‘Wasn’t a great role model’: Eddie Jones’ shocking reason for axing Michael Hooper

Just a few weeks on from the Wallabies’ disastrous pool stage exit at the Rugby World Cup, coach Eddie Jones has explained the shock omission of Michael Hooper.

In what will come as a surprise to many, Jones said the former captain “wasn’t a great role model” for the new-look team.

Jones, 63, made the stunning revelation in an interview with former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons when asked about the omitted trio of Hooper, veteran Quade Cooper and playmaker Bernard Foley.

While Foley hasn't been involved with the Wallabies since last year, both Hooper and Cooper were initially seen as key members of Jones’ Wallabies – both started the first Test of the year in South Africa.

But that was the only Test that Hooper – who was named as the Wallabies’ co-captain along with James Slipper before The Rugby Championship – played under Jones. An injury brought a surprise end to the flanker’s international career.

When Australia’s World Cup squad was announced on August 10, Hooper was sensationally overlooked. Quade Cooper was also left out as Jones favoured rising star Carter Gordon as the only player listed as a flyhalf.

The youth experiment at Rugby World Cup 2023 backfired for Jones and the Wallabies. 22-year-old Gordon struggled, and the team clearly missed Hooper’s invaluable experience.

But coach Jones stands by the decision. Jones didn’t believe the unfavoured trio of Hooper, Cooper and Foley were “obsessed” enough to don Wallaby gold in France.

“The situation reminded me of when Wayne Bannett let Wally Lewis go. No one could quite understand why, but Wally Lewis wasn’t a great role model for the rest of the team,” Jones told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“And for those guys, I don’t think they were the right role models for the team going forward. Don’t get me wrong. They’re not bad guys.

“But you need guys – particularly when you’ve got a team like Australia has at the moment – you need guys who are obsessed with winning, obsessed with being good, and those three are past those stages.”

Michael Hooper is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in Wallabies history, and when you consider the veteran's Test CV, it’s hard to argue with that point.

Hooper captained Australia at just 23 years old and went on to become the most experienced skipper in the history of Australian rugby.

Hooper also won the prestigious John Eals Medal – the award that recognises Australia’s best rugby union player – a record four times. While it seems unjust to label the former flanker a poor role model, coach Jones doubled down.

“I stand by it, 100 per cent,” Jones added. “He is a great guy but the timing is not right for him.”

In an interesting twist, Jones will coach 125-Test veteran Hooper when the Barbarians take on Wales next weekend.

Hooper will run out in the famous black and white strip alongside Wales legend Alun-Wyn Jones and 2019 World Cup-winning Springbok Duane Vermeulen.

The Sydney Morning Herald also revealed on Friday that coach Jones has “taken the first steps” towards quitting as Wallabies head coach.