There are many ways for a coach to discipline his players but electing on omitting your star player for the once-in-every-12 years British & Irish Lions tour is not one of them.
Let's be honest, Quade Cooper's omission from the Wallaby squad has nothing to do with his form on the pitch - it's about the mercurial flyhalf's comments about the Wallaby locker room being a 'toxic environment'. Kurtley Beale hasn't been tested as a flyhalf and James O'Connor is not a specialist pivot which leaves Cooper as the only true Australian stand-off. With the Lions looking like a well-oiled machine already, Australia need their full-strength side; their best XV; and without Cooper - the Wallabies are not at full-strength. Ask the Lions' defence coach Andy Farrell.
"I'm pleased. He's a bloody good player," Farrell said. "If I was the coach I'd want him in my side.
"But, having said that, I don't know the background or ins and outs of why he isn't selected. He's certainly a handful. He brings a lot to the party, so I'm pretty pleased."
It's going to be an interesting three-Test series nonetheless and the lucky few who managed to get tickets will get all their monies worth.
Can't wait.
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