Quade Cooper has apologised for losing it on social media. Photo / Getty Images
Did a column by the Herald's Chris Rattue spark a late-night expletive-laden tweet by Wallabies first five-eighth Quade Cooper?
Cooper has apologised for his tweet, saying he reacted to personal criticism following Australia's Rugby Championship win over Argentina.
Cooper was under fire on social media for his performance in the 34-9 win, which included a yellow card in the second half for a late and high tackle on Pumas five-eighth Nicolas Sanchez.
Hours after the game Cooper tweeted: "Invite me to you're next team discussion then ask me how much I give a f*** about your team selection? Zero f***s given".
The tweet was deleted about two hours after with social media abuzz about whether there were again problems within the Wallabies camp and Cooper himself apologised:
Cooper said it couldn't be further from the truth and he was reacting to a personal attack from an unknown party but, according to Sydney's Daily Telegraph, Cooper was responding to negative feedback on Twitter sparked by a column by Rattue last week.
The column titled Crazy antics by Cooper mean Wallabies won't be a threat for four more years, Rattue wrote that "Cooper is as crazy as ever and will lose more games than he wins for the Wallabies. Coach Cheika is playing with fire in World Cup year, relying on the nutty No10 to guide the ship".
The Daily Telegraph said it understood that Cooper read Rattue's piece and several abusive tweets after Australia's win over Argentina.
"There was some online criticism directed at me personally," said Cooper, according to the Daily Telegraph.
"I'm disappointed in that but I'm human, I've got feelings. That's it. I've never been one to read into media but this one time it caught my eye. I'm disappointed in myself for getting trapped in that. At the end of the day, I'm in a professional environment and it got to me this one time."
On hearing that his column may have sparked a reaction from Cooper, Rattue said: "In the modern era he's one of my favourite players to watch. He brings creativity and operates outside the rigid structures of rugby but he doesn't have the head for test rugby. If Australia persist with him, he'll let them down.
"Test rugby is won and lost on those big moments and he showed against South Africa with that poor pass that he can't perform in those moments. If you're going to throw a pass like that, it has to work.
"He reminds me of Benji Marshall. Marshall is my favourite league player to watch but I still don't think he should be in the Kiwis because the team situation doesn't make him the right fit."
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika backed Cooper's tweet, saying while he was disappointed in the language used there would be no punishment.
Under former coach Robbie Deans' reign, Cooper lashed the Wallabies, labelling the environment at "toxic".
He said he was proud of the current Wallabies and felt he needed to defend them.
"We've had two very good victories and I was very proud of that," Cooper said. "This team is doing some great things; we've got a great culture we're building as a team.
"We've got some great players and people and we're moving in the right direction and there are people on the outside trying to hammer us, still, when we're doing well and it kind of got to me. I should never have let it but that shows the passion that I have for this team."
Cheika said the language Cooper used was a "mistake".
"It's all about discipline and we're all trying to improve that on and off the field," he said.
"People have a right to have an opinion but it's about having the discipline to deal with it."
When asked if there would be any repercussions, Cheika said no.
"People make mistakes," he said. "I've certainly made a few in my time and that's all it is."
- With AAP
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