Wayne Smith of The Australian talks to Anthony Faingaa about playing alongside the maverick that is Quade Cooper.
"Anthony Faingaa is not the type to offer unsolicited advice but if any of his non-Reds Wallabies teammates need help in deciphering five-eighth Quade Cooper's play, he is more than happy to assist.
"Of all the players in the Australian team, Faingaa knows Cooper's game better than anyone, having played alongside him as a centre at club level for Souths, in the Super Rugby-winning Queensland side and, on five occasions, in the Test side.
"Brumbies battering ram Pat McCabe admitted after playing outside Cooper for the first time against the Springboks on Saturday that he was, if not exactly confused, at times unsure of what the mesmerising Wallabies playmaker was up to. On one occasion, Cooper ended up throwing a ball clean into touch when McCabe zigged when his five-eighth clearly expected him to zag.
"When queried yesterday on whether he had spoken to McCabe about the art of playing straight man to Cooper, Faingaa was conscious not to be seen to be proffering advice before he is asked for it."
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