Cardiff: Wallabies veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper says there is still “fire in the stomach” to win a Rugby World Cup; an opportunity he thought might have passed him by.
Ashley-Cooper, the 34-year-old, 116-Test stalwart of Australian rugby, was a familiar face at media duties on Monday morning in Newport – about a 30 minute drive from Cardiff – where the Wallabies will be based in the lead-up to their Test against Wales on Saturday.
Back: Adam Ashley-Cooper trains with the Wallabies ahead of their Test against Wales on Saturday. Credit:Rugby Australia Media
The former Waratahs utility back, who is now based in Japan with the Kobelco Steelers, was approached by coach Michael Cheika to come on the tour with an eye to next years World Cup.
“When 'Cheik' rang a couple of weeks ago, I was in Japan playing Top League,” Ashley-Cooper told reporters. “He discussed the potential of me coming back into the squad and coming on tour and I told him I'd jump at the opportunity.
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“Coming back in was really exciting for me and it's good to be back in the environment. It's been a couple of years but I'm pretty stoked to be here.”
Ashley-Coopers last Test with the Wallabies was the second Bledisloe fixture in Wellington in August 2016. He only featured in a couple of matches after the 2015 World Cup, a tournament he remembers fondly.
New Zealand beat Australia 34-17 in the final at Twickenham and it was the pain of that defeat that is still motivating Ashley-Cooper to earn a spot in the Wallabies squad for next years showpiece.
He would join George Gregan as the only two Australian players to play at four Rugby World Cups after featuring in the 2007, 2011 and 2015 tournaments.
“It's not so much [to be at] a fourth World Cup, it's to win a Rugby World Cup,” Ashley-Cooper said. “I've had three cracks so there was still a bit of fire in the stomach post-2015.
“I moved overseas to France and I came back to Japan but still with that goal and ambition to win a Rugby World Cup because it was still there.
“I wasn't expecting to come on tour. There's an opportunity and there could be the possibility of Super Rugby next year to get to that World Cup.
“I am not sure if I will get the opportunity to play [on the tour] but if I have the mindset and I am competing then I am sure I am creating healthy competition around the squad."
Wallabies playmaker Kurtley Beale said Ashley-Coopers presence around the squad would be invaluable.
“To have a player like him among our young guys, who are still growing to be at this level, is great,” Beale said. “He is world-class on and off the field.
"I think it's a great addition and good to have a mate around. It's exciting and he has some goals to reach out for and a lot of the boys are really excited to have him back.”
Tom Decent is a journalist with Fairfax Media.
