Quade Cooper is over the moon as Wallabies exile ends

IT has been 317 days since Quade Cooper last pulled on a Wallabies jumper, but he is confident about delivering on the international stage.

IT has been 317 days since Quade Cooper last pulled on a Wallabies jumper, but having bided his time until coach Robbie Deans was sacked, he is more confident than ever about delivering on the international stage.

Cooper will be McKenzie's main man as Australia attempts to wrest back the Bledisloe Cup from the All Blacks after a decade-long drought, and after failing to click with Deans he is relishing the possibilities under his Queensland mentor.

"I am just grateful to have a great coach who shows belief in me and the rest of my teammates,'' Cooper said.

"I am sure all the other players who get the chance to be selected in the team will benefit from the confidence Ewen instils in players.

"[Deans] has moved on, I'm just looking forward to being involved with the Wallabies again. I've got nothing bad to say about him.''

Cooper fell out with Deans over game plans and a perceived lack of support last September after a game against Argentina. Deans never picked him again.

Asked if he ever felt his international career was over, the 38 Test-capped Cooper replied: ``Every time you put on that Wallaby jumper you have got to think about it as a privilege, an opportunity, and it could be your last time.

"I will never take that for granted, I will never expect to be part of the team.''

So while every man and dog was telling Cooper this week that he would be recalled to the national side when McKenzie named his first squad as Wallabies coach last Friday, the 25-year-old refused to celebrate prematurely.

"There were a few people telling me I would be back in, but I never got ahead of myself, I waited to see my name read out on FoxSports,'' Cooper said.

"And I was over the moon.''

While it would be natural for Cooper to feel gutted about missing out on playing a Test in the once-in-12-year British & Irish Lions series recently - a chance he will likely never get again - the playmaker denies being overly affected.

"As much as everybody has thought I'd have a lot of emotions, going up and down, I was quite content with everything,'' he said.

"I was happy to work hard and do my part. You can never be down if you've worked hard to give yourself the best opportunity. If that opportunity didn't come, I was happy with the effort I put in.

"I haven't been up and down. I've always been happy and looked at the positives.

"The positives of missing out was spending time with family and friends, with other guys who missed out.

"A big moment for me was representing Queensland against the Lions. I am just so grateful to people for supporting me at that time.

"It was a massive moment in my career, the opportunity of a lifetime. I can't say I never played the Lions.''

What did his time away from the Wallabies teach Cooper?

"I have learned about work ethic and how to be patient,'' he said.

"I have gained so much insight into life. Things don't happen overnight.

"You work hard in the gym, on the training paddock, off the field. The results don't happen instantly.

"It takes weeks, months, even a year or two, but the harder you work, the more things seem to go in your favour.''

One of the most talked-about rugby players on the planet has now resolved to let his actions do most of his talking.

Cooper is aware that come August 17 at ANZ Stadium, when Australia attempts to beat a team they have only defeated twice in the past 17 encounters, there will be no time to reflect on his journey.

"There have been a fair few challenging times, and you learn to grow with them,'' Cooper said.

"You learn lots about yourself, and everyone around you as well.

"I am happy with the way I'm going, but this is not the place for me to stop now.

"I can't be happy to just be here, I have got to strive to be a better player. I have to continue to improve on the field and off the field.

"The harder I work, the better I will be for the team.''