Test veteran Quade Cooper has refused to answer phone calls from Eddie Jones, with the Wallabies coach revealing the shocking news from Sydney International Airport on Thursday.
Following rumours and speculation, the Wallabies officially announced their 33-man squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup last week.
According to multiple reports in Australia, playmaker Quade Cooper was set to miss out on the prestigious squad along with former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper. This was later confirmed.
Cooper, 35, started the first two Test matches in the Wallabies’ new era under coach Jones, but was relegated to the bench for both Bledisloe Cup Tests.
But after making a costly error in the dying minutes against the All Blacks in Dunedin, Cooper’s time in Wallaby gold has seemingly come to an end.
The Wallabies have decided to go in another direction for the World Cup, but any attempts to call Cooper have been met with silence.
“I’ve tried to and we can’t get hold of him,” Jones told reporters on Thursday. “I think he’s very upset mate.”
Rising star Carter Gordon was picked as the only flyhalf in the touring squad, while utility Ben Donaldson is expected to play a backup role off the bench.
But both players are still very new to Test rugby. Gordon is the more experienced of the duo, and the young pivot only entered the fray of international rugby for the first time last month.
With just four Test appearances to his name, which includes a couple of starts in the No. 10 jersey, Gordon will play a leading role for the Wallabies in the absence of Cooper.
“I don’t know why you’re going back to that. That’s probably reflective of Australian rugby,” Jones added.
We’ve got to move on to a World Cup with a great young squad and you’re still talking about players we haven’t selected.
“We’ve tried to ring him, that’s all I can do.”
The Wallabies take on international rugby powerhouse France at Stade de France later this month. It’s their last Test before their World Cup opener against Georgia in early September.
