IRB Rugby World Cup
Quade Cooper apologises for offensive Twitter rant
ESPN Staff
July 26, 2015
Argentina 9-34 Australia (Australia only)

Wallabies back Quade Cooper has apologised for his late-night expletive-laden tweet, saying he reacted to personal criticism following Australia's Rugby Championship win over Argentina. And Wallabies coach Michael Cheika backed him, saying while he was disappointed in the language used there would be no punishment.

New Zealand-born 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. Cooper said it couldn't be further from the truth and he was reacting to a personal attack from an unknown party. It has since emerged that 'personal attack' may in fact have been this column from NZ Herald writer Chris Rattue.

"As footballers, we are still human beings. We've still got feelings and I bit back at some criticism and I used some language that probably shouldn't have been used," the playmaker said. "I'm disappointed in myself for getting trapped in that. It's happened to me many times and I've been able to brush it off but this one time it got to me."

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."

© ESPN Staff

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