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QUADE Cooper believes troubled friend James O'Connor can follow his example and use a Wallabies exile to sort out his attitude, and rectify off-field behaviour that "hurts the team'".
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O'Connor is currently serving an indefinite suspension for failing to uphold Wallabies' cultural standards, following an incident at Perth airport three weeks ago that saw him denied entry on a flight for being drunk.
Cooper said he'd sent a message of support to O'Connor after hearing of his predicament last week, but said based on his recent experiences, being banished could end up rescuing O'Connor's career.
Cooper found himself on the outer of the Wallabies after last year labelling the team culture as "toxic'' under Robbie Deans, and that he would have turned down Test jerseys had he not been injured.
"For me when I was out of the Wallabies I got a a great opportunity for me to look at my attitude, and things that I was doing wrong that might be impacting upon the team moving forward, and also yourself personally," Cooper said.
"For me, if I look at his (O'Connor's) situation, if you can take any sort of positive out of it, it's a time for him to get things right in his life away from football that are going to help to contribute to the team, and us being a team that people can take serious.
"Each of those little things hurts the team. Even in my situation, those were things I felt strongly about.
"It wasn't that my behaviour was getting in trouble away from football but I shouldn't have been acting that way with my attitude. You think of each other player, and they're people who put a lot of time and effort into it."
Given his huge talent, the loss of O'Connor from the Wallabies team has left a hole against the Springboks tomorrow morning but it's this trade-off that many argue has led to the 23-year-old not being hauled into line previously.
Senior players have long felt Deans gave O'Connor too much rope on disciplinary matters due to his on-field ability.
When asked if it was a shame the winger wasn't on the field in Cape Town, Cooper indicated that compromise had to end for O'Connor's sake - and the team's.
"You have to be mindful about someone's welfare. From a selfish point of view, you want someone in the team but you also want what's best for them," Cooper said.
"For me right now, it's all about him getting back to a good position and not just taking him for his rugby ability. That's the whole team's standpoint, and if things get worked out, it will be great to welcome him back and see him play some good football."
Cooper's growth and maturity has been the talk of both Queensland and Australian rugby this year, with previously sceptical teammates now warmly talking up the gifted five-eighth.
It is understood the "toxic'' fall-out prompted Cooper to re-evaluate his personal life, and shed a truckload of hangers-on and negative influences.
"When I came back into the team, I felt good. I felt good in myself, that I could contribute to the team. I worked hard in my time away so when I was coming back in, I could be accepted by all the players and go out there work hard to earn my spot in the team. I had to earn my spot in the team, away from football," Cooper said.
"Now this is his opportunity to do that, if he is given the second chance that he might need. That's what I will continue to say if and when I see him."
The investigation of the ARU Integrity Unit into O'Connor and the Perth incident is several weeks away from being concluded, according to ARU boss Bill Pulver.
"We have given James and his manager a week to come back with evidence that's relevant to the inquiry, and we're also seeking further clarification from the Australian Federal police about what went on that evening. So hopefully in the next couple of weeks it will be brought to a conclusion," Pulver said.
O'Connor's future in Australian rugby may hang on the findings of the investigation, with sole Australian suitors the Western Force waiting to see how it unfolds before determining whether they'll continue negotiations.
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