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Michael Hooper's challenge to Wallabies ahead of Springboks clash
A trio of sorry losses to New Zealand means Michael Hooper hasn’t had time to reflect on his historic shift in charge of the Wallabies ahead of Sunday’s clash with world champions South Africa.
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The inspirational flanker will play test number 112 in the Rugby Championship clash on the Gold Coast – only four men have played more often for Australia – while he will equal George Gregan’s record when he leads the Wallabies out for a 59th time.
Hooper has arguably been Australia’s best player in the six tests since returning from a cameo in Japan’s Top League, admitting that the year away from Super Rugby got him thinking differently about rugby.
But, two years out from a World Cup, he knows his own form and achievements won’t count for much unless the side’s trajectory starts curling upwards.
“I’ve been largely trying to pick myself up from last week; it’s been a tough three games and we’ve all had to do that in our own ways,” Hooper said on Saturday.
“We’ve got to be taking stuff from it, we’ve got to start to show improvement.
“Because if we do what we want to do out there we’re going to really test them on Sunday.”
The Springboks have picked a massive pack, openly conceding they will sweat on every Australian error after watching the Wallabies regularly turn the ball over against New Zealand.
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Happy to play without the ball, it leaves the onus on the hosts to deny them the chance.
“We’ve shown how when we’re a bit sloppy with our ball we can be punished,” Hooper said.
“We need to be smart with how we use the ball, playing in the right areas of the field.”
That will largely fall to recalled playmaker Quade Cooper, a shock selection four years on from his last test and five months since his last competitive game in Japan.
Wallabies boss Dave Rennie has rejected suggestions that the selection of Quade Cooper against the Springboks was a panic move after three straight losses. #Wallabies #RSAvAUS #RugbyChampionship https://t.co/fTi1EXF7cO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 11, 2021
Replacing axed 21-year-old Noah Lolesio, Hooper said 33-year-old Cooper’s recall had the squad buzzing.
“It’s very exciting isn’t it? He’s got such a unique story, and is such a quality player when he’s on,” the captain said.
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“He’s the right selection for the game this week … everyone’s pretty pumped to see him out there.”
The Springboks and All Blacks are both 2-0 entering Sunday’s double header against Australia and Argentina respectively, meaning it’s effectively a must-win clash for Australia to have any chance of winning the Rugby Championship.
“We wouldn’t want it any other way,” Hooper said of playing a near-full strength South Africa on the back of a Bledisloe Cup.
“It’s going to really help our trajectory. We have to keep our mindset strong … question things, but be strong on what we’re trying to achieve.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments