Quade Cooper a late withdrawl from first Test

Star Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper has been ruled out of the rugby Test against England just minutes before the game was due to start.

The Wallabies were completing their warm-up at Optus Stadium in Perth when Cooper injured his left calf.

Cooper was consoled by teammates as he slowly trudged off the field.

Noah Lolesio was thrust into the starting line-up in place of Cooper at No.10 while James O'Connor was brought onto the bench.

Cooper led the Wallabies to five straight wins last year after his four-year exile from the national side came to an end and his absence leaves a massive void.

O'Connor was part of a corporate function before the match but he was rushed to the rooms to get changed once Cooper's injury was confirmed.

Earlier in the week, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie explained his reasons for not including O'Connor in the side.

"James missed a big chunk and didn't play too many Kiwi games and had two differ ent injuries," Rennie said.

"And whilst he's back and fit and available he just lacks sharpness around the skill set.

"Noah's played very well and we have a lot of confidence and he's trained very well."

England are aiming to secure a ninth successive victory against Australia when the rivals clashed at Perth’s Optus Stadium in the first of three Tests.

Courtney Lawes was retained as captain despite Owen Farrell’s return to fitness after missing the Six Nations because of an ankle injury.

Teenage sensation Henry Arundell was poised to make his debut off the bench in a match the Wallabies entered as favourites.

additional reporting PA

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