Will 'toxic' Cooper make the cut?
New Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie will unveil his first squad on Friday, with two burning questions to be answered.
The Australian media have been abuzz with speculation about the future of Reds play-maker Quade Cooper and what possible 'bolsters' McKenzie could come up with.
McKenzie will name 40-man squad on Friday, ahead of their opening Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand in Sydney on August 17.
McKenzie said, when he got the job as Robbie Deans' successor earlier this month, that he was unlikely to make radical changes early in his tenure.
However, the named of Cooper – who hasn't featured for the Wallabies since last year when he was fined for publicly criticising Deans' national team set up as "toxic" – has repeatedly cropped up in media speculation of the team make-up.
The former World Cup-winning Wallaby and successful Reds coach, McKenzie, has repeatedly express his admiration for Cooper's skills and it appears certain Cooper will make the cut on Friday.
The other big debate has been around who may be the big bolters – with the names of Jake Schatz, Matt Toomua, Scott Fardy, Kyle Godwin and Will Skelton being bandied about in the Australian media.
Cooper has certainly pushed his claim, verbally, even if his form has been iffy in recent weeks.
He claims to be fitter, stronger and mentally in a better place.
"I hope so," Cooper said, when asked about reports of his imminent return.
"The squad is still to be announced and hopefully my name will be up there with the rest of the boys.
"It will be exciting to be involved with the Wallabies again. But I'm not taking anything for granted."
The 25-year-old's most recent of his 47 Tests, which all came under Deans, was against Argentina on the Gold Coast 10 months ago.
He has not featured since injuring his knee and then being fined $40,000 and receiving a ban for three matches – a penalty suspended for two years – for infamously labelling the Wallabies' set-up as "toxic".
Deans overlooked Cooper for the Wallabies' 1-2 series loss to the British and Irish Lions.
But, James O'Connor's immediate playing future in Australia up in the air, Cooper looms as Australia's first-choice flyhalf in the Rugby Championship.
"I feel a lot fitter and I'm 100 percent healthy," Cooper said.
"I had a fair bit of niggly knee injuries at the stage that I last played for the Wallabies, so I feel in a good spot.
"I've learnt a fair bit about myself, especially about hard work and attitude. Those things go a long way on and off the field.
"The harder you work off the field, the more it shows on the field."
O'Connor, Australia's incumbent No.10, remains without a contract for the 2014 Super Rugby competition after being shown the door by the Melbourne Rebels.
Just where he and fellow former Rebel without a club Kurtley Beale who, like O'Connor, has repeatedly been disciplined for off-field breaches this year, fit in McKenzie's plans remain to be seen.
McKenzie is expected to include both wayward Wallabies in his initial 40-man squad, but it would be no surprise if the pair miss selection for the first Test against the All Blacks at Sydney's Olympic stadium in three weeks.
Classy forwards David Pocock, Scott Higginbotham, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Sitaleki Timani are all unavailable due to long-term injuries.
Sources: Foxsports & AAP
