Lions purring at Deans' decision to omit Cooper Lions still testing Test combinations: Farrell Lions defence coach Andy Farrell says there are still Test spots up for grabs ahead of the three Test series against the Wallabies. Robbie Deans might be relieved to put the Quade Cooper selection saga behind him, but the British and Irish Lions are also relieved. Lions defence coach Andy Farrell was breathing easier after learning Australia's most controversial five-eighth had not made the Wallabies squad this week. "I'm pleased; he's a bloody good player," Farrell said. If I was the coach I'd want him in my side, but having said that I don't know the background or ins and outs of why he isn't selected. But he's certainly a handful, he brings a lot to the party, so I'm pretty pleased. Brian O'Driscoll talks to his team during the captain's run in Newcastle yesterday. The dual international who, as a 21-year-old, captained Great Britain in rugby league before earning eight Test caps for England, did not declare the Lions home free on the defensive front but said Cooper had a special edge. "I think they have got a few backs who can pass - there's [Kurtley] Beale back in the squad and [James] O'Connor [and] Adam Ashley-Cooper," Farrell said. They've got a magnificent back line but I think Quade adds something a little bit different. Farrell was also forced to defend suggestions the Lions were "paranoid" after coach Warren Gatland raised the issue of the Wallabies filming the side's match against the Force, and also revealed two of his fitness coaches had asked an observer to delete video footage from their camera after a training session. Pack leader: Sam Warburton. "You've got to get things right, not [get] paranoid," Farrell said. If we're paranoid about getting things right, well then, yeah we are, but you've just got to get things right and leave nothing for chance. But I think that [subject has] been covered anyway. There were some ominous signs in Newcastle on Monday, with conditions reminiscent of the Wallabies' infamous 9-6 loss to Scotland in the same June window last year. Thick fog caused delays at Newcastle Airport before the heavens opened up in the afternoon. But the Lions trained with a rainbow at their backs, and the forecast has not predicted the hellish wind-and-rain conditions that brought Australia undone a year ago. The Lions' first and second string five-eighths, Jonathan Sexton and Owen Farrell, sat out training, with Sexton also observed getting treatment on his hamstring before coming on against the Reds on Saturday. Farrell said they were not under serious injury clouds. "Like every game of rugby, guys have got little knocks and tweaks, but there's nothing serious," he said. Owen's got a little bit of a dead leg, that's all, so it was precautionary, and Jonny was a little bit tight but he's fine as well. With the way recovery works they had training off today with the flight [from Brisbane]. Rob Kearney is also expected to be fit for this weekend's game against the Waratahs, in which the Lions are widely expected to field their best approximation of the Test line-up.