Cooper shuts down Wallabies comeback
SPOTLIGHT: Quade Cooper might have played his last game for the Wallabies, the flyhalf admitted.
The New Zealand-born playmaker has always been a very intriguing character and his latest admission has caused a stir in the rugby fraternity.
Regarded as one of the best in the business, the 80-Test Wallaby hasn’t played international rugby since last year’s Bledisloe Cup Test in Dunedin which saw the All Blacks emerge victorious after a Richie Mo’unga penalty at the death.
That was the Wallabies’ fourth loss in as many starts under then-coach Eddie Jones, and also their final Test before the World Cup, which saw them eliminated at the pool stages for the first time.
The horrendous results saw Rugby Australia and Jones part ways before the introduction of the now head coach Joe Schmidt.
The former Ireland coach has signed a deal until the end of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour.
Whether Schmidt will bring in Cooper and other experienced heads only time will tell.
However, the flyhalf, who plies his trade in Japan, has very little hope of adding to his Test tally.
When asked about playing the gold jersey under Schmidt, Cooper stated via social media, “I’ll probably say no.”
He added: “It’s not that I wouldn’t want to; it’s more new coaches and stuff like that. I’m getting older, but you just never know.”
Cooper has always had a rocky relationship with Wallabies bosses.
In 2017 Cooper was dropped from the Wallabies side after a bust-up with head coach Michael Cheika and duly missed the 2019 World Cup.
He famously returned in 2021 under Dave Rennie and played a key role during their brief upturn in form.
However, Rennie got the boot in 2023 and then Jones’ reign started.
Despite being earmarked as the starting No.10 for Jones, the 35-year-old Cooper was omitted from the 2023 World Cup squad.
*Additional source: Rugbypass
