sh*t.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 7:05 pm
it doesnt matter if the knee was damaging or something it matters that he did it.

when you tackle some one in the air you straight up get a bin or a ban even if the player being tackled is fine after.

cooper should have been banned.

Carter rules

By hannes, at August 29, 2011 7:30 pm
spuff, don't be a tool you know exactly what incident i was referring too when i said about nz dumping and dislocating a players arm...

I also said it was off the ball and therefore if you want to go down this pathetic "assault" road, that would have to be included!

McCaw starts a lot of shit on the field with cooper. I don't know who truly started this, maybe something happened before the HK match, but its plain to see that cooper enjoys getting under mccaws skin, and that mccaw can't handle it!

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 7:34 pm
Accidental my ass...Cooper looks down at McCaw and as then seemed to think "well hello, are you laying there, what should I do?" What worries me is that Copper can not stand for his own actions "I didn't do anything, I promise." I always thought rugby to be the "cleaner" sport, you take a hit and give a hit and you walk away. The recent years has led me to think otherwise...It's time to stand up for "clean hard hitting game...." Agreed?

By Harry, at August 29, 2011 8:54 pm
It's a Nice exemple of a cheap shot even though nice isn't the appropriate word.

By Anonymous, at August 29, 2011 9:26 pm
quade cooper is my favourite person in the world :D

By JohnBoy'Cleaner', at August 29, 2011 11:09 pm
Reading the comments I'd swear this is a football website.

GET OVER IT.

By Rand, at August 29, 2011 11:49 pm
I'm sort of with rand on this one....

So what, cooper did this to mccaw... mccaw survived, cooper was cited then let off...

Is it really that big a deal? is he the only person to ever be let off with no ban for something we "think" we see clearly... how many renowned "dirty" players have been let off with minuscule bans, where we expected them to walk for a fair few months??!?

This isn't the first cheap shot on mccaw, and it won't be the last.

Foul play is also something which the All blacks have been known to dabble with...

A few years ago you were allowed to stick the boot on a player lying in the way or over the ball... nowadays you are not... does that constitute a "clean game".... because as far as i am aware the more cameras and shit that have been brought into the game has made is slower, more boring, more bitchy... and effectively a sport for pussies...

This kind of thing would have been dealt with by brad thorn in the next ruck and cooper would have decided its best not to try that again... then in turn mccaw would have been raped for being a little bitch and fighting with cooper at every opportunity..

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 12:04 am
nothing in it. knees will get thrown around, thats bound to happen.

@harry -lets not get on some moral high ground about rugby. While it would be nice to think that cheap shots should never happen or that when they do they will all be punished, that will never be the case. it is a contact sport played by adrenaline fueled, largely young men. Even as "professionals" its asking too much for people to never do things like this whether intentional or not.

its important and necessary to take a strict stance against things like gouging and spear tackles which are extremely dangerous regardless of intent. but for an action like this we need to have a higher burden of proof. The citing comissioner saw the video and may have thought cooper intended it, but if the evidence is not there the evidence is not there. Don't be an apologist for the prosecution (in any situation) just because someone has been charged doesn't make them guilty, and a citing does not equate guilt or conviction.

If Cooper meant to do it, good on him for getting away with it. Lets not pretend that he could have done any real harm and that such actions dont occur and go unpunished hundreds if not thousands of times throughout the season. Not a gouge, not a spear, not a stamp, not even a kick or punch. And certainly not a knee like Heaslip's.

And while we're on that subject lets be honest, there's no one in world rugby who deserves a knee at rucktime more than mccaw.

By miguel, at August 30, 2011 12:18 am
So when Horwill get's tackled from behind without the ball, resulting in his needing treatment, that's funny for Nzers? That's just something to be scoffed at. And when Mccaw elbowed then punched Cooper in the face, that was Cooper's fault?

But then Cooper knees Mccaw and it's a terrible travesty of justice?

What a load of bullshit. Suck it up you NZer poofs.

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 1:24 am
That was a knee...without a doubt. How did he get away with this???

By Henri, at August 30, 2011 3:34 am
To Anonymous

Go @#$$%^& yourself mate! Leave Bakkies Botha out of this. You Australians are as , if not more niggling and dirty players. Cooper is a great example of this. Also, SA players do not end up in the news for constantly being involved in Bar Brawls and Alcohol Abuse like the Aussie player...

