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Cape Town - Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper would like to use Saturday's Super Rugby clash against the Stormers at Newlands to play himself back into contention for the Wallabies.
Cooper was left out of the Australian squad for the up-coming Test Series against the British and Irish Lions by Wallaby coach Robbie Deans.
"My ommission is something that I have no control over, but I can only respond by working harder by doing well for the Reds and continue to enjoy my rugby," the 38-test capped Wallaby flyhalf, said in an exclusive interview at a Cape Town hotel on Thursday.
"It's a pleasure to play in the current Reds set-up under Ewen McKenzie as coach. I have to to take advice and listen to the coach so that I can try to improve all aspects of my game.
"I haven't been in contact with Robbie Deans and the Wallaby set-up at all. There is no point in looking too far into the future. I first have a job to do with the Reds.
"People that come to watch rugby pay a lot of money and would love to be entertained. It's is our job as rugby players to go out and entertain them," he said when asked about his playing style.
The Reds pivot believes that despite the Stormers losing a lot of their players due to injury, the Cape franchise will still be hard to beat especially on home turf.
"They home after a tough tour and will be glad to be back at Newlands. I can only imagine that they will try to run the ball and we will have to try to keep up with them in that aspect of their play and match their physicality," he explained.
He says he has great confidence in his opposite number Elton Jantjies ability as a rugby player and expects him to play a key role for the home side on Saturday.
"I think so far Elton has been playing in the structures of the team, but it will be great to see him back himself a bit more and have more confidence in his ability because I believe he is a great attacking player that is blessed with great skills."
Kick-off for the Saturday's clash is scheduled to take place at 17:05 (CAT).
Teams:
Stormers:
15. Joe Pietersen, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Jean de Villiers (captain), 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Louis Schreuder, 8. Nizaam Carr, 7. Don Armand, 6. Siya Kolisi, 5. Eben Etzebeth, 4. Gerbrandt Grobler, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. Chris Heiberg, 18. Marius Coetzer, 19. Rohan Kitshoff, 20. Dewaldt Duvenage, 21. Gary van Aswegen, 22. Gerhard van den Heever
Reds:
TBA
Cooper was left out of the Australian squad for the up-coming Test Series against the British and Irish Lions by Wallaby coach Robbie Deans.
"My ommission is something that I have no control over, but I can only respond by working harder by doing well for the Reds and continue to enjoy my rugby," the 38-test capped Wallaby flyhalf, said in an exclusive interview at a Cape Town hotel on Thursday.
"It's a pleasure to play in the current Reds set-up under Ewen McKenzie as coach. I have to to take advice and listen to the coach so that I can try to improve all aspects of my game.
"I haven't been in contact with Robbie Deans and the Wallaby set-up at all. There is no point in looking too far into the future. I first have a job to do with the Reds.
"People that come to watch rugby pay a lot of money and would love to be entertained. It's is our job as rugby players to go out and entertain them," he said when asked about his playing style.
The Reds pivot believes that despite the Stormers losing a lot of their players due to injury, the Cape franchise will still be hard to beat especially on home turf.
"They home after a tough tour and will be glad to be back at Newlands. I can only imagine that they will try to run the ball and we will have to try to keep up with them in that aspect of their play and match their physicality," he explained.
He says he has great confidence in his opposite number Elton Jantjies ability as a rugby player and expects him to play a key role for the home side on Saturday.
"I think so far Elton has been playing in the structures of the team, but it will be great to see him back himself a bit more and have more confidence in his ability because I believe he is a great attacking player that is blessed with great skills."
Kick-off for the Saturday's clash is scheduled to take place at 17:05 (CAT).
Teams:
Stormers:
15. Joe Pietersen, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Jean de Villiers (captain), 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Louis Schreuder, 8. Nizaam Carr, 7. Don Armand, 6. Siya Kolisi, 5. Eben Etzebeth, 4. Gerbrandt Grobler, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. Chris Heiberg, 18. Marius Coetzer, 19. Rohan Kitshoff, 20. Dewaldt Duvenage, 21. Gary van Aswegen, 22. Gerhard van den Heever
Reds:
TBA
