1
Michael Hooper talks Olympics and jokes about League amidst contract uncertainty
By AAP
Michael Hooper is flirting with a career change, move abroad, an Olympic rugby sevens stint and even joking of a code switch as the Wallabies star weighs up his next move.
The most-capped Australian skipper is off contract beyond this year's Rugby World Cup and is adamant he has no idea what he'll do after that.
But the 31-year-old flanker, who spent two months out of the game on a mental health break last year, is right where he wants to be.
"I don't know what the next thing is going to look like," Waratahs star Hooper said ahead of Saturday's crucial Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Western Force.
"It's a nice position to be in, to be open to all aspects.
"And that's playing, that might not be playing, that's having time off, that's whatever.
"I'm completely an open book ... I'm actually really excited by the fact that I don't know what I'm doing."
Hooper spent a season in Japan but has otherwise turned down overseas interest while accruing 121 Test caps.
With "ambiguity" in his mind, Hooper's happy to sit on his hands, even if that means he's burning big-money offers by doing so.
"You eliminate a lot of options when you leave that open, right?" he said.
"But it also opens up a lot of options.
"You've got to be prepared that it might not work out.
"There's an Olympics," he said, before smirking.
"There's rugby league. I'm joking. I'm an open book."
Hooper wants to iron out the inconsistencies in his game for the Waratahs, who are struggling at 1-5 this season, ahead of new Wallabies coach Eddie Jones' first training camp next week.
"I feel great. Obviously really motivated with what's ahead on the season," he said.
"I don't think I've played my best rugby. I think I've still got a lot more to give to this team and what I'm capable of, so I'm chasing that.
"Guys (will be) on edge, I think that's going to bring a really good edge to the camp," he said.
"No one knows what to expect."
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Jake White: Ireland, Australia and Wales have the same problem
3
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner
4
Let's be real about these All Blacks
5
Latest Comments
i think Argentina v France could be a good game too, depending on which Argentina turns up. The most difficult to call is Scotland Australia.
Go to commentsSmith is playing a different game with the rest of the backs struggling to understand. That's the problem with so called playmakers, if nobody gets what they're doing then it often just leads to a turnover. It gets worse when Borthwick changes one of them, which is why they don't score points at the end. Sometimes having a brilliant playmaker can be problematic if a team cannot be built around them. Once again Borthwick seems lacking in either coaching or selection. I can't help but think it's the latter coupled with pressure to select the big name players.
Lastly, his forward replacements are poor and exposed either lack of depth or selection pressure. Cole hemorrhages scrum penalties whenever he comes on, opponents take advantage of the England scrum and close out the game. Is that the best England can offer?
Go to comments