Toxic no more, Quade Cooper says there’s a refreshing new vibe in the Wallabies camp after returning to the national ranks for the first time since slagging off the culture under former coach Robbie Deans.
Cooper is favoured to win back his No.10 Test jumper against the All Blacks in Saturday week’s Rugby Championship opener after being recalled to an expanded Wallabies squad by new coach Ewen McKenzie, his long-time ally and Queensland Reds mentor.
The 25-year-old hasn’t worn the gold jersey since last September and admitted he was desperate to end his 11-month Test exile after falling out of favour with Deans.
“When you have time away from the game, whether it be for your club side or your national team, whenever you’re selected for that team again the hunger is always there,” he said on Wednesday.
Relaxed and upbeat, Cooper said the change of regime excited him after playing all 38 of his Tests to date under Deans.
“It’s always going to be a different vibe when you get a new group of different people together – coaches, players, everybody from the ground up,” he said.
“I’ve been away from it for a bit and I’ve come back and it’s really refreshing.”
Although there’s several new names in McKenzie’s 40-man training squad, Cooper said there’s also plenty of familiar faces and he admitted to missing the camaraderie of his Wallabies teammates during his time on the outer.
“When you leave or you haven’t seen a bunch of mates for a long time and you get together for a gathering, for a beer, for a bite to eat, it’s like old times,” he said.
“It’s like you never left. You pick up on old habits, old stories. It’s great times and this is one of the most exciting times for me, of my career moving forward, and I’m just very much looking forward to being a part of the team and contributing.”
McKenzie issued Cooper a licence to thrill during their four Super Rugby seasons together at the Reds and the flashy playmaker said he was equally chuffed about the appointment of his Queensland assistant Jim McKay as the Wallabies’ new backline coach.
“The backs will really relish the opportunity to play under him,” Cooper said.
“He’s got a great attacking mindset. He loves the game. He’s very passionate about attacking, going out there and expressing yourself.
“I’m sure everybody will really flourish off his guidance.”
Despite his excitement, Cooper is refusing to take for granted his expected reinstatement to Test five-eighth after McKenzie selected incumbent playmaker James O’Connor as a fullback or winger.
Cooper is in a three-way tussle for the No.10 jumper with uncapped pair Matt Toomua and Bernard Foley, one of whom is likely to be cut on Friday when McKenzie trims his squad to 30 players for the All Blacks showdown.
“Every position is hotly contested and No.10 is no different,” Cooper said.