Matt Toomua bidding for edge over Wallabies teammate Quade Cooper in pivotal battle

BRUMBIES improver Matt Toomua is delighted Reds star Quade Cooper is fit for their Canberra showdown this weekend.

BRUMBIES improver Matt Toomua is delighted Quade Cooper is fit for their Canberra showdown because ambushing a Reds team without him would never taste quite as sweet.

Toomua’s stature as a player soared last year, not just through him shrewdly guiding the ACT team to the Super Rugby final as a flyhalf but because he excelled as a Wallabies inside centre in the second half of the year.

It would not be the kick-off to a new season without a fresh rivalry between top No.10s and Saturday night’s blockbuster between Australia’s two play-off teams of last year shapes as a classic scenesetter.

News_Rich_Media: Fresh ideas from new Reds coach Richard Graham has the Queensland side confident they can march to the Suepr Rugby title in 2014.

Through Cooper's seven-season career, flyhalf duels have been trumpeted with Kurtley Beale, Berrick Barnes, Matt Giteau, James O’Connor and now Toomua.

The Cooper-Toomua rivalry curiously precedes them all because Cooper, as a cocky Churchie schoolboy, was pitted against Brisbane State High prodigy Toomua in GPS rugby as far back as 2006.

Cooper trained for a second day at Ballymore on Tuesday before saying, with gratitude, how fortunate he was to put “one of the scariest moments of my footy career’’ behind me.

“Of course I want to play him but first and foremost because I care about his health. You don’t like seeing a guy taken off on a stretcher,’’ Toomua said.

News_Image_File: Matt Toomua will go head to head with Cooper after the Reds flyhalf was cleared to play.

Cooper and halfback Will Genia are pivotal to the Reds humming as a team while Toomua and Nic White, last year’s Test rookies, are just as crucial to the Brumbies finding their rhythm.

“We are one of the back-up (Wallabies halves pairings) so we’re trying to push for that selection and try to prove ourselves,’’ Toomua said.

“I don't want to harp on because it’s a team effort, but you’re definitely lying if you say you don’t.’’

Toomua's starchy defence, increased confidence to spear through a hole himself and general poise offer a great match-up against Cooper, defending in the frontline himself these days but with so much confidence to run again and create.

The Brumbies were so effective in the corresponding game a year ago they kept a Genia-less Reds and a less assured Cooper tryless.

News_Rich_Media: Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham admits he has a plan in place to stop Queensland Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper when the teams clash in this weekend's Super Rugby opener.

“The challenge for us is going to Canberra, a place where they feel very comfortable, and nullifying them,’’ Cooper said.

Smooth-moving Aidan Toua is certain to grab the fullback spot for Saturday night in a clear show of the Reds’ intention to expand their attack this season.

News_Image_File: Cooper replaces Toomua for the Wallabies.

After his neck scare, Cooper issued a warning for rugby union to be vigilant so that rugby league's banned “crusher tackle’’ does not infiltrate the code.

“I have no hard feelings towards the Rebels and how they played the game,’’ Cooper said of his worrying exit against the Melbourne side last Friday night.

“There was a bit of a crusher tackle about it but at the end of the day freak accidents happen so I’m just happy to be unscathed and ready for the season.’’

Cooper was diplomatic but did see an anomaly in rugby only having hardline bans on shoulder charges and lifting tackles.

“Rugby has rules around (banning) lifting tackles. In terms of chicken wing or crusher tackles, there is really nothing stopping you doing that,’’ Cooper said.

“That's out of my hands and obviously something for others to look at.

“We are the ones playing the game and if we thought there was too much risk we wouldn’t be playing the game.’’

The crusher tackle is essentially where a defender uses his upper body to pressure the head and neck forward so the chin is all but in contact with the chest.