In the end, Quade Cooper showed Robbie Deans exactly why he should be picked for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions in Queensland’s 33-20 Super Rugby win over Melbourne Rebels – and perhaps why he should not.
Cooper was at his enigmatic best lining up against Deans’ first-choice No.10 James O’Connor as the Reds kept alive their finals hopes with a gutsy bonus-point victory at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
And at one stage Deans looked like he may also be reassessing his No.8 options ahead of the Lions series after Rebels captain Scott Higginbotham dislocated his shoulder in the 50th minute.
However, back-rower Higginbotham later claimed he could avoid surgery and prove his fitness by the opener against the Lions in Brisbane on June 22.
But initially Deans’ attention would have been hogged by Cooper – for all the wrong reasons.
Cooper twice gifted Melbourne tries when his kicks were charged down in the first half just metres off his own line.
And Cooper’s erratic boot ensured he hooked crucial penalty and conversion kicks as Melbourne kept their hopes alive of a third straight win – and maiden victory over Queensland – by holding onto a 20-18 lead in the 60th minute.
But just as Deans would have been tempted to justify his snubbing of Cooper in his initial 25-strong Wallabies squad for the Lions series, the Reds No.10 produced – well, what only the Reds No.10 can produce.
Cooper finally shook off his kicking yips to give Queensland a 21-20 lead with a 65th-minute penalty.
And four minutes later Cooper somehow burrowed under rival defenders and extended his arm to score an unlikely try.
Ben Lucas sealed Queensland’s fourth try on fulltime to earn the all important bonus point.
If Cooper had outpointed O’Connor – back from a chest complaint – Reds coach Ewen McKenzie wasn’t about to let on.
“I wasn’t worried about the duel. I just wanted to win the game,” he said.
“Someone will work out who did better. You don’t want charge downs but … Quade scored a great try – only he can do things like that.”
Cooper gets his final chance to earn one of the final six spots in the Wallabies squad when the Reds host the Lions at Suncorp Stadium on June 8.
Higginbotham hoped he would also be able to push his Wallabies claims despite appearing at the post-match press conference with his right arm in a sling.
“Hopefully I will be able to push on and be available for selection for the Lions,” he said.
“The doctor told me if I don’t need surgery I am playing. I will have some scans, a bit of rehab and get back into it.”
Queensland were jet lagged from a disappointing tour of South Africa which finished with just one bonus point and one try scored in two matches.
And they were looking down the barrel when flanker Beau Robinson was sin-binned in the 22nd minute for punching Scott Fuglistaller.
Yet by the time he returned the Reds led 10-3 thanks to a Luke Morahan intercept try.