Quade Cooper hits back at criticism from Eddie Jones

Wallabies fly-half Quade Cooper has slammed former head coach Eddie Jones over his recent comments on his Rugby World Cup exclusion.

Cooper was left out of the Wallabies squad along with regular skipper Michael Hooper and Bernard Foley with Jones describing they were “not the right role models” for the team going forward.

“You need guys – particularly when you’ve got a team like Australia has at the moment – you need guys who are obsessed with winning, obsessed with being good, and those three are past those stages,” said Jones in an interview with the The Sydney Morning Herald last week.

Responding to Jones, Cooper, who has 80 Test caps to his name said he has no doubt over his preparations as he completed a a training camp ahead of the Japan League One season.

“Training camp 23/24 complete. Funny, this week my will and desire to win were questioned by a former coach,” said Cooper.

“To me, the way I view winning and success is through preparation. No outcome is guaranteed, but what you can guarantee is the work and preparation you put in. You know that you have given yourself and your team the best possible opportunity to win. That’s where confidence is born.

“Confidence does not come from knowing the outcome; it comes from knowing that you’ve done the work, and you will have your own back regardless of the outcome.”