10 Jan 2012

Queensland Reds coach excited by challenge of replacing Cooper

3:11 pm on 10 January 2012

The coach of Super Rugby champions Queensland, Ewen McKenzie, sees the replacing of injured Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper as an exciting challenge.

Apart from the Wallabies who played on the two-match UK tour late last year, Cooper was the only Red who didn't return to full training on Tuesday.

Cooper is recovering from a knee reconstruction.

McKenzie says there's plenty of candidates for the vacant first five role and the Reds are quite excited by the prospect of solving the problem.

The coach feels his side is well placed to become the fourth team in history to win back-to-back Super Rugby titles.

The Reds will open their pre-season on February 11 against the ACT Brumbies in Cairns before their round-one blockbuster against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on February 25.