Sonny Bill Williams weighs into Quade Cooper selection drama

SONNY Bill Williams has some simple advice for dumped Wallaby Quade Cooper - let your talent do the talking.

SONNY Bill Williams has some simple advice for dumped Wallaby Quade Cooper - let your talent do the talking.

The code-hopping superstar reluctantly jumped into the latest controversy surrounding his good mate following Cooper's omission from the 25-man Australian squad named on Sunday ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour.

Asked if he was surprised Cooper was left out of the squad, Williams said: "Yeah, definitely. But it is one of those things.

"Quade is one of my real good mates. To me he is the best number 10 in this country by a long shot.

"There is some good players, talented players, but that is just my opinion.

"The selectors and the powers that be have other opinions.''

Wallaby coach Robbie Deans didn't mince his words when he explained what Cooper needed to do to become a Test force again - with Deans indicating the Queensland fly-half was basically responsible for some of the poor form of his Reds teammates.

He also criticised the fact that he wasn't in the front line of defence for the Reds.

Quade and Sonny

"Ben Tapuai is evidence of Quade not getting the balance right. He's not thriving outside of him (at the Reds),'' Deans said on Brisbane radio.

"Quade has got to be prepared to allow others to do some of the playmaking because it is more effective than if everything comes off Quade.

"You only have to look at the number of turnovers coming off Quade. If you allow the opposition anything that is predictable, they can close on it and produce pressure.''

Deans' preference for the fly-half role is Melbourne Rebels star James O'Connor despite his limited experience in the position.

It appears Berrick Barnes from the Waratahs and the Brumbies' Christian Lealiifano, who have been picked in the squad, are also ahead of Cooper in the pecking order.

Asked for his thoughts on some of the criticism of Cooper, Williams initially didn't want to buy into the debate.

"I don't want to get involved with it,' he said.

"I will stay out of it this time because whatever I say seems to get me in a bit of trouble.''

Then he offered up this simple advice

"It seems to me there is a lot of, not excuses, but a lot of finger pointing saying, 'He can't do this, he can't do that,'' Williams said.

"We just have to wait and see how it goes.

"I spoke to him and said just be patient, let his talent do the talking.

"It is pretty tough to come back from a knee reco. The last month he has been on fire so he is only going to get better.''

And the former All Black offered up a stunning compliment to fellow code-hopper Israel Folau.

"It is exciting to see him play,' Williams said.

"I said a couple of weeks ago that he is one of those guys that has that thing that you can't really coach.

"I wish I had that, just being able to beat players with ease like that, you know what I mean.

"But I will be like every other guy, just waiting to see how he goes and I'm pretty sure he'll do well.''