Brisbane, Australia: Fly-half Quade Cooper will play his first game in four months this weekend after recovering from shoulder surgery as he aims for Wallabies selection.
Cooper will start his first game since May in the National Rugby Championship for Brisbane City against Queensland Country on Sunday in a match he hopes will lead to consideration for the Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks in Brisbane on October 18.
He said he was confident his shoulder would cope in his first official hit-out.
“Going through it with the physios and the trainer and making some tackles, it does do wonders for your confidence,” Cooper said.
“The medical staff say everything is right. Now mentally I have to go out there and make sure I am confident.”
His recovery from shoulder and minor hip surgery took longer than expected, ensuring he missed out on Australia’s touring squad for this weekend’s Rugby Championship Test against the Springboks and the October 4 Test in Argentina.
“Everyone’s goal is to represent the Wallabies,” he said.
“The pathway is there to come back through Brisbane City, play some good football and hopefully be in contention.”
Cooper admitted his shoulder was not 100 per cent, but he hoped the Australian selectors would see a new and improved player.
“Any time you have surgery it’s never going to be back to 100 per cent, but it feels great,” he said.
“Any injury takes longer than you would have liked. Every rehab has its complications. But every injury is an opportunity to come back bigger and better.”
