Wynne Gray: Cooper's night to claim Cup place

Quade Cooper. Photo / Getty Images

Quade Cooper's in-goal acrobatics were sensational, the backwards somersault good enough to rival the breakdance handspin that teammate Digby Ioane threw when he dotted down for the Reds.

Those Wallaby candidates will be on show again tonight when they seek to stall the Blues' unbeaten surge in the Super 15.

Many eyes, as well as those in the bumper crowd, will be tuned into Suncorp Stadium to watch the swag of test contenders in each team.

Cooper has been part of Robbie Deans' plans in 14 tests, where parts of his game have been numbingly brilliant and others quite modest.

At one stage last season, Deans confessed he had put Cooper on notice about his defensive frailties.

That alliance appears to have been sorted and Cooper's improved consistency alongside his unrestrained improvised moves has made him a favourite with Deans for the Wallaby No 10 job. There are other candidates, such as Berrick Barnes, Matt Giteau, Kurtley Beale at a pinch, though he's likely to be used at fullback.

Barnes has struggled with concussions while Giteau has again been in modest form with the equally unimpressive Brumbies.

Deans has been building his team carefully, looking for some nuggets to make his imprint as the Wallabies set their sights on the World Cup. He's had his spats with Giteau and some others in the old guard and wants "his" men to take the side forward. Blokes like Will Genia, James O'Connor, David Pocock and Cooper. The Tokoroa-born Cooper had his moments last year as he beat a burglary charge, hooked up with swimmer Stephanie Rice and knocked back a huge offer from the Eels to switch codes.

This season Cooper has made less of the non-sporting headlines, though he did sign on to join Anthony Mundine and Sonny Bill Williams in Khoder Nasser's stable.

Cooper has shown his winning mentality with the Reds as they have churned through nine wins from 11 matches before tonight's shootout in Brisbane. There is little doubt he has the sort of X-factor Deans is looking for with the Wallabies - someone capable of shredding the best defences with his subterfuge.

Sometimes even Cooper appears nonplussed by his work. He has those SBW-type passing moves, the cross-kicks and kick-passes, the stutter-step, the foxtrot dodge - every week an addition seems to appear. He is box-office, natural and exuberant, a crowd magnet and a Wallaby hotshot.

Tonight is a big stage for Cooper among many players - his task is to make his mark, create a victory and if he does, he'll get another huge tick from Deans.