Rugby World Cup: Quade Cooper embraces edgier RWC preparation

AFTER being heckled for almost two months straight at the last World Cup, the only issue arising for Quade Cooper in England is all the selfie requests.

Australia's flyhalf Quade Cooper attends a training session, on September 15, 2015 at the University of Bath, three days before the opening match of the Rugby World Cup 2015 between England and Fidji at Twickenham stadium. AFP PHOTO / MARTIN BUREAU

AFTER being heckled for almost two months straight at the last World Cup in New Zealand, the only issue arising for Quade Cooper in England after a blissfully quiet arrival is all the selfie requests.

But Cooper says he is actually “more on edge” ahead of the 2015 World Cup than at the 2011 tournament and deliberately so.

The Wallaby playmaker revealed the hate campaign in New Zealand four years ago had affected his performance but only because he responded by chilling out even more, and losing the necessary focus.

“To be honest I was probably too relaxed when we went to New Zealand,” Cooper said.

“Amid the hostile feeling that was there in New Zealand, I went in there very relaxed. I was probably too relaxed.

“You ask what I learned from the last World Cup ... well, it is a Grand Final every week.

“You have to play your best every week. You have to train your best every session. I am more on edge (now), understanding that I have to stay focused every day. Whether it is a day off or whatever, I have to stay focused and stay with that goal in mind.

“It is only 6-8 weeks. That’s all your have to do is focus as hard as possible for that. Once the opportunity is gone, you are never going to get it back.

“I am going to leave no stone unturned.”

Cooper led Australia’s charge in 2011, playing every game at no. 10 in a testing tournament that ended with him suffering a serious knee injury.

With teams yet to be named for the Wallabies opening two matches, Cooper doesn’t yet know if he’ll again be given the reins but he believes he is a better and wiser person, and player, than the brash youngster who flew the flag in 2011.

With his future uncertain, it seems the 27-year-old is acutely aware his Wallabies days won’t last forever.

“As a player and as a person, I have grown immensely (since 2011), just in how I conduct myself in a day-to-day manner,” Cooper said.

“I am very focused at this World Cup. Not to say I wasn’t focused in 2011 but there was a lot of distractions, a lot of things went on that year that maybe I took for granted. I won’t take any second for granted this time around.

“I am over here to win with the team . and make sure we go away as winners. We are not here to make up numbers.

“Yesterday we were given a medal of participation. We don’t want to go away with just a medal of participation. We want to take the trophy home.”

Wallabies backs coach Stephen Larkham said there was a welcome lack of public scrutiny on Cooper in England, following the fever-pitch hysteria in New Zealand that grew out of several run-ins with Richie McCaw.

“It was difficult for him in New Zealand, particularly with the media pressure but so far on this trip we haven’t seen that sort of pressure put on him,” Larkham said.

“He has been up and down due to injury (since 2011) but I feel he is back to where he wants to be coming into a World Cup.”

Cooper said it had been a “blessing” to have Larkham on the Wallabies coaching staff and that’d he sought to pick the brains of the 101-Test, World Cup winning Wallaby at every opportunity.

“It has been great. throughout my career I haven’t been able to work with a guy who has played in my position, who has been there and done it all, achieved everything possible and who is a guy I looked up to coming through,” Cooper said.

“Every time I get the opportunity to sit down with him and chat with him I try and take everything on board.

“The biggest advice he has given me is when we are out there controlling the game as a playmaker and a five-eighth, you have to take ownership of that. You have to get up there and really be the playmaker, and be the quarterback of the team. For myself and Bernard.

“Being able to bounce things off a guy like Bernie has been great. I have been trying to pick his brains as much as possible.”

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Quade Cooper embraces edgier RWC preparation