13 Jun 2013

Farr-Jones endorses leaving Cooper out of Lions series

5:54 am on 13 June 2013

The World Cup-winning Wallabies rugby captain Nick Farr-Jones is hoping Quade Cooper revives his international career, but says the mercurial first five-eighth is too much of a big-game flop to be thrown to the British and Irish Lions.

Farr-Jones infamously dubbed Cooper a boofhead during the 2011 Rugby World Cup and says he understands why Robbie Deans has left Cooper out of the three-test series with the British and Irish Lions.

Farr-Jones, though, hasn't completely given up on Cooper, and says he's similar in some ways to winger David Campese.

However Farr-Jones says Campese performed much better in high-pressure matches which is where Cooper's let himself down.

Deans hasn't ruled out recalling Cooper during the Lions series should injuries strike his preferred playmakers James O'Connor, Kurtley Beale, Berrick Barnes and Christian Lealiifano.