Jones snubs Quade Cooper again, this time from A squad

Quade Cooper (c) has been left out of Australia's A team to take on Portugal before the World Cup. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Quade Cooper has endured another body blow, overlooked for the Australia A team to face Portugal in a pre-Rugby World Cup warm-up against Portugal in Paris.

After surprisingly omitting Cooper for the Wallabies' 33-man World Cup squad last week, now coach Eddie Jones picked fellow veteran Bernard Foley as five-eight for the back-up group.

Portugal are one of the Wallabies' four rivals in Group C of the World Cup and their hit-out against Australia A on August 26 will be Os Lobos’ final match before their first tournament opener against Wales on September 16.

The match also shapes as a vital clash for a host of players in Jason Gilmore’s Australia A side hoping for a call-up during the showpiece in September and October.

But Cooper's prospects of a farewell World Cup are effectively over.

After being Robbie Deans' go-to playmaker in New Zealand in 2011, Cooper barely featured under Michael Cheika in the 2015 edition in the UK.

He then missed selection in Cheika's 2019 squad in Japan.

The 35-year-old was Jones' first-choice No.10 for Australia's first two Tests this season before being relegated to the bench behind Carter Gordon and now completely dumped altogether.

But there has been a reprieve for Cooper's long-time former teammate James O'Connor, who has been picked as one of the centres named on Tuesday and to be coached by NSW Waratahs assistant Gilmore.

"It is a quality squad with a good mix of experience and youth throughout," Gilmore said.

"This is a valuable opportunity for these players, playing on the doorstep of the Rugby World Cup, just days before it kicks off.

"However the most important thing for us will be to play well together as a team.

"The Rugby World Cup is a long tournament and history suggests you rarely finish with the same squad that you begin with.

"The players are aware of the possibility that the Wallabies may need an injury replacement and this is an opportunity for them to put themselves in the picture."

Australia A squad:

Props: Matt Gibbon, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Tom Lambert, Sam Talakai.

Hookers: Folau Fainga'a, Lachlan Lonergan. Locks: Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Darcy Swain.

Back-rowers: Ned Hanigan, Pete Samu, Lachlan Swinton, Seru Uru, Brad Wilkin.

Halfbacks: Ryan Lonergan, James Tuttle.

Five-eighth: Bernard Foley.

Centres: Filipo Daugunu, Josh Flook, James O’Connor, Hunter Paisami.

Outside backs: Lachlan Anderson, Dylan Pietsch, Corey Toole, Tom Wright.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store