By Henri, at August 30, 2011 3:37 am
awww!!!!! poor little richie!!!!

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 3:45 am
No one is as dirty as Botha.
No one.

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 3:52 am
Yeh you're right henri, they just end up in the papers for adulterous sex videos and chopping off 3 guys heads with an axe.... much better...

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 4:06 am
Noticed a few comments here having a go at South Africa. South Africa have worked hard over the last few years to clean up their act and to a large extent I would say they have. I would say the Aussies are by far the grubbiest country in Rugby, Cooper is certainly testament to that, but also Horwill amongst numerous others both past & present make the grub list. This is my opinion anyway from neutral position.

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 5:08 am
Based on what? This one video of a knee? Horwill?? What has he ever done? Has ever even been suspended for something done during an international? I remember he got punched in the eye once by a Frenchman, does that mean the French are 'grubs'?

And Mccaw elbowed and punched Cooper in this game, while Whtielock hit Horwill in the back, illeagaly (Horwill didn't have the ball and wasn't involved in the ruck). Does that make NZ 'grubs'?

Recently a South African player eye gouged a Lion, and got away with it. Bakies Botha has committed more acts of thuggery than the rest of the rugby world combined. Does that mean all Saffers are thugs?

Jesus, Cudmore is a nutcase who breaks every rule he can when he plays, does that make Canada the 'grubbiest' country?

What a load of utter bullshit. Precious kiwi fans.

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 5:13 am
Quade cooper has talent(no question)... However he himself feels the need to throw dirt and cheap shots on a 'MAN' who comes off the field looking like he has actually played as hard as he can every game. I love it how he only does it to McGaw when he is on the ground. Plus he knows if he tried that with say someone like Jerome Kaino it would be GOODNIGHT little boy... Quade is your typical big mouth who cant back his words up!!!

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 6:51 am
Yeah Mccaw is such a "MAN" that he punches the opposition fly-half. What a tough guy, to kick, punch and elbow the smallest guy on the other team.
Fucking coward. Do that to Vickerman and see where it gets ya.

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 7:31 am
Are the members of the citing commission actually PAID for their job?!
Come on, I love the class and unpredictable player Cooper is, but that was blatant. He looks and targets at 0'28 and hits at 0'29.
I can't even understand how this cheap shot is debatable, so knowing a player can get away with it sickens me.
That's pitiful for the player but, hey, while the guys are pumped up you can expect something like this to happen. Concerning the commission their lack of professionalism is outrageous and I would fire them on the spot.

By Judge Dredd, at August 30, 2011 9:01 am
Honestly, if the commision were doing their jobs, Cooper, Mccaw and Whitelock would all get punished.

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 9:19 am
Cooper would want to watch himself, he should have been banned and missed the world cup.....he clearly struck McCaw in the face with his knee......think the commissioner bottled it as so close to world cup....this stuff has to be stopped before Rugby ends up like soccer....

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 10:56 am
As an unbiased Scot, I would agree that this looks deliberate. The fact that the contact was minimal and in the words of other posters "only intended to niggle" is beside the point. The intent was there and that is all it should take to get QC a ban - albeit of the slap on the wrist nature.
Whoever sat in judgement of this incident has bottled it!

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 12:49 pm
If he does that to Sean O'Brien.....he's gonna get knocked the f*** out

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 1:43 pm
I watched this a few times and I don't think it was deliberate at all.

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 3:46 pm
3 pieces of dirty / 'poor spirit' play from Cooper that I saw in this match.
1) Off and early overthrown lineout which McCaw latched on to, Cooper slapped him about the head 2 or 3 times as another Aussie had the lower body tackle on;
2) Pathetic late shove on Muliaina after said had grubbered to touch;
3) This clear knee to the head of McCaw. I really don't know what drugs the citing guy was on to let this go unpunished.

ABs were clearly 2nd best in this one, but as usual, even in a 'historic loss' they remained within a single score of winning it. When Aussie have a bad day against NZ, its a bath.

As an AB supporter I'm not especially worried by this result. In 2003 the ABs put 50 points on the Wallabies during trinations, only to go down to them in the semifinal. its all on the day. and on the WC days coming up the ABs will do the business.

By Robert, at August 30, 2011 6:04 pm
LMFAO, I love it how the NZ'ers are bitching about the citings.... honestly if the citing commissioner picked up and banned on every incident that he deemed worthy, you guys would probably be on your 3 XV by now...

at least in the forwards department anyway!

