Matt Toomua believes the return of veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper to the Australia squad will increase the competition for places in the backline.
At 34 years of age and supposedly in the twilight of his career, Ashley-Cooper was a surprise recall to Michael Cheika’s squad for the November internationals. It is the first call-up in two years for the experienced utility back.
Toomua, who also recently returned to the international fold, says Ashley-Cooper is looking in good form and is a definite asset to the squad.
“I saw Swoopy [(Ashley-Cooper] here, I thought he was lost. I was wondering what was going on,” Toomua told Sky Sports.
“I thought it was a bit like what we did with Drew [Mitchell] earlier in the year, be a Wallaby for a day.
“But that’s great, he is in great nick as well. It’s good for us. We need some competition in those back spots and it will push guys to play better, to have a guy like Adam back in the squad.”
Ashley-Cooper was an instrumental figure in the Wallabies’ run to the 2015 World Cup final and has outlined his desire to win a berth in Cheika’s squad for the global showpiece in Japan next year.
Former Wallabies centre Tim Horan said Ashley-Cooper’s influence on the squad would be invaluable, even if he never played a minute of the upcoming Tests against Wales, Italy and England.
“I just think the team just probably needs that bit more leadership and experience around them, even if he doesn’t play a Test match while he’s away,” said Horan.
“The questions going into next year will be, ‘Is he fit enough? Is he playing at a level next year to be in a World Cup squad?’
“I wouldn’t worry too much about that now.
“The big area now is leadership and experience and driving a bit more of the culture within the team.”