The new Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has offered the out-of-favour first five Quade Cooper hope by calling him an outstanding player, though he was non-committal about the incumbent pivot James O'Connor.
The 25-year-old Queendslander Cooper played the last of his 38 tests in September last year against Argentina, and he hasn't been able to force his way back since labelling the Wallabies environment as 'toxic' later that month.
McKenzie has continued to champion Cooper's cause while occupying the position of Queensland director of coaching, and he's excited about being in a position to control selections, and he'll be picking a team he thinks can beat the All Blacks.
McKenzie said one of the important aspects of his job would be contacting the Australian Super Rugby coaches for their opinions on players he knows less about.
