Cooper ready for ultimate 80 minute test

The 42-times capped Cardiff Blues scrum half knows his return to the Wales No 9 jersey could be short lived if he doesn't come up to scratch because of the battle for the coveted jersey in the Principality.

With the Ospreys' British & Irish Lions star Mike Phillips ruled out with injury,. And Sale Sharks' Dwayne Peel unavailable for the New Zealand game on a technicality, Cooper was the obvious choice for Wales coach Warren Gatland to turn to.

He has already faced the All Blacks five times and was on the 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand. Back home since the summer, and back in the Magners League after a two season sojourn at Gloucester, he is raring to go on the international stage once again.

"I have been pretty happy with my form in the Magners League and it's great to get another chance to start for Wales," said Cooper.

"Over the past five or six years we have had three or four scrum halves who have been given the chance to play. That means that every time you play you have to make the most of your chance.

"We know that every one of us is going to have to be at his best from start to finish against New Zealand. We don't feat them, but we certainly respect them.

"They have some of the best individual players in the world in their side and we know from bitter experience that if you give them an inch, they will take a mile."

Cooper is one of 12 Welsh players who will be lining-up against New Zealand who took part in last year's Millennium Stadium classic. Wales caused a storm before kick-off by facing down the Haka and then rocked their visitors by leading at half-time.

But after that the All Blacks cruised home with 23 unanswered points in the second half to stretch their record against the Welsh to 21-3.

"The noise in the stadium around the Haka was the loudest I have ever heard. It really gave us a boost and we went on to hold them to 9-6 at half-time," said Cooper.

"That may have seemed a good achievement at the time, but we understand it is all about 80 minutes of commitment and concentration when you play the All Blacks.

"We know we are good enough these days after two Grand Slams, a couple of victories over Australia and so many Welsh players in the Lions Test side in South Africa.

"It is just a case of proving ourselves against New Zealand - and we haven't been able to do that for 56 years."