Experienced fly-half Quade Cooper has praised the talents of the Rebels’ Carter Gordon as the Wallabies look ahead to the upcoming Rugby Championship.
The tournament begins on July 8 and Australia have continued their preparations with an ‘informal’ training camp on the Gold Coast.
Cooper and Gordon have been roommates in Queensland, two of a plethora of players that are competing for the fly-half role.
Talent
“It is good to have competition and I’ve been rooming with Carter, so he’s a great kid and look forward to working with him,” he told Stan Sport.
“There’s a lot of special things with him and every other young player in this group. He’s a great ball player. He’s got a great pass on him. He’s just a great young kid.
“As are the rest of the boys here. So it’s a great group and I look forward to being in camp for the rest of the week.”
The 35-year-old is returning to fitness after suffering a serious Achilles injury in a Rugby Championship clash against Argentina last year.
Cooper made his comeback towards the end of the Japanese domestic season and also featured for the Barbarians against a World XV.
Australia head coach Eddie Jones has previously suggested that the former Reds man is his preferred fly-half for the Rugby World Cup, but there are plenty of players vying for the shirt.
Alongside Cooper and Gordon, Bernard Foley, Noah Lolesio, James O’Connor, Ben Donaldson, Tom Lynagh and Jack Debreczeni all have their qualities and could feasibly play a part this year.
Jones will provide an indicator as to who his starting 10 will be when the Rugby Championship squad is named.
“It’s been great (working with Jones),” Cooper said.
“Definitely, the group’s been on edge. There’s a few unknowns, but that’s sort of what you want in preparation for such a big occasion like the World Cup and Rugby Championship coming up.”
Foley’s chances
If Cooper is not ready for the first Test, respected pundits in Australia believe that another experienced operator in Bernard Foley could get the nod.
“Bernard Foley in there – he might be one to watch for that first Test match (against South Africa) in Pretoria,” ex-Wallabies centre Morgan Turinui said on Stan Sport.
“He’s a proper rugby nerd, Quade.”
Former lock Justin Harrison also believes that Cooper is not a guaranteed pick and needs to prove his fitness.
“There’s Debreczeni, Noah Lolesio is doing that at the end of games (for the Brumbies), Carter Gordon’s breathing down his neck, Bernard Foley is there as well,” Harrison said.
“He’s also got to prove that his Achilles is able to play some rugby.
“We need an international 10 to lead us through this.”
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