Injured Wallaby Michael Hooper on his chances of playing in Bledisloe I
After missing the Wallabies’ thrilling Test against Los Pumas with a calf injury, Australian co-captain Michael Hooper has revealed whether he’s likely to play against the All Blacks later this month.
For Wallabies fans, it’s good news.
Hooper, who has played 126 Test matches, picked up the calf injury in the lead-up to the Wallabies’ first match of the year on Australian soil.
It was a cruel blow for coach Eddie Jones and the Wallabies, who were coming off a disastrous loss to South Africa in Pretoria. The Australians were desperate to bounce back.
Rising star Fraser McReight started in the No. 7 jersey against Los Pumas, and the Queenslander didn’t look out of place after entering the fray of international rugby for the first time in 2023.
But Hooper brings something else to the table. The Wallabies fell to their second consecutive loss, and they would’ve benefited from the leadership of the great flanker.
With four John Eales Medals to his name – which is the award given to Australia’s best player at the end of the year – there’s no denying that Hooper is a modern-day great.
Rugby fans have doubted the veteran throughout his entire career, but it’s hard to argue with the facts. Hooper’s experience is invaluable, and his poise under pressure is another admirable quality.
The Wallabies have an 0-2 record under new coach Eddie Jones, and have just three more Tests to play before opening their World Cup campaign against Georgia. They need to turn things around.
In a major boost for the Australians, Hooper has revealed that he “should be right” to play when the Wallabies take on rivals the All Blacks in the opening Bledisloe Cup clash at the MCG.
“Injury is good, I should be right for the next game,” Hooper said on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby.
“Give us another two weeks and yeah, should be in. Simple as that.
“Apparently in the best area to do a calf… I’ve learned a lot about calves the last week or so.”
For the second week in a row, the Wallabies shot out of the blocks at a red-hot pace against Argentina at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium.
Centre Len Ikitau scored an early try, but left the field shortly after with a devastating injury. This was the first of two major turning points.
Following a backline reshuffle, which saw replacement Carter Gordon come at inside centre, the Wallabies lost their way a bit.
But then, following a yellow card to towering lock Richie Arnold, Los Pumas began to assert themselves. Just after the break, captain Julian Montoya scored to give the visitors the lead.
Leading late in the contest, and looking to ice the game too, Argentina had the ball deep inside Australia’s 22. But winger Mark Nawaqanitawase sent the home crowd into a frenzy as he picked off a pass, and ran coast-to-coast for the go-ahead try.
But the Wallabies’ lead was short-lived.
About three minutes later, backrower Juan Martin Gonzalez scored the match-winning try – giving Argentina a 21-24 win following the successful conversion.
That was the final play of the game.
“You’re wishing out there, aren’t you? That’s where you can have (an) influence on the game,” Hooper added. “You’re wishing you’re out there.
“The only positive is you don’t wake up sore Sunday morning, but other than that you feel every bit of the s*** that everyone feels.
“It was a tough one.
“I think frustration for the most part, frustration that the way they got into those areas was largely off our mistakes or our ill-discipline.
“That’s been a reoccurring theme of the team that we’ve got to fix if we want to go where we want to go as a team.
“To have that issue highlighted right at the death there after going ahead was frustrating.”
The Wallabies take on the All Blacks at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in just over one week’s time. Then, the Australians will travel across the ditch to Dunedin for the reverse fixture.
Comments on RugbyPass
Crusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to comments