Cooper still committed

Quade Cooper insists he is desperate to taste success with the Wallabies despite his latest controversial outburst. [more]

Cooper still committed

Quade Cooper insists he is desperate to taste success with the Wallabies despite his latest controversial outburst.

The mercurial playmaker hit out at boss Robbie Dean’s coaching methods and described a ‘toxic environment’ within the Australian camp just days after venting his frustration over the Wallabies’ current conservative approach.

But the 24-year-old has since deleted at least some of his comments on his Twitter account and he claims he has no intention of walking away from the sport before the Lions come calling next summer.

"All I want to do is fix the problems and get on with it and win rugby games," said Cooper.

"For me it's about bettering myself and bettering the country and I'm just sick of losing to the All Blacks. I hate losing.

"There's a lot of people who are afraid to say what they feel so they just go along with it and nothing is going to change.

"That's why I feel so strongly as a player. I don't want to be involved in the toxic environment, and that's how it is at the moment.

"It's an environment where things aren't going according to plan and everyone is looking to point the finger.

"I don't want to come across as a mercenary but I feel very strongly about how this is run because I'm part of it and I want to succeed.

"There would have to be big things to take me away from the game but at the same time I don't want to be a pawn in things that aren't moving forward."

Cooper earlier suggested that Deans was hampering his free-flowing style and that he would be happy to see Reds coach Ewen McKenzie take the reigns at the 2011 Tri Nations kings.

When told by one Twitter follower that he should be allowed to play in the attacking manner he is renowned for Cooper responded by writing "I am allowed from February to May sir," in reference to the duration of the Super Rugby season when he is coached by McKenzie.

Cooper partially backtracked on those comments by talking of his respect for Deans but even then he made it clear that he would be more than happy to see McKenzie handed Australia’s top job.

"To say that Ewen is the next coach, of course, I would support that,” added Cooper.

"That's not to say I'm not supporting Robbie. He's done a lot for me as a kid coming through.

"I'm very respectful to Robbie and I'm very thankful to Robbie as well for giving me the opportunity that he has."

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