Adam Ashley-Cooper

Utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper returns, alongside four Wallabies teammates – Mark Gerrard, Julian Huxley, Stephen Hoiles and George Smith, for his first match for the CA Brumbies in 2008. On Friday night the CA Brumbies take on the Hurricanes in their final pre-season trial in Levin, New Zealand. Brumby Jack caught up with ‘Coopy’ as he prepares to take to the field – at outside centre – for his first match this year.

Brumby Jack: How do you feel leading into your first match for 2008?
Adam Ashley-Cooper: I’m a little nervous as it’s the first time I’ve played football in a while but I’m really looking forward to it because this is the time of the year when everyone starts to get really serious.

BJ: How does it feel to be back in your preferred position of inside centre?
AAC: I feel really good about it. It gives me a great opportunity to lock that position in for the first few weeks while Stirlo’s away. It’ll be good to play one position for a while and not have to change around too much. It’s also a great opportunity to play outside Gene Fairbanks; I’ve played outside him before and he’s someone I’ve got a really good relationship with. I’m looking forward to it though and hopefully I can perform well.

BJ: You’ve played the Hurricanes a number of times throughout your career now, what are you expecting from them?
AAC: It’ll be a very physical contest and they’ve got some very physical centres in Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith and a number of very speedy outside backs. It’ll definitely be a tough challenge for ourselves but we’re not trying to set the bar too high – you don’t win titles during trials. But it should be a good match, we’ve forged a great relationship with the Hurricanes, and it should give us a bit of an indication of where we’re at as a team and individually.

BJ: You mentioned Conrad Smith. You’ll be playing opposite him on Friday, what can you tell us about him?
AAC: I had the opportunity to meet up with Conrad Smith in France during the World Cup over a few beers. He’s a really nice guy and I got on really well with him. He’s a very talented footballer and he’s shown his qualities over the last couple of years in representing the All Blacks. It’ll be a tough contest and I’m sure he’ll be looking to play his role within the team and get their team patterns right just like we are.

BJ: The CA Brumbies will be staying over in New Zealand in the lead-up to their first game against the Crusaders. Do you think that will give you an advantage over having to travel back to and from Canberra prior to the first match?
AAC: Yeah I think so. It allows us to settle a bit quicker and get settled in New Zealand rather than being disrupted by several travel days, which also costs you a day of training. But I think staying over here for 10 days is probably the best lead-up you could have leading into a Crusaders game at the start of the competition from an overseas team’s point of view. And if we play well against the Hurricanes and train hard during next week we should be in good shape for the Crusaders.