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Wallabies coach Robbie Deans appears set to overlook Quade Cooper for the upcoming British and Irish Lions series with James O'Connor favoured to play five-eighth.
Cooper still looks on the outer with Deans as the controversial playmaker will not be among a 30-man Wallabies squad to gather for a two-day administration camp in Sydney on Sunday.
Even with incumbent Kurtley Beale currently out of the picture due to his indefinite suspension over alcohol issues, Cooper will stay in Brisbane as other No.10 contenders meet with Deans and the rest of the extended squad.
While he upset Deans and teammates with claims of a toxic Wallabies environment last season, the 38-Test five-eighth's omission remains a surprise.
Former Test coach Eddie Jones last week rated Cooper's electric attacking game and X-factor as the best No.10 option to beat the Lions, while backline great Tim Horan has praised his recent form.
Earlier this season, Deans said Cooper would begin the year with a clean slate but also underlined he would select players who teammates could rely upon under pressure.
The 24-year-old endured a mixed start to 2013 but has bounced back into form with the Queensland Reds following the recent return of Wallabies halfback Will Genia from his knee reconstruction.
Cooper confirmed to AAP on Wednesday he wasn't invited to the Sydney camp but was unfazed by the omission and focused on continuing his positive progress with the Reds. He isn't the only regular Wallabies player to miss the last of three logistics camps held during the Super Rugby season as Melbourne Rebels halfback Nick Phipps has been usurped by Brumbies No.9 Nic White as Genia's back-up.
With Beale currently out of the picture and injury-plagued Waratah Berrick Barnes sidelined, O'Connor appears set to regain the No.10 jersey he wore with distinction in the 2011 end-of-year tour.
Uncapped Brumbies playmaker Christian Lealiifano is seen as the next cab off the rank but he has played the bulk of 2013 at inside centre.
Despite NSW Waratahs' rocky start to 2013, they will still boast most of the players - including a full forward pack - currently among the country's top 30.
Deans will name his initial 25-man squad for the three-Test Lions series on June 2, while five more will be added following the next weekend's round of Super Rugby matches.
Cooper and others outside the current 30 can work their way into Test squad over the next eight rounds of Super Rugby, and he has a prime chance to show his worth on Saturday against the defending champion Chiefs.
Reds mentor Ewen McKenzie's decision to position Cooper at fullback in defence has not helped his Wallabies' cause but the coach has stressed it's best for the Reds' kick-return attack, rather than an indictment on his tackling. "People say he's been up and down. I think he's been getting better every week," McKenzie said on Wednesday morning. "I think he's been more mature this year. There's no doubt the partnership he's got with Will is a great partnership and you get confidence out of that."
Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wa...#ixzz2Q4OTQEHv
Finally, Deans has seen the light.....
White, Toomua and Lealifano combination would be interesting. Foley has had some form too. But I wonder if they're just gonna go on name players only.
And no, I wouldn't pick White ahead of Genia, I'm just putting forward an idea
Last edited by chibi; 14-04-13 at 01:02.
Japan and the Pacific Islands for Aussie Super 9's!
Let's have one of these in WA! Click this link: Saitama Super Arena - New Perth Stadium?
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Glad to see Dingo hasn't done the automatic grab for QC. He is not playing to his best and hasn't for acouple of years now. He has been found out be the opposition a rush defence around him and he panics. He is not a pressure player. IMO
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Do we know who IS in the 30-man squad? Are there any Force players on the list?
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
Surely Foley or Lealiifano (despite sometimes playing 12) would be ahead of JO'C on form. Oh, Robbie Deans, you say ...![]()
ermmmmm.....Judas isnt even playing 10 at the rabble. FFS why not go with Toomua and CLL as the Brumbies are kicking butt. But no, cant do something like pick players in their position and in form.
The long sobs of autumn's violins wound my heart with a monotonous languor
If we had a bunch of warm-up or Australia A games this year, it would have been really interesting to see these guys working together as a group. Toomua & Leliifano, White & Foley, Jessie Mogg coming in from fullback running off Godwin maybe? I hope the Force play Ed Stubbs sometime this year too, I want to see if he could be a bolter.
Last edited by chibi; 12-04-13 at 16:01.
Japan and the Pacific Islands for Aussie Super 9's!
Let's have one of these in WA! Click this link: Saitama Super Arena - New Perth Stadium?
Sorry about the smite Alison... it is really for Folau, what do they say about not shooting the messenger!?
It's OK Palitu, Alison is collecting smites......feel free to smite her for no reason!
C'mon the![]()
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Smites/smotes?
Present and past tenses jono.
Both verbs which have become nouns on-line.