- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie may disagree but Bob Dwyer believes Reds playmaker Quade Cooper can force his way into the Wallabies squad with a blinder against the British and Irish Lions.
However, the World Cup-winning Wallabies mentor doubts whether national coach Robbie Deans’ snubbing of the 38-Test five-eighth to date is personal.
McKenzie appeared resigned to Cooper not being one of the six players added to the Wallabies squad on June 11 despite giving his prized player a license to thrill in the Reds’ Saturday night tour match against the Lions in Brisbane.
“I don’t think anyone gets picked on one game,” McKenzie said.
But Dwyer was not so sure.
“You never know. If he plays the house down it might make a difference – I am sure it would in fact,” he told AAP.
“I would put him in the squad but I am not surprised he is not in the squad – what Robbie said is a fair comment.”
Deans said Cooper needed more physicality, consistency and directness to his play after overlooking the dynamic No.10 in his initial 25-strong squad.
Cooper will aim to convince Deans otherwise when he runs out in a Queensland side without its Wallabies stars but still set to boast 12 players who have donned the green and gold.
Asked if he believed Cooper’s snub was personal, Dwyer said: “Robbie just hasn’t liked some of the things he has seen and he wants something different.
“I am sure it is not personal, every coach wants to win his games.
“You don’t pick a second rate team because you don’t like a bloke and run the risk of the team not going as well as they should.
“I discount that suggestion.”
Dwyer rated Cooper as the No.1 five-eighth in Australia.
“But Robbie is picking his team, not my team.”
Former Wallabies coach John Connolly said Cooper could still feature as an impact bench player in the three-Test Lions series which starts in Brisbane on June 22.
“He could come off the bench and do something special when you are struggling,” he told AAP.
“It’s hard to understand why he is not in the 25.
“Being in the 15 is another discussion.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.