Jane asks nz fans not to boo Quade

 

Ex Sport 24 Auckland - All Black wing Carol Jane has urged New Zealand spectators not to single out Australian playmaker Quade Cooper for abuse in Saturday's second Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland. Fans jeered Cooper's every touch of the ball at last year's Rugby World Cup, targeting him because he plays for Australia, even though he was born in New Zealand, and has a long-running feud with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw. (very poor sportmanship from the nz oaks!!) But there was no sympathy for Cooper from McCaw who dismissed the taunting of the Wallabies pivot as "just one of those things". (What can one expect from Ritchie at least Carol Jane has a sense of sportsmanship) The Test on Saturday is set to take place in front of a fierce partisan crowd at Auckland's Eden Park, but Jane said it was time to lay off Cooper. "I think sometimes the crowd probably needs to let it be," he told Wellington's Dominion Post newspaper, adding "whatever is done is done".(Not for ritchie it aint carol) Addressing Cooper's history with McCaw, which has led to the Wallaby being accused of taking cheap shots at the revered New Zealand captain, Jane said gamesmanship was part of the sport. "You put in a bit of niggle, everyone does it, it's a bit of fun," he said. "It's not as though he has absolutely given Richie a hiding or anything like that." (More is the pity!!!) McCaw, however, said if the abuse of Cooper persisted it was up to the player to turn it to his advantage. "A bit of history creates that. It's just one of those things. If he goes out and does the job that's all he can do," McCaw said. "I know personally when you go overseas and play somewhere else those things get you fired up to play well, so it doesn't matter too much I wouldn't have thought." Cooper initially revelled in his unpopularity among New Zealanders during last year's World Cup, referring to himself on Twitter as the home fans' "public enemy number one". But the pressure appeared to get to him as the tournament wore on and he produced a string of erratic displays that contributed to Australia's exit in the semi-finals at the hands of the All Blacks. The abuse became so bad that Cooper's septuagenarian grandmother, Millie, who still lives in New Zealand, leapt to the fly-half's defence, telling his critics to leave her "Quadey" alone. (Well said grandma I hope you let your brolley do the talking!!!) Then, to cap off a dismal tournament, Cooper limped from the field with a ruptured knee ligament during the third-place play-off with Wales and was sidelined for seven months. He will make his first appearance for the Wallabies since the World Cup in Saturday's match, drafted by coach Robbie Deans in the hope his mercurial skills can fire up an Australian side soundly beaten 27-19 in the first Test. If Cooper feels nervous about his reception in Auckland, he was giving nothing away at a media conference on Thursday, limiting his remarks to a brief statement and refusing to take questions. "All I want to say is, I'm back, I'm fit, healthy, I'm ready to go," he told reporters before abruptly heading for the exit. Hope it goes well Quade rock those abs!

A nice picture for all carol jane's fans!

As a gentleman - I hope - I do not believe booing any player is in fact called for. Playes - irrespective of whicj side should be applauded for good play and they flop they do not deserve any - they would know it and feel bad enough about it.

SA crowds tend to boo players depending on where the game is played and for which Province or franchise they play  - that really is the pits.

 

 Morne Steyn got Booed in the PE test against England. However this was as much for the team tactics. He kept sitting deep in the pocket instead of playing an attacking game. I was frustrated with these tactics- and well booing is not great, but I have to admit I was very frustrated with his performance in the 3rd test and would potentially have booed these tactics had I been at PE. People want to watch a rugby game, not someone just taking pot shots drop kicks and aimless giving the ball away.

As for Brian Habana getting booed in Bloemfontein - What was frustrating people was his defence as all the tries were being scored on his wing- and he was running up out of the line all the time and opposition were aware of this gap he was creating. I think was very poor on Habana- he was just out of form at the time, and it was only a matter of time before he would get his form back.

Booing the opposition can be fun, but not when someone is taking a penalty or conversion- which is unsporting as it is distracting. I was a Kiwi I would probably booe Quade as a traitor. The same happened with Clyde Rathbone when he played at Kingspark, being back in Durban. but it was more in good humour.