Farrell: I'm happy we won't face 'bloody good' Cooper

By Simon Lewis, Newcastle

After posing serious questions of the British & Irish Lions' defence in Brisbane on Saturday, there was undisguised relief in the camp when the management learned that Quade Cooper would not be facing them during the Test series with Australia.

Robbie Deans' decision to omit the mercurial yet controversial fly-half from his final 31-man Wallabies squad to face the Lions over three Tests laid to rest a selection saga that has been running since Cooper blotted his copybook once again last September.

That was when the 25-year-old Queensland Reds star tore into the Deans' coaching regime via his Twitter account, complaining about substandard training facilities, criticising the head coach's overly defensive gameplan and desciribing a "toxic environment" in the Wallabies camp.

The outburst copped Copper a fine and three-Test ban from the Australian Rugby Union but his form for the Reds this season in Super Rugby has been difficult to ignore and his maverick fly-half play was again to the fore at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday when Queensland tore into the Lions at breakneck speed during an exhilirating first half.

It was not sustained, though,the Lions winning 22-12 but Cooper looked to have done enough to earn one of the final six spots in Deans' squad to be announced on Monday.

Apparently he did not do enough, and when asked about Cooper's omission on the eve of Tuesday's tour game against the Combined Country in Newcastle, New South Wales, Lions defence coach Andy Farrell said: “I'm pleased. He's a bloody good player and if I was a coach I'd want him in my side.

“He's a good player but having said that I don't know the background or the ins and outs of why he isn't selected. He's certainly a handful and brings a lot to the party so I'm pretty pleased.”

Farrell added that there was still plenty of attacking flair in the Wallabies squad.

“I think they have got quite a few backs who can pass, with (Kurtley) Beale back and (James) O'Connor and (Adam) Ashley-Cooper,” he said. “They've got a magnificent backline but I think Quade adds something a little bit different.”

Farrell seen enough of the Australian sporting mentality not to start celebrating too soon, however.

The former Great Britain rugby league captain led his nation in a three-Test Ashes series against the Kangaroos aged just 22 in 1997 and three years earlier starred in English champions Wigan's World Club Challenge victory over their Aussie counterparts the Brisbane Broncos in the Queensland city.

“Confident,” he said when asked to sum up the sporting psyche Down Under.

“I think they're confident in their own ability and with that they've got a winning mentality, a never-say-die attitude and they'll definitely fight to the death.

“That's why it's going to be a fantastic series all-round.”