Lions tour: Quade Cooper left out of Aussie squad

Quade Cooper: Not the end. Picture: Getty

Deans, who will add six more players to his squad on 11 June, also found places in his party for uncapped No 8 Ben Mowen and his ACT Brumbies team-mate Christian Leali’ifano, who plays at centre and fly-half.

But there was no spot for Cooper, who was Australia’s first-choice fly-half until he sustained a knee injury at the 2011 World Cup and last year fell out with Deans when he spoke of a “toxic” environment in the Wallabies camp.

“People will say that’s the end for Quade but that’s not the case,” Deans told a news conference. “There are still six places to be resolved and I’ve selected him on 38 occasions, so he’s had a lot of faith and support from me and to suggest otherwise is nonsense.

“He will get the opportunity to play against the Lions. Test rugby is another level from Super Rugby, we would like to see Quade defend in the front line and we would like him to assert himself physically in the game because it’s an element you can’t avoid at Test level.

“He’s got a great opportunity to do that, and dent the Lions as well, playing for the Reds.”

Cooper’s opportunity will come when the Queensland Reds host the Lions in Brisbane on 8 June.

Deans confirmed that James O’Connor, who has started just one Test at fly-half, would be his first-choice No 10, describing him as a player who “traumatises defences”.

Kurtley Beale, who finished last season as the incumbent fly-half, was also omitted after being suspended indefinitely to undergo treatment for “personal issues” earlier this month.

Deans said Beale’s mental and physical condition would be monitored but that there was “no point in second guessing” whether he would be available.

“He’s got a chance but clearly he has to get through that process, clearly it will be a watching brief,” he said.

First-choice hooker Tatafu Polota Nau, who broke his forearm playing for the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday night, is unavailable, Deans said, and Stephen Moore and Saia Faingaa were named as the specialist rakes.

Openside flanker George Smith, who was set to return from international retirement, has also been ruled out after injuring his knee on Saturday with Michael Hooper and Liam Gill left to battle for the No 7 shirt.

Centre Pat McCabe, also injured in the Waratahs-Brumbies match, has a suspected posterior cruciate ligament tear but could still play a part, Deans said.

Former rugby league international Folau, who has played 12 games of rugby union since switching from the Australian rules code for this season, was rewarded for his fine form at full-back for the Waratahs.

Wingers Joe Tomane and Nick Cummins, who both made their Test debuts last season, were included while there was still a place for Digby Ioane, who is leaving Australia at the end of the season to play for Stade Francais.

Full-back Mogg was the front-runner for inclusion in the squad after some scintillating early season Super Rugby form.

Scrum-half White had been widely tipped to back up Will Genia for the series, though still may get a chance with the Queensland Reds player the only specialist No 9 named in the initial squad.

Deans said there would be at least one half-back added to the squad with Luke Burgess, who is currently playing in France, also coming into the reckoning.

“There is a lot of competition. This has been our most difficult process for a long time,” Deans said of his squad. “It’s been selected to win. Period.”

The Lions play the Barbarians in Hong Kong on 1 June and arrive in Australia the following day.

Squad

BACKS

Israel Folau*

Digby Ioane

Joe Tomane

Nick Cummins,

Adam Ashley-Cooper

Rob Horne

Pat McCabe

Christian Leali’ifano*

Berrick Barnes

James O’Connor

Will Genia

FORWARDS

Wycliff Palu

Michael Hooper

Liam Gill

Scott Higginbotham

Ben Mowen*

Rob Simmons

James Horwill

Sitaleki Timani

James Slipper

Ben Alexander

Benn Robinson

Sekope Kepu

Stephen Moore

Saia Faingaa

*Denotes uncapped player