Geez, for the top nation on the IRB board, and for what looks to be one of the strongest entering the RWC 2011, NZ's fans sure are the biggest bitches around...

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 7:01 pm
Realisticly, cooper is one of the smaller players out there. He gets more than his fair share at the bottom of a ruck. the kiwis are masters of intimidation, they zone in on a player and make sure he feels the aggression. I was at the game and saw worse things going on that wernt televised.
the knee wasnt so bad.
D

By Danny, at August 30, 2011 8:42 pm
"Do that to Vickerman and see where it gets ya."

Vickerman, are you serious? Vickerman reminds me of a dosile rat, I don't think Vickermans gonna do anything to ya.

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2011 10:40 pm
why people so fast to compare player like this with Bakkies ,count how many on him against Bakkies Botha its not about picking against south africa its mostly just profile histories .That's why

By ilexvunibola, at August 30, 2011 11:41 pm
haha, really? Is that why Vickerman dominated the ruck against NZ?
Big words for a team that lost.

By Anonymous, at August 31, 2011 1:26 am
"haha, really? Is that why Vickerman dominated the ruck against NZ?
Big words for a team that lost."

From a neutral point of view here...

I think you sort of missed the point, you were talking about putting a cheap shot on Vickerman... the other guy said Vickerman is dosile,... then you said Vickerman dominated the ruck.

Now my issue is that some players are hard as nails in the scrum, in the rucks, in the mauls, but they don't get involved in fist fights on the pitch...

So he could be the best player on the team and the most aggressive at ruck time... but it doesn't mean he would kill someone for cheap shotting him... maybe he would just give them a shove...

By Anonymous, at August 31, 2011 2:30 am
Vickerman is a tough dude.
He wouldn't back down from a fight with anyone. That's all I was saying.
The point is that Mccaw is going in and punching, elbowing and kicking a fly-half. And a particularly small fly half too.
That's not tough, it's soft. For a flanker, suppsoedly one of the biggest, toughest, meanest flankers in rugby, to go and bully a fly-half with punches, elbows and kicks is pretty soft.
If he wants to be a big man, why doesn't he try punching Elsom, Pocock or Vickerman. Any of them would be happy to trade a few with him.

But he didn't do that. He reserved all his cheap shots and niggling for the smallest guy on Australia's team.

By Anonymous, at August 31, 2011 4:09 am
^^^ Yeh I am with you on that one...

However you have to remember that McCaw is not necessarily "starting" on Cooper... it has clearly escalated...

I.e. cooper gets under his skin by driving him out of a maul, mccaw takes exception to it and pushes cooper, who pushes back, then mccaw swings around...

So I don't think McCaw has gone out of his way target cooper... I just think cooper does a hell of a job of pissing off mccaw, and mccaw can't handle it...

This however, was illegal on coopers part, doesn't take a genius to know he was being a bad boy!

By Anonymous, at August 31, 2011 5:43 am
"The point is that Mccaw is going in and punching, elbowing and kicking a fly-half. And a particularly small fly half too."

obviously a one eyed aussie view point. I am pretty sure you watched a different game to the one I watched, cause I certainly did not see a guiltess aussie fly half. You have also conveniently ignored posts from others here that put proper perspective on Mccaw's so called attacks on Cooper, but I do not expect a one eye aussie to take the slightest notice of common sense or reason.

By Anonymous, at August 31, 2011 6:14 am
just watched it again. hahaha i'd have to say that's intentional. I don't know what the instructions are to the citing commissioner and what standards they used. I'd be suprised if their instructions were "use your judgment". If I saw that in a game as a ref I'd be incline to call it accidental, but again I'd have to applaud cooper for getting away with it (especially against mccaw).

Still a very immature move, not thuggish but foolish. It's especially risky since its to the face and had cooper not done it as well he might be facing a ban or could have copped a red. That would have changed the course of the test and I can't see the aussies surviving that.

this isn't anything that needs to be removed from the game by administrators, but something the coaches and players need to remove fromt their game so as to avoid penalties.

By miguel, at August 31, 2011 7:58 am
Yea fuck off you one-eyed aussie troll! and I definitely LOL'd at you describing Pocock and Elsom as people who would be willing to throw-down.

Pussy-cats come to mind, just like your boy QC.

Vickerman is tough, but he's all alone in that aussie team.

