Friday 10 October 2014 19:42, UK
Quade Cooper has been recalled to Australia's training squad for the first time this year for next week's Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand.
Fly-half Cooper, who is coming back from surgery on his left shoulder, was included in a 32-man squad Friday, a day after Kurtley Beale was dropped pending the outcome of a code-of-conduct tribunal hearing.
Coach Ewen MacKenzie will take a look at the 50-Test veteran before deciding whether to select him for the third clash with the All Blacks, which is a dead rubber after two previous defeats.
"You're always searching for the right balance of experience and youth in a squad, so it's pleasing to see Quade Cooper available once again," McKenzie said.
"A spot in the starting lineup might be a stretch, I don't know. I'll form an opinion when I see him and see how he looks."
Fiji-born winger Henry Speight was also included in the squad, among four uncapped players, but is unavailable for selection due to a hamstring problem.
Winger Tom English, centre Kyle Godwin and prop Tetera Faulkner are also in the squad for the first time, with MacKenzie's options limited by injury and suspension.
No 8 Ben McCalman has been ruled out for the rest of the year by a shoulder injury he sustained against the Springboks two weeks ago so Luke Jones, who won his only cap against France in June, comes into the squad to reinforce the back row along with Jake Schatz.
Centre Matt Toomua joins McKenzie's long injury list after taking a knock on the head in the defeat to Argentina in Mendoza last week in the final match of the Rugby Championship.
Beale was suspended on Thursday pending a hearing into allegations he was responsible for sending offensive text messages regarding a team official in June.
Australia squad:
Forwards - Scott Higginbotham, Michael Hooper (captain), Matt Hodgson, Scott Fardy, Luke Jones, Jake Schatz, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Sam Carter, Will Skelton, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, James Slipper, Tetera Faulkner, Saia Faingaa, James Hanson, Josh Mann-Rea.
Backs - Israel Folau, Rob Horne, Joe Tomane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tom English, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali'ifano, Kyle Godwin, Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Nic White, Nick Phipps.
