Rugby World Cup: 'Boofhead' Cooper looks for positives

Quade Cooper (facing) is taking criticism in his stride. Photo / Getty Images

James O'Connor and Quade Cooper are both skilled at thinking on their feet as well as following a game plan and they had to display both attributes at an entertaining Wallabies press conference today.

The controversial pair have hit the headlines for all sorts of reasons lately - from O'Connor's absence at a team function and subsequent suspension, to Cooper's ongoing spat with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and his acceptance of the New Zealand public enemy No1 title.

A large media contingent - including 17 TV cameras - attended today's team announcement in the hope of more juicy soundbites and they weren't disappointed.

Facting the press were coach Robbie Deans and players O'Connor, Cooper, Rocky Elsom and Kurtley Beale.

One of the first questions Deans fielded was about his message to O'Connor after he selected him in the Wallabies starting line-up for the match against Ireland at Eden Park on Saturday night, the first time since the 21-year-old wing overslept after a late night.

"Welcome back. Well done off the bench, you did a good job off the bench [in Australia's opening win over Italy]," Deans said. "He can speak for himself but I have no doubt that he will be less likely to take that jersey for granted in the future."

To O'Connor then - how does it feel to be back? "Yeah, look I'm stoked, I can't wait to go against Ireland."

Is it nice to be able to focus on rugby now? "I want to focus on Ireland, I've done a lot of good preparation this week and this is where my head's at."

Great to be back in the starting team? "I'll say it again, it's awesome to be back against Ireland."

Cooper's turn - what's it like to be a "pantomime villain". "To be honest, I'm more inclined to talk about the positives and that's a match against Ireland and my good mate down there [O'Connor] being back in the starting line-up - congratulations to you."

"Thanks mate," replied O'Connor.

Cooper was so determined to find positives in everything that he even saw the good side in former Australia captain Nick Farr-Jones calling him a "boofhead" over his constant targeting of McCaw in silly off-the-ball incidents.

"I looked at it in a positive manner," he said. "I look forward to the game that we have this weekend. Nick's already said we'll be in the final against the All Blacks so, mate, in his eyes we're a lot better than we are.

"We've got a game this weekend which we have to focus on. And then another two pool games against USA and Russia so there's a long way to go before we can think about that."

Have your team-mates been making fun of the "boofhead" label? "You'll have to ask them." Kurtley Beale, is he a boofhead? "Just have a look at him," Beale quipped.

Between the jokes, the Ireland game got a mention or two, much to the relief of Deans. Apart from the return of O'Connor, who replaces the injured Digby Ioane, the only other changes are the moving of Adam Ashley Cooper from the right wing to the left, and the addition of Drew Mitchell to the reserves bench.

It's a significant return for Mitchell after he sat out the Tri Nations following a bad ankle injury while playing for the Waratahs this year. He comes into the match following a single outing for the Australian Barbarians against Canada on the Gold Coast last month.

"It has obviously been a pretty long road and one I hadn't travelled," he said. "I've never had a major injury before and certainly not one of this magnitude in the year that it is so it's pretty satisfying to be in the position I'm in."

Australia: Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, Dan Vickerman, James Horwill (c), Rocky Elsom, David Pocock, Radike Samo, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Anthony Fainga'a, James O'Connor, Kurtley Beale. Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Burgess, Drew Mitchell.