Maverick Cooper may get Wallaby reprieve
Source: AFP |
July 11, 2013, Thursday
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MAVERICK Queensland Reds playmaker Quade Cooper is likely to see his Wallaby career resurrected under Ewen McKenzie as the new coach seeks to transform the team into a more attacking unit.
The polarizing flyhalf has not featured for Australia since he labelled the Wallabies atmosphere "toxic" following last September's narrow win over Argentina, a comment that saw him left out of the squad which faced the British and Irish Lions.
But with Robbie Deans gone and Cooper's director of coaching at Queensland replacing him, the odds are that he will be recalled for their next match against the champions All Blacks in Sydney next Wednesday.
McKenzie has championed Cooper's cause and said before the Lions series that he should be on the team. He made clear after his appointment as Wallabies coach on Tuesday that he remains a great admirer.
"I think Quade is an outstanding player. I'm now in a position to control exactly who is going to play and who isn't," McKenzie said.
"I look forward to the challenge of selecting the team. I'll be picking the team that I think can beat the All Blacks. I'm really looking forward to that task. I think we've got a really good bunch of players.
"I think we've got great depth."
Wallaby playmaker Will Genia, a teammate of Cooper's at the Reds, said they were both excited about the possibility of playing again at national level, but neither was taking selection for granted.
Genia said yesterday he had spoken with Cooper since McKenzie's appointment, and they were eager to impress him.
"We've been fortunate enough to work with him (McKenzie) here and see the good things he's capable of doing," the halfback told reporters in Brisbane.
"You can't hide the fact that Ewen's always been a big fan of Quade's, but just like every other player in Australia we're going to have to prove ourselves."
James O'Connor took Cooper's place in the Wallabies lineup, but he received mixed reviews and his club the Melbourne Rebels decided on Sunday not to offer him a contract beyond the 2013 season.
O'Connor is one of a handful of players whose recent off-field behavior has overshadowed their sporting achievements. McKenzie has made it clear he will not tolerate any ill-discipline.
The polarizing flyhalf has not featured for Australia since he labelled the Wallabies atmosphere "toxic" following last September's narrow win over Argentina, a comment that saw him left out of the squad which faced the British and Irish Lions.
But with Robbie Deans gone and Cooper's director of coaching at Queensland replacing him, the odds are that he will be recalled for their next match against the champions All Blacks in Sydney next Wednesday.
McKenzie has championed Cooper's cause and said before the Lions series that he should be on the team. He made clear after his appointment as Wallabies coach on Tuesday that he remains a great admirer.
"I think Quade is an outstanding player. I'm now in a position to control exactly who is going to play and who isn't," McKenzie said.
"I look forward to the challenge of selecting the team. I'll be picking the team that I think can beat the All Blacks. I'm really looking forward to that task. I think we've got a really good bunch of players.
"I think we've got great depth."
Wallaby playmaker Will Genia, a teammate of Cooper's at the Reds, said they were both excited about the possibility of playing again at national level, but neither was taking selection for granted.
Genia said yesterday he had spoken with Cooper since McKenzie's appointment, and they were eager to impress him.
"We've been fortunate enough to work with him (McKenzie) here and see the good things he's capable of doing," the halfback told reporters in Brisbane.
"You can't hide the fact that Ewen's always been a big fan of Quade's, but just like every other player in Australia we're going to have to prove ourselves."
James O'Connor took Cooper's place in the Wallabies lineup, but he received mixed reviews and his club the Melbourne Rebels decided on Sunday not to offer him a contract beyond the 2013 season.
O'Connor is one of a handful of players whose recent off-field behavior has overshadowed their sporting achievements. McKenzie has made it clear he will not tolerate any ill-discipline.
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