Being frozen out at the Reds for a whole season looks to have been a blessing in disguise for former Australian fly-half Quade Cooper.
Receiving rave reviews after his first Super Rugby match in the Rebels’ 34-27 win over the Brumbies last weekend, pundits are tipping the 30-year-old enigma for a third World Cup campaign later this year.
Talking about his chances of joining the Wallabies squad for Japan, Cooper says: “I think that every person who plays rugby in Australia wants to be able to represent their country, wants to wear a starting jersey for their country.
“I’m no different, but in terms of my focus, it’s not at all on any of that. It’s about playing good football here and enjoying my football, and I feel like I’m doing both of those.”