By Anonymous, at August 31, 2011 8:27 am
Anyone who doesn't think Mccaw went out of his way to hit, punch, shove, elbow and niggle Cooper during the game didn't watch the whole game or is an All Black fan.

The whole thing started when Mccaw kicked Cooper like a sook in Hong Kong, when he got shirty cuz he got cleared out of a ruck.

Cooper pushed him out of a ruck. You know, like you do in rugby. It's called rucking.

In Hong Kong Mccaw reacted by kicking Cooper. In Brisbane he reacted by fisrt elbowing then punching Cooper in the face.

He didn't do that to anyone else. Just Cooper.

Some tough guy.

By Anonymous, at August 31, 2011 9:39 am
"Pussy-cats come to mind, just like your boy QC.

Vickerman is tough, but he's all alone in that aussie team."

Those pussy cats bashed your precious All Blacks in Brisbane. Bashed them and beat them. Deal with it.

By Anonymous, at August 31, 2011 9:40 am
Seems to plenty of Anonymous ozzies here.

Maybe RD should add that as an identity option so as we know not bother or to be ready for a Phil Kearns-like comment.

Never seen McCaw dish out a cheap shot but sure seen him take plenty.

By Tim, at August 31, 2011 12:47 pm
^^^ There is plenty anonymous kiwis, which seem to be upset that "can do no wrong McCaw" got a little clocking...

I don't condone this, (it makes good watching) and personally I don't think McCaw is a DIRTY player, he tends to bend some rules in the rucks occasionally, but he doesn't go out of his way to actually cheap shot someone etc... HOWEVER, this did, as many have said, start in HK when McCaw seemed to lose his head and kick out at cooper... and it has since continued...

I'm not comparing the two players as their positions are different, but both McCaw and BOD have a huge amount of games under their belts and generally they have done some rule bending, (or breaking...) but haven't resorted to violence, it was not that long ago that BOD took a swing at someone, (and missed) and I believe he said to the referee "I overreacted" or something like that, and quite clearly McCaw has had the same issue, cooper has got under his skin and he hasn't been able to maintain that coolness that he normally has.

But as other's have said, the kiwi's should not hang on this one incident with great distaste, because lets face it, you guys have had a fair bit of luck with cards and citing commissioners over the years!

By Sam, at August 31, 2011 2:45 pm
Well put Sam.

By Anonymous, at August 31, 2011 3:53 pm
if it comes down to an Aussie NZ final (likely) then i cant wait to see the comeuppence for QC...

By Anonymous, at August 31, 2011 6:01 pm
come on people! this is rugby not ballroom dancing! an occasional punch or knock in a ruck/maul or scrum are as much part of the game as the oddly shaped ball. mc caw can just pay cooper back next time he meets him on the pitch. wasting the commission's time is totally unnecessary here!Is it just me or is the complaining about "dirty play" not as bad here in the NH as it is in the SH?

By Anonymous, at September 01, 2011 1:29 am
It's just kiwis. They hate Cooper and love Mccaw.
Anyone else and it wouldn't be such a big deal to them.

By Anonymous, at September 01, 2011 3:47 am
What kind of game are we playing now where a 10 goes after a 7?

By Anonymous, at September 01, 2011 11:49 am
Glad to see him at the World Cup. Stupid incident really but the World Cup will be better with such a talent.

By Dave @ Rugby World Betting, at September 01, 2011 2:46 pm
Would have to agree with you Sam although I haven't seen the HK incident your talking about.

Cooper just comes off as a cock, and true, if it was any body else people wouldn't care so much.

Only thing is, I seriously just can't see anybody else in the Ozzy team doing that...

By Tim, at September 01, 2011 2:52 pm
Kiwis are such fucking whingers.

By Anonymous, at September 04, 2011 3:11 am
Due to the recent uproar over the citings commission failure to bring any sort of punishment against Quade cooper for his knee to the head on Richie Mccaw, the commission have felt it's time to release a statement. The citing commission, consisting of Michael Brial, Steve Finnane & Simon poidevin have said " we watched the footage over and over again and in the end we couldn't bring charges against Richie McCaw for his viscious headbutt, whilst he was on his back & looking the other direction to Coopers knee, but we will be keeping a close eye on McCaw for any other acts of violence such as this in the upcoming worldcup.

By Kenzo, at September 05, 2011 7:26 am