Quade is a divisive figure, on field and off, that I am sure we can all agree. I am not sold that he is the best flyhalf in aussie by a large margin but at Super Rugby level he is our best, this year. His test rugby issues were encapsulated by bled 1 2011, a game I think history will show as where the cracks showed. Quade had completely alienated the kiwi public ( omg he hit Ruchie!), and wilted under mistakes and crowd pressure. Enigma code solved, how to defeat the most potent attack in world rugby. Must bring 35,000 angry kiwis however.
Quade will weigh heavily on Deans mind. Deans is the guy who backed him, gave him a shot, but right now Deans worry is about the Lions crucible, not just for Quade but many of the team. It's pressure rugby at its highest and Quade does not have a glowing record in tough test matches. But equally Quade is one of a very very short list of world flyhalves that is capable of completely shattering the defensive structure of elite teams.
I think Deans will be aiming to select Cooper for the first test after letting him play with the reds v lions.