Cooper shines as Reds put Chiefs away in Super 15

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AFP) –

This file photo shows Quade Cooper passing the ball during the 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-final match Australia vs New Zealand at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland, on October 16, 2011. Cooper made an emphatic statement to Wallabies selectors ahead of the Lions tour as he steered the Queensland Reds to an upset 31-23 win over the Waikato Chiefs on Saturday.

Quade Cooper made an emphatic statement to Wallabies selectors ahead of the Lions tour as he steered the Queensland Reds to an upset 31-23 win over the Waikato Chiefs on Saturday.

A day after Cooper was surprisingly omitted from Robbie Deans’ 30-man preliminary squad, the playmaker was a central figure in the Reds’ bonus-point win over the defending champions and New Zealand conference leaders.

Cooper’s absence from the squad for June’s British and Irish Lions tour so incensed former Wallaby fullback Greg Martin that he accused New Zealand-born coach Deans of trying to sabotage Australian rugby.

While Cooper denied any rift with Deans, he showed his credentials with a game-breaking try just after half-time when the Reds held a slender 14-13 lead and added to his points tally by converting all four tries and a penalty.

In partnership with scrum-half Will Genia, the Waikato-born Cooper dictated the flow of the match as the Reds forwards dominated the breakdown and ensured a steady supply of possession.

“He’s been improving from week to week and Willy and him have got a really good combination together and they direct us around the park really well,” skipper James Horwill said.

“So it was a big effort by both of them, and the boys up front really did a really good job to lay the platform for them.”

This file photo shows Quade Cooper playing for the Queensland Reds, during a Super 15 rugby union match in Brisbane, on July 2, 2011. Cooper made an emphatic statement to Wallabies selectors ahead of the Lions tour as he steered the Reds to an upset 31-23 win over the Waikato Chiefs on Saturday.

The Chiefs, who have not beaten the Reds at home since 2008, could only manage two tries against the Australians’ well-structured defence and relied on fullback Gareth Anscombe for the remainder of their points.

Anscombe became the first Super 15 player to reach 100 points for the season with a match haul of 13 to take his tally to 111, ahead of Brumbies’ Christian Lealiifano who has 99 after his side’s 30-19 win over the Otago Highlanders on Friday.

The Reds struck first when a wayward pass by Chiefs fly-half Aaron Cruden, in his 50th Super outing, was intercepted by Rod Davies for the first of his two tries.

The Chiefs replied with a penalty to Anscombe and a converted try by Bundee Aki to hit the front 10-7, but it was to be the only time they would lead in the game.

The Reds were in front by half-time following a try to Jake Schatz off a driving maul, and when Anscombe narrowed the gap to one point soon after the resumption of play Cooper responded with his try.

The Reds attacked from a lineout close to the Chiefs line and a smart dummy pass by Cooper saw him easily beat Cruden to dot down under the posts.

Cooper followed his try with a penalty and Genia stretched the lead to 28-13 with a long pass to put Davies in for his second try.

Anscombe and Cooper traded penalties before Patrick Osborne scored the Chiefs’ second try while Anthony Faingaa was in the sin bin.