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Eddie Jones tips Cooper to bring 'Quade magic' in long-awaited return
By AAP
Quade Cooper's injury return has transformed the battle to avoid Japanese rugby's wooden spoon into a crucial Wallabies' World Cup moment.
The mercurial playmaker ruptured his Achilles while in Argentina with the Wallabies last August.
He will return for bottom-placed Kintetsu Liners, whom he guided to League One promotion last season, against NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu on Saturday.
"Reflecting on the last eight months, I realise that my biggest challenge has been with myself," Cooper wrote on social media ahead of his return.
"It's the small actions daily that lead to big victories."
"From the day I got injured I knew I was ready for the challenges this journey would provide.
"The goal is always progress not perfection."
After four years in the wilderness, Cooper earned a shock Test recall under former coach Dave Rennie while playing second-tier rugby in Japan.
He kicked a penalty after the siren to sink South Africa in that Test, the first of five straight wins that shot Australia from seventh to third in the world rankings.
But his absence, as well as Samu Kerevi's long-term knee injury, took a toll as the side sunk again with Rennie ultimately replaced by Eddie Jones.
In his absence no standout No.10 has emerged, with James O'Connor, Noah Lolesio, Bernard Foley, Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed, Carter Gordon and Tom Lynagh all having tried or floated.
Jones' first Test back in charge is against South Africa on July 8, one of four before they leave for September's World Cup.
No doubt the coach, impressed by Gordon during his first Wallabies camp on the Gold Coast last week, will be watching the action in Osaka closely after hinting recently Cooper was firmly in his plans.
"They (Kintetsu) need a bit of Quade magic," he told the ABC's Offsiders last month.
"So that'll get his confidence back; get them to win a few games, and we'll see where he can take us in the World Cup.
"We will need to have three 10s at the World Cup, Quade could be one of them, and the other two spots are wide open."
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Latest Comments
I think it's the least likely possibility Ed.
Go to commentsScotland should win this one, considering they are the settled team compared to Australia. However, that is no guarantee that they will win. The Aussies tails is up, and they are throwing everything at the opposition.
When the Aussie fans cracked up and got angry when Joe Schmidt was appointed, I said to them to be patient, that he will get them on the right track. They said that he is not Australian and he won nothing. Second best. I should mind my own business because I don't know the Aussie ways, which is true as I'm SA.
However, now that he is bringing in results, they are all changing their minds. Joe is all in when he coaches a team. There is no team he supports more than the team he coaches. His quality is shining through properly now.
It's going to be a very tight game, much tighter than people realise. Both teams is playing exciting rugby right now. They both want to win. I'd even go as far as marking this game as the top game of the weekend.
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