Lions defence coach Andy Farrell is the latest to voice support for Quade Cooper © Getty Images

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News: Quade Cooper's omission 'own goal'

Quade Cooper has a big fan in British & Irish Lions defence coach Andy Farrell, who is happy the Reds pivot continues to be overlooked by Wallabies selectors.

Cooper's run of outs at the selection table continued on Monday when he was not among the six players added to the original squad of 25 named in the lead-up to the first Test against the Lions on June 22. He might not have done enough against the Lions last Saturday to push his claims, but Farrell is an unabashed admirer of the mercurial fly-half.

Asked if he was surprised at Cooper missing out, Farrell said: "I'm pleased, he's a bloody good player. If I was the coach I'd want him in my side, he's a good player. But having said, that I don't know the background - the ins and outs of why he wasn't selected - but he's certainly a handful. He brings a lot to the party, so I'm pretty pleased."

Former league and union international Farrell felt Australia had some good passers even without Cooper. "I think they have got quite a few backs who can pass, with (Kurtley) Beale back in the squad and [James] O'Connor and [Adam] Ashley-Cooper," Farrell said. "They've got a magnificent backline, but I think Quade adds something a little bit different."

As for the Lions own halves, Farrell said his son Owen and Jonathan Sexton were both fine despite each sitting out training on Monday.

He was confident Stuart Hogg, who has been shifted from fullback to fly-half for Tuesday's game against NSW-Qld Combined Country in Newcastle, would perform well.

"He's got a lot of experience around him, who will help him out a lot," Farrell said. "Just watching the kid in training, dictating to the boys, inside and outside, he's been great. He's (doing) what a fly-half should do, he's dictating, putting them in the right place, understands the game plan. But he's got X-factor as well. He's got a long kicking game. He's been good at kicking at posts in training. His passing game and his running game is exceptional."

Asked to describe the Australian attitude towards sport Farrell said: "Confident. They are very confident in their own ability and with that they've got a winning mentality and a never-say-die attitude. They will definitely fight to the death and that's why it's going to be a fantastic series."