to Digby Ioane among the team's leading try-scorers. The season also saw the Reds suffer a historic seventh loss from seven matches away to the Highlanders, and was their 22nd loss in 23 visits to New Zealand since 1999. Cooper gained his first test start, playing at second five-eighth, during the final test against Italy in Melbourne during the 2009 June series. He went on to feature eight times for Australia, starting all four tests on the Grand Slam tour from the second five-eighth position. Cooper stood out on tour and earned praise from former Welsh great Barry John after a victory over Wales at Millennium Stadium. 2010–12: Super Rugby championship and World Cup Playing at fly-half in the Wallabies' 1st Tri-Nations Series Test against South Africa, Cooper was yellow-carded during the game for a dangerous tackle on Morne Steyn. Later he was suspended from two Tests against New Zealand, the Bledisloe Cup clashes in Melbourne and Christchurch. He returned from suspension to face South Africa in Pretoria and Bloemfontein. He featured in the final Tri-Nations clash against the All Blacks in a 22–23 loss at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Cooper took part in all of the Wallabies' Spring Tour games, playing at flyhalf. In 2011 Cooper signed with player agent Khoder Nasser. In 2011, the Queensland Reds won the inaugural Super Rugby title, with Cooper featuring prominently and kicking most of their goals. Cooper played in all of the Wallabies' Tri-Nations games. When James O'Connor was suspended from the deciding Tri-Nations test at Suncorp Stadium against the All Blacks, Cooper took over the kicking duties in a 25–20 win, securing Australia's only Tri-Nations title since 2001 in the final edition of the competition. Cooper was selected for the Wallabies for Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand. Starting all games at flyhalf, Cooper was booed by New Zealand crowds because he had earlier used his knee to smash the face of New Zealand captain Richie McCaw. Coach, Robbie Deans, through his experience with the judiciary. had been able to get him off, according to New Zealand media and coach. A fairer assessment is that Cooper was targeted by the New Zealand media and crowds and had a lacklustre series. Cooper was selected for the third-place playoff at Eden Park against Wales. Cooper set up the opening try before succumbing to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that later ruled