Michael Hooper has a fierce battle on his hands
Michael Hooper has clarity, the captaincy and a fierce battle on his hands.
And the restored Wallabies captain has welcomed all of it ahead of the side's first Test since coach Eddie Jones' return - one of just five before September's World Cup.
Hooper and James Slipper will share the duties this year in a novel approach, Slipper having took over from him when the 124-Test flanker took a three-month mental health break.
The father of two admitted he harboured serious doubt about his rugby future before stepping away, but was now "all-in".
"I don't mind saying that Eddie checked in with me," Hooper said.
"I have my history and particularly in the last 18 months where it didn't quite work out there.
"I was unsure what my position looked like in rugby at that point. Now, I can't wait to give everything I got for this.
"I want to get everything out of this next little chunk."
Jones on Sunday declared the 31-year-old remained an 80-minute player, lighting the fuse for a high-quality battle for minutes with Queensland Reds' No.7 Fraser McReight.
The 24-year-old has played 10 Tests and long been considered the man to take over from Hooper.
His Super Rugby Pacific form this season only bolstered that and McReight can push his case after being included in the 34-man squad to travel to South Africa on Friday.
"It's a good battle and that's what we want, the most intense battles," Jones said, before refusing to elaborate on how they might be used in the July 8 clash with the Springboks in Pretoria.
Hooper can handle the heat and says those situations are what the Wallabies need.
"This is what this team wants, it wants that competition," he said.
"How can that not be a good result for us."
Latest Comments
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
Go to comments