The 20-20 draw against Australia, in 2009, was memorable for two things – David Pocock’s immense performance and Brian O’Driscoll’s last gasp, converted try. It’s less well known that Luke Fitzgerald tried and failed to obliterate Quade Cooper.
That is what might have happened were it not for the Leinster man losing his footing on the Croke Park pitch.
2009 was a year of years for Fitzgerald. He started every game for Ireland as they won a Grand Slam, claimed Heineken Cup glory with Leinster and travelled to South Africa with the Lions.
He went into the November Test against the Wallabies feeling unbeatable. He would be coming up against another 21-year-old in rare form – Quade Cooper.
The Reds back was playing inside centre for Australia and Fitzgerald had him rightly scouted as a dangerman. With Ireland trailing 10-6 in the second half, Fitzgerald felt the time was right to lay down a marker. He told Off The Ball:
“I blew out my knee in a really, really awkward accident.
“I was playing against Quade Cooper and there was something about him I just didn’t like. I watched him all week and how he moved – he had beautiful footwork – and I saw [during the game] that he’s going to put that on here. I had a perfect angle, too, to take his head off.
“It served me right as I was going for a dirty shot on him. He ended up slipping as I came in and took out my knee.”
Fitzgerald was helped off the field and most of his 2009/10 season was a write-off. He did not play again for Ireland until November 2010.
As for Cooper, he is still side-stepping with impunity but he has not represented the Wallabies since a pool game against Uruguay at the 2015 World Cup.
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