Rebels coach talks up Quade Cooper's World Cup hopes
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Melbourne Rebels coach Dave Wessels has talked up the chances of star recruit Quade Cooper featuring at next year's World Cup.
Unwanted at the Reds for the past year, the 30-year-old will start training in Melbourne on Monday in an attempt to re-ignite his test career ahead of the global showpiece in Japan.
The last of Cooper's 70 test caps came in June last year, against Italy in Brisbane, and although the mercurial first five-eighth was in the first term of a three-season deal back with his former Reds side, he was this year left plying his trade for Brisbane club Souths in the Queensland Premier competition after not being wanted by new Reds coach Brad Thorn.
Rather than being concerned by the playmaker's lack of recent top level football, Wessels is instead buoyed by what a season out of Super Rugby could have done for the playmaker.
"Quade's really been playing for the better part of a decade pretty much full- on, without a break," Wessels said.
"This is the first time his body has had a bit of a breather and I think both mentally and physically that makes a difference, and when you talk to him it's obvious he's got a real energy for the game.
"My gut feel is that the time off has been really good for him."
Wessels said Cooper still had the talent and ability to play a part in the Wallabies' World Cup campaign, as long as he worked hard.
"A talent like his deserves to be playing at the top end of the game but the only person who is going to change that now is him," he said.
"I think if he's in the mind space to come and work hard and put the effort in he's certainly got the ability to be at the World Cup.
"What's been so refreshing in my conversations with Quade is just his appetite to work hard over the next couple of months."
The Rebels have lacked an elite No 10, most recently using Jack Debreczeni, who has signed with the Chiefs, in the role.
Wessels said that the reaction from his players towards Cooper's signing had been all positive.
"I've spoken to a number of senior players who know him well, like Will [Genia], Dane [Haylett-Petty] and Reece Hodge and they've spoken very positively about him.
"I've also had some calls from people who have coached him or know him well and they've described him as a real gem."
Story via: Stuff.co.nz
