Rugby: Cooper keeps open mind

First five-eighths Quade Cooper says the hunger has always been there to play for Australia. Picture / Sarah Ivey

Quade Cooper is desperate to end his 11-month international rugby exile but refuses to take for granted his expected reinstatement as Wallabies playmaker next week.

Cooper is in a three-way tussle for the test five-eighths role with uncapped pair Matt Toomua and Bernard Foley after being recalled to an expanded national squad by new coach Ewen McKenzie, his long-time Queensland Reds mentor.

The 25-year-old has not worn the gold jersey since last September and said he was thrilled to get his hands on the new team kit after entering camp in Sydney on Monday ahead of Saturday week's Rugby Championship opener against the All Blacks.

"It all fits nicely and it's just good to be back around the boys and back in camp and the excitement that's around the team is pretty good," Cooper said yesterday.

"All the boys have been pumped for training and again I'm looking forward to training today and hopefully being a part of the squad moving forward."

McKenzie will cut his squad from 40 to 30 players tomorrow, with Cooper certain to remain and either Toomua or Foley likely to be culled.

"Every position is hotly contested and No10 is no different," Cooper said. "I see it as an opportunity to learn off each player. There's two other guys who are great players and who have done a great job for their teams throughout the year.

"Matty [Toomua] and his [Brumbies] team were in the [Super rugby] finals and we had to sit on the sidelines and watch.

"Bernard did a great job for the Waratahs, taking them as far as they did. From where they were last year and where they are now, it's a great transformation.

"So I've just got to come here with an open mind.

"Obviously you can't look at yourself as being the best at everything.

"There's going to be things that I'll bring to the team and things that they'll bring to the team."

Cooper admitted that his time in the test wilderness after falling outof favour with McKenzie's predecessor Robbie Deans made him hungrier to add to his 38 caps for the Wallabies.

"When you have time away from the game, whether it be for your club side or your national team, whenever you're selected for that team again the hunger is always there," the playmaker said.

"But for me, my work ethic away from the team is what I've had to work on the most.

"Not knowing if you're going to be involved in the team, that's something when you're away from the team you've got to work hard on and if you are lucky enough to be called up, then you're ready to go."

- AAP