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Cooper feels the love

Auckland - Quade Cooper said on Thursday he was looking only at the positives after being called a "boofhead" by a Wallaby Test great amid the unabated Kiwi hysteria over his public enemy status at the Rugby World Cup.

The assured Wallaby flyhalf was besieged by questions over his notoriety in New Zealand at a press conference to announce the Australia team for Saturday's pivotal Pool C game with Ireland at Eden Park.

Since arriving in New Zealand with the Wallaby squad, Cooper has been tagged "public enemy number one" for his constant baiting of revered All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw, including kneeing him in the head in last month's Tri-Nations decider.

The Wallabies' 1991 World Cup-winning skipper Nick Farr-Jones said Cooper was a "boofhead" (idiot) for repeatedly targeting McCaw and warned that his actions could backfire should the Wallabies meet the All Blacks in next month's World Cup final.

But Cooper took it all in his stride at Thursday's packed press conference, where questions were fired at him about whether he was the most hated man in New Zealand.

"I look at it in a positive manner. Nick (Farr-Jones) has already said we will be in the final against the All Blacks. From his eyes we are a lot better than what we are," Cooper said.

"We have a game this weekend which we have to focus on and get through this game and another two pool games against the USA and Russia, so there's a lot to go before we can even think about that."

Cooper was roundly booed during his first appearance at the World Cup against Italy at North Harbour last Sunday.

And it is expected that he will again be a target for Kiwi fans at the Wallabies' next game with Ireland at the 60 000-capacity Eden Park.

But he nonchalantly batted away questions about his popularity in New Zealand.

"People have been very supportive when I've been walking the streets, everyone's being very positive and it's good for the team," he said.

"I don't know. It must be something to write about, you've (reporters) got to write about something when we're not playing football.

"I would rather look at the positives in it, and the positives are that people are backing us to make the final.

"So if people are looking that far ahead at us being in the final against the All Blacks, there are a lot of things that have to go right for us and the All Blacks to make it that far.

"I feel a lot of love in New Zealand. Look around (press conference) there's a lot of love going on around here," he dead-panned.

"To be honest I don't really care."

Robbie Deans, who was also called a public enemy by one local reporter as a New Zealander coaching the Wallabies, said Cooper was a valued squad member.

"It's great to have Quade with us. He's totally committed to the best interests of the team," he said.

"That's what these blokes do routinely. There are constant distractions, particularly at a World Cup, you've only look at the interest here (press conference)."

And he asked in exasperation: "Does anybody want to talk about Ireland?"

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