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Losing to Ireland has stamped out complacency, says Cooper

Ahead of Saturday’s game against Russia, the out-half is taking the positives out of Australia’s shock defeat.

MERCURIAL AUSSIE OUT-HALF Quade Cooper insists that losing to Ireland might be the best thing that has happened to the Wallabies at this year’s World Cup.

Ahead of Saturday’s final pool game against Russia, Cooper tried to spin the shock 15-6 defeat in Eden Park as a positive, saying that it has stamped out every last trace of complacency in the Australian camp.

“The best thing we got out of it was that you have to prepare properly for each game – that’s how serious the World Cup is,” Cooper told reporters.

It does help the mood of the team in that you don’t get complacent and you realise there might have been areas in our game that we’d brushed over.

And although the prevailing mood in the Australian media before the Ireland game was one of confidence, the Kiwi-born star was adamant that the players had not underestimated Declan Kidney’s men.

“The Irish showed us that you can’t take any game lightly – not that we took them lightly – and you have to give respect to all the teams.”

Australia go into Saturday’s game in Nelson knowing that a bonus-point win will ramp up the pressure on Ireland ahead of their game against Italy on Sunday morning.

Should the Wallabies claim all five points as expected, Ireland know that at the very least they will need to pick up two losing bonus points in Dunedin if they are to progress as group winners and secure a seeded spot in the quarter-final draw.

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    Mute Steve
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    Sep 29th 2013, 2:23 PM

    Absolutely delighted for Clare and absolutely delighted Cork lost. Also delighted Shane O’Neill got destroyed and Jamie Coughlan didn’t get a game. His unsporting behaviour in the Kilkenny game this year was disgusting!!

    Hon the Banner!!!

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    Mute macca
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    Sep 29th 2013, 3:20 PM

    Made no diff to me who won, but delighted Shane o Neill got destroyed? Let me guess, is they because of his pull against kk?

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    Mute Steve
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    Sep 29th 2013, 5:37 PM

    Getting away with two straight red card offences whilst others got simple yellow cards etc. He has always been a sneak and got what he deserved yesterday

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    Mute macca
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    Sep 29th 2013, 3:19 PM

    People telling me this was the best all Ireland ever! It was in my backside

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    Mute Steve
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    Sep 29th 2013, 5:35 PM

    Spot on macca

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    Mute macca
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    Sep 29th 2013, 5:57 PM

    Lots don’t agree

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    Mute Steve
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    Sep 29th 2013, 7:04 PM

    A lot more agree though. The majority of people who think it was are from Clare and that’s to be expected. I was at the 1997 All Ireland and yesterday and 1997 was much better

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