Remarkably, the mercurial playmaker says he's more on edge now than he was when All Blacks fans booed him out of New Zealand four years ago.

But an honest and relaxed Cooper detailed the lessons he learnt from the doomed 2011 campaign and how 1999 World Cup champion Stephen Larkham has had an immediate impact on his approach to the tournament.

New Zealand fans, players and media take pleasure in poking Cooper at every opportunity and they didn't miss at the World Cup four years ago.

England's fans don't have the same hate, but even so the 'highlights' package at the Wallabies welcome ceremony did feature Cooper being smashed in two tackles and palmed off in another.

But none of it fazes the 27-year-old who insists he has arrived in England with a new mentality and hunger for success.

"I like to think over the past four years I've grown as a person and a player," Cooper said.

"I look back [on 2011] … this is a whole new experience. It's more about my personal life, how I conduct myself on a day to day manner.

"I'm very focused at this World Cup. Not to say I wasn't in 2011, but there were a lot of distractions and a lot of things went on that year that maybe I took for granted.

"I won't take any day or second for granted this time around. I'm over here to win for this team. We're not here to make up numbers … we were given a medal of participation [at the welcome ceremony]. We don't want to go away with that, we want to take the trophy home."

Some considered Cooper lucky to secure a place in the World Cup squad after a disappointing Super Rugby season with the Queensland Reds.

But Larkham hinted Cooper was pushing for the No. 10 jersey while Test coach Michael Cheika has thrown his support behind the unpredictable star after he put him in an Eden Park pressure test in August.

Cooper had another New Zealand night to forget as the All Blacks romped to victory while Cooper was sent to the sin bin.

The continued New Zealand hostility hasn't rattled Cooper's confidence and even though there won't be the same hatred at Cardiff, Birmingham and Twickenham, he says he's better equipped to handle it.

But even if the hostility was there, Cooper is still better equipped to handle it.

"I was probably too relaxed [in 2011], amongst the hostile feeling that was there in New Zealand, I still went there very relaxed," he said.

"I was too relaxed. I've learnt that it's a grand final every week [in the World Cup]. I'm more on edge, understanding I have to stay focused every day, even if it's a day off.

"If I can do anything to make sure our name is etched on the 2015 World Cup, I'll do that. I'll leave no stone unturned."

The biggest benefit to Cooper's redemption mission is Wallabies great Larkham.

Larkham has spent the past five years picking apart Cooper's game as a rival Super Rugby coach, but is now providing his World Cup-winning nous to Cooper's playbook.

Cooper says the fact he looked up to Larkham as a hero has helped establish an immediate trust.

"He wants the playmakers to take ownership of the games, when we're controlling the game you've got to get up there and be the quarterback of the team," Cooper said.

Larkham said the Wallabies were yet to settle on their halves combinations for the first two matches of the tournament.

NSW Waratahs duo Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps have the inside running, but Cooper and Will Genia are fighting to win starting spots.

The Wallabies will roll out two different halves pairings in games against Fiji and Uruguay.

"[Cooper's] been trying to prove [since 2011] that he's worthy of wearing the Wallabies No.10 jersey and he's worked his way back into the team on form,"Larkham said.

"The combinations we've got … if you get the results at the end of the year you'll be crowned the best 9-10 combination."