Cooper says Wallabies had 'no plan' under Jones

SYDNEY : Former Wallabies flyhalf Quade Cooper said a lack of expertise among Eddie Jones's support staff left Australia without the proper systems in place to compete at the World Cup earlier this year.

Cooper was omitted from the tournament squad, along with long-time captain Michael Hooper and another experienced flyhalf in Bernard Foley. The twice world champions exited in the pool stage for the first time.

Cooper had been in camp with the Wallabies all year up until the squad was announced, however, and said the level of preparation was in no way comparable to the detailed plans put in place by Jones's predecessor Dave Rennie, who was sacked in January.

"One of the things I struggled with in these last six months leading into the World Cup was we didn't really have a plan," he said in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.

"We had some great communication and talking around the game, but when you go into a game with no real plan or structure and no system, that makes it really difficult as a playmaker.

"Everybody is looking to each other. Are you going to do that? Am I in that ruck? It was quite tough."

Cooper said the selection of some of the assistant coaches defied common sense.

"Key individuals around Eddie lacked significant expertise," he added.

"As players, we tried to buy into what he was preaching, as not doing so would paint us as a detriment. However, common sense was hard to ignore, and it was remarkable that Rugby Australia couldn't see it.

"For instance, Jason Ryles, a rugby league prop, served as an attack coach for the Wallabies at a World Cup. How much did he truly know about rugby attack?"

Cooper, 35, said he had been upset at being left out of the World Cup squad and also bothered by Jones's