Cooper's stock rises as Wallabies flyhalf rivals stumble

Quade Cooper's chances of playing flyhalf for Australia against the touring British and Irish Lions look to have strengthened following a polished display for Super Rugby's Queensland Reds, while injury and discipline doubts hang over his two main rivals for the number 10 shirt.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will name his first 25-man squad for the Lions series next weekend and may find it hard to exclude the mercurial 25-year-old, who had a hand in all four of the Reds' tries in a 32-17 win over the Durban-based Sharks on Friday.

Last year, Cooper slammed Deans's tactics in a Twitter tirade and said he would never play for the Wallabies again unless the 'toxic' environment surrounding the team was changed.

A contrite Cooper later issued a public apology and re-committed himself to Australian rugby, and has since let his rugby do the talking with the Reds where he forms an exciting combination with incumbent Wallabies scrumhalf Will Genia.

"My thoughts are that the fundamentals of Cooper's game are in much better shape than they've ever been," former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer, who secured Australia their first World Cup triumph in 1991, told Reuters.

"His catch and pass and straight running and kicking, if they're in good shape, then I think we'll have to have a good choice to go past him."

Cooper's stock has risen further as fellow contenders for the playmaker position suffered setbacks in recent days.

Utility back James O'Connor sustained a sternum injury in the Melbourne Rebels' loss at the Blues on Saturday and although Sunday's scans revealed no fracture, he is likely to spend up to two weeks on the sidelines, his club said.