The Reds have named their team to play the Lions this weekend at Suncorp Stadium with Quade Cooper in the starting lineup for the first time this Super Rugby season.
rugbyweek
The Wallabies dynamo has been announced in the starting line-up where he will receive crucial minutes on the field in his first outing since suffering a serious ACL injury in the Wallabies’ World Cup Bronze playoff encounter against Wales on October 21, 2011.
His timely inclusion comes in a month where a number of big names have returned to strengthen the side’s finals hopes with the Reds currently riding a wave of momentum following their morale boosting 42-27 victory over the then competition leading Chiefs at the weekend.
The decision to select Cooper in his famed number 10 jersey came after the talented 24-year-old responded positively to a series of tests on Tuesday afternoon at the team’s training session at Ballymore.
His return comes less than seven months after suffering the injury and after a season in which he played an influential role in the Reds 2011 Super Rugby success, where he featured in all 18 games during their campaign, breaking the all-time individual Reds point-scoring record in the process with 228 points.
Cooper said he had done everything possible to prepare for his return and was eager to return to action.
“It has been a long six-plus months on the sideline and I know I’ve done everything I can to tick all the boxes during my rehab and have been as diligent as possible to ensure I am ready to return,” Cooper said.
“Everything which could be done has been done and the rest is now out of my hands. I’ll be going out on Saturday knowing I’ve done everything within my power to be prepared both physically and mentally and it’s now about going out and doing the best that I can for the team.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie said the team would be lifted by Cooper’s presence.
“There’s no denying Quade has enormous x-factor but for him this match is about getting back out of the field and getting comfortable again within the matchday environment,” McKenzie said.
“It has been a long layoff for him and the next few weeks before our bye will be invaluable as he again finds his feet. Everyone is excited to see him back out there but it’s important we manage him the right way during this period.
“He has been back training with the team for some time now and you can expect him to get better the more match fitness he gains and the more minutes he gets out on the field to refine combinations.”
Cooper’s injection results in talented playmaker Ben Lucas shifting to fullback with Luke Morahan part of a more traditional 4-3 split on the bench which also includes Nick Frisby and Chris F’Sautia in the backs.
F’Sautia is in line to make his Super Rugby debut should be called upon after overcoming a hamstring injury that has plagued him since early in the season.
There are two further changes in the front-row with prop Greg Holmes and Saia Faingaa coming into the starting XV in a straight swap for Ben Daley and James Hanson who move back to the bench.
Reds
1. Greg Holmes, 2. Saia Faingaa, 3. James Slipper, 4. Rob Simmons, 5. James Horwill (c), 6. Jake Schatz, 7. Liam Gill, 8. Scott Higginbotham, 9. Will Genia, 10. Quade Cooper, 11. Digby Ioane, 12. Mike Harris, 13. Anthony Faingaa, 14. Dom Shipperley, 15. Ben Lucas
Replacements : 16. James Hanson, 17. Ben Daley, 18. Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19. Eddie Quirk, 20. Nick Frisby, 21. Chris F’Sautia, 22. Luke Morahan.