Cooper is almost a certainty to wear the Wallabies No.10 in the Bledisloe opener. Source: AAP
QUADE Cooper says he's done some "growing up" during his Wallabies exile and is ready to meet the hostile challenge of the All Blacks and their rabid fans head on.
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Cooper, rejected by sacked former coach Robbie Deans, will be one of the first names on Ewen McKenzie's inaugural Wallabies teamsheet on Friday, ushering in a new era where the controversial playmaker may once again be one of Test rugby's biggest drawcards.
"I think so," Cooper told Rugby HQ when asked whether he'd grown up in 2013.
"I think a lot of people have done a lot of growing up this year. For me, it's been trying to contribute to my team and working hard on and off the field.
"The harder you work off the field it starts to show on the field. So it's been a conscious decision of mine to try and work it."
Deans was both applauded and hounded for his omission of Cooper this season with opinion split on whether the outspoken fly half had paid his dues for the infamous "toxic environment" comments.
While he wouldn't be drawn on his testy relationship with the now former Test coach, Cooper revealed a difficult 12 months may have in fact been a blessing in disguise and given him the chance to iron out some character flaws.
"You learn from things and as you grow up you learn from mistakes," he said.
"And I feel that I've learned from a few things I've done in the past.
"And hopefully I can continue to improve as a person and a player as I continue to get a little bit older."
Aside from his public disparaging of Deans and the Wallabies, Cooper is best remembered for a series of run-ins with All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw and epic failures at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
Riding high after taking out the now defunct Tri Nations, Cooper effectively announced himself as public enemy No.1 the moment he arrived across the Tasman ahead of the game's showpiece event.
The local fans were happy to antagonise Cooper at every opportunity during the tournament and despite nearly two years of rugby passing, the New Zealand faithful are yet to move on.
Cooper was booed every time he touched the ball in last weekend's Super Rugby semi-final loss to the Crusaders – not that the 24-year-old was complaining.
"Sometimes you look at it and you um and ah about what some of the things that they're saying," he said.
"But again I play a professional game and I'm out there to do a job."
Cooper said he wouldn't be worried by the crowd if he gets the chance to run out in the second Bledisloe Test in Wellington next month.
"I don't mind – it comes with the territory," he said. "I'll continue to try and work hard at what I can do to try and contribute to my team.
"And if I can do that it kind of blocks out what is said in the crowd."
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