While Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie might not be laughing, Quade Cooper can see the funny side of teammates giving his recovering shoulder an early “test” before his official return from injury on Sunday.
Cooper will play his first game since May in the National Rugby Championship (NRC) for Brisbane City against Queensland Country – a game he hopes will lead to consideration for the Bledisloe Cup clash at Suncorp Stadium on October 18.
And thanks to some cheeky – and some would say very brave – teammates, Cooper said he was confident his shoulder would thrive in its first official hit-out.
In news that would probably make McKenzie’s heart skip a beat, Cooper revealed teammates gave his shoulder an impromptu test before he had been cleared for contact work.
“A few of the boys have hit me before I was even back into contact which in some regards is a good thing,” Cooper laughed.
“You get a bit of a fright but then it’s like ‘oh it feels good’.
“And going through it with the physios and the trainer and making some tackles, it does do wonders for your confidence.
“The medical staff say everything is right.
“Now mentally I have to go out there and make sure I am confident.”
Cooper’s recovery from shoulder and minor hip surgery took longer than expected, ensuring he missed out on Australia’s touring squad for the upcoming Newlands Test against the Springboks and October 4 clash in Argentina.
The 50-Test five-eighth was not expected back in the green and gold until the end-of-year European tour but Cooper kept his fingers crossed for a Bledisloe Cup nod.
“Everyone’s goal is to represent the Wallabies,” said Cooper who hoped to follow in Reds teammate Will Genia’s footsteps and earn an international recall via the NRC.
“The pathway is there to come back through Brisbane City, play some good football and hopefully be in contention.”
The playmaker admitted his shoulder was not 100 per cent but hoped Wallabies selectors would see a new and improved Cooper in the NRC.
“Any time you have surgery it’s never going to be back to 100 per cent but it feels great,” he said.
“Any injury takes longer than you would have liked.
“Every rehab has its complications.
“But every injury is an opportunity to come back bigger and better.”
rugby heaven
Guest
Lol no he will bring hype to ruin the current form and substance
Westie
Guest
That's an effing joke. Guy's a bloody turnstile.
Jerry
Guest
Bring on the World Cup!
Nigel Imrie
Guest
EM is a sucker for QC, regardless of how well Foley plays EM has a man crush for QC and will prefer him to Foley. Look at the selection of KB at ten, where did that come from? He was always about picking on form and rewarding players, EM did not do that with Foley thus robbing us all of a chance to see how our backline with Foley steering it would have fared v the AB. Foley has recently given us some direction and players are fast becoming use to the combination, EM was always treading water waiting for QC to return. According to the great Andrew Mehrtens Foley is the ten we need, the stability to steer the ship and Dwyer and a few others concur yet EM does not realize what he has in Foley, it will be to his detriment, he began well with a simple no frills type of game with a high yeild but is begining to become eratic and tactically redundant. Perhaps EM future in Australian rugby should be in Admin as he is not sewing any seeds of confidence and so early in his tenure.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
In the last few tests Foley has made some glaring errors. but they seem to have been glossed over.
stillmatic1
Guest
especially when he just accused chivas of being a troll aswell, 44bottles!! he is a tah supporter though, so only used to sitting in the stands quietly or booing his own team!!
stillmatic1
Guest
agreed. not against quade playing at all , the fact that the wallabies will be a touch more dangerous with his great passing game will make the game interesting. people seem to forget he has calmed down his play since the heady days and is not so erratic. as you highlight earlier, he needs to have supreme confidence in his body in order to be a genuine threat again though. he needs to get that running game going combined with the excellent passing.
soapit
Guest
yep, a win would be quite valuable to have before wc time. but another loss wont cruel anything ad therefore a good environment to give quade some game time.
44bottles
Roar Guru
So everyone you perceive as against you should be generalized in a sweeping statement?
bennalong
Guest
I will be interested to watch QC going round again Couldn't give a toss what Kiwi's think about it . Their performances booing him were pathetic for a so-called proud rugby nation. Showed the "small man complex" isn't overcome even when you have half your population across the ditch and the best rugby team in the world. Sad! Of course he shouldn't get the 10 spot back as though it's been kept for him all this time. He didn't get back to his best and his lack of consistency may still inhibit his career like King Carlos On the other hand, maybe we'll see a QC mark 4......a new man who can play closer to the ad line and is consistent. Foley knockers are usually simply Tahs haters. Given he's only been playing Super 15 two seasons the bloke's flat play, something we haven't seen for a long time, is exceptional. And there's so little between his best game and his worst. If the Wallabies forewards could give him the ball the Tahs big men secured under Cheika we may not be sweating on this next game
bennalong
Guest
Troll !
44bottles
Roar Guru
That is a perfectly reasonable opinon that differs to yours. Why is the world tr0lling applied so often to someone with a different opinion as if it's a logical way to counter someone's argument. It just makes the people using it look bad.
44bottles
Roar Guru
He's been defending in the front line and committing to tackles since at least last year's Super Rugby season.
44bottles
Roar Guru
I'm not doubting there was niggle towards Cooper, Brad Thorn's shove after he dropped a high ball comes to mind, I just don't recall anything about him starting it. Saw in that link that Cooper claimed it started earlier but I didn't want to descend too far into that thread. Seemed to just be a huge thread of "McCaw's a c.h.eat" and "You're just a whining aussie" I saw the Spatwatch incident, but the way Cooper seemed to staunch up on him after suggests that it was a reaction to something. Not very conclusive to me.
Common Sense
Roar Rookie
Which is never.
Jameswm
Guest
Nah the ABs would be worried about Cooper and Genia if the Aussie pack got a roll on.
stillmatic1
Guest
well considering the amount of hyperbole that comes out after each win or draw (about being closer etc) vs the abs, I think drawing the series would sit quite well with the wallabies and most of their supporters. you guys love to talk about confidence, remember?
soapit
Guest
aboos? ok?
soapit
Guest
good point, hadnt thought about the draw, tho not sure it'll be much of a moral victory given we wont get the trophy out of it
soapit
Guest
ok aboos. ok.