I know its not about Parra, but thought with the Eels recent interest in him some may find it of worth reading...........
Wallabies No.10 Quade Cooper says he has been tackling forwards at training to try and improve his defence
Attack-minded ... Cooper knows he must fix his defence. Source: Phill Hillyard / News Limited
Quade Cooper has taken a page from the manual of new midfield partner Berrick Barnes to fix his tackling and secure his Wallabies position.
Cooper and Barnes will reunite in a starting side tomorrow against Italy for the first time since the end of 2009, when Barnes left Queensland Reds for New South Wales Waratahs.
Cooper is confident their experience together at the Reds will help the Wallabies attack function smoothly, but he also hopes borrowing a technique of Barnes from his league days can resolve the No. 10's defensive problems.
Cooper was warned by coach Robbie Deans this week his tackling must improve.
As a teenager at the Brisbane Broncos, Barnes developed a strong defence by asking Kangaroos prop Shane Webcke with his tree trunk thighs to run at him for practice after training.
This week Cooper did the same: "I asked some of the forwards if they want to let me try and tackle them," he said.
"I had a few of the boys over today to help me and also on Tuesday as well."
Deans' stern message hit home for Cooper, who acknowledged his defence had to get better. He has missed 39 of 92 tackles in Tests this year and become a primary target for opposing ball-runners.
But the 22-year-old said defence was only one area of his game he wanted to bolster.
"It is obviously a focus, but just like any other part of my game, my kicking, my attack, they're all areas that I want to improve," Cooper said.
As Cooper battles to hold his starting spot this weekend, one man keen to win his place back is Tatafu Polota-Nau.
The reserve hooker returned from injury this week, playing his first game since July against Munster after a layoff following foot surgery.
Polota-Nau joined the Wallabies two weeks ago as injury cover, but almost didn't get the call-up by Deans.
"I was on a weekend holiday in the Blue Mountains," Polota-Nau said.
"It was a good trek, take the old school tent out and sing a lullaby with the kookaburras and whatnot. I got a call from Robbie. It was lucky I had mobile reception. I had to quickly pack the tent up."
Replies
There's no doubting that he has defensive deficiencies, that need addressing and fast, but I think in time, if the interest in him came up again, I still believe that he can make a successful transition from union to league.
I still think he could play tomorrow, the defensive issues would be sorted by Kearney in an instant.
But I'm not holding my breath, though if he gets dumped from the Wallabies, well........................:)
lol
I think he's definitely an option that should be considered for 2012, given that we have seen just how good he is in the open field for the Wallabies, but that's just one of the several options that SK will look at.
Don't get me wrong Cronk's a star, and a decent guy to boot, it would just be good to get one up on Union and take from their pool.
Plus Cronk is a safe option we know Cronk would make Parra explode but with Quade Cooper he is an unkown quantity, i know some would be put off by that but for me its exciting boundless potential, We know what Cronk is capable of i dont beleive he will be an immortal. But with Q, Cooper...who knows?