He may have given up the captaincy in the second half of 2022, but the Wallabies’ most capped captain, Michael Hooper, says he is ready to return to the role for this year’s World Cup campaign.
His comments come as the Waratahs prepare for their much-anticipated return to the Allianz Stadium, where rugby’s ‘Chicago Bulls’ return to their spiritual home after a four-year hiatus to face rivals the ACT Brumbies on Friday night.
Hooper, 31, shocked the world last August when he pulled out of the Wallabies Rugby Championship campaign on the eve of their opener against Argentina in Mendoza.
Michael Hooper could be about to start his final year in Super Rugby. Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
The Wallabies veteran missed the next six Tests before returning to the squad for their end-of-season spring tour, where he started in their opener against Scotland at Murrayfield.
During his absence, Brumbies veteran James Slipper captained the team while Allan Alaalatoa also captained the team for a test in Italy.
But with a new manager, the one who immediately changed the captaincy on his arrival at the Rugby Football Union by recalling and giving the captaincy to Dylan Hartley in 2016, the question of who leads the Wallabies to the World Cup is far from clear.
Slipper and Alaalatoa are strong contenders, while Nic White and Tate McDermott are outside the odds, but Hooper’s experience and the fact that 2023 looms as his final year in the gold jersey could see Jones ask the flanker world-class opener to lead the Wallabies through to the World Cup.
Never one to publicly claim the role, Hooper left the door to the captaincy ajar.
“Look, I’m open to what’s best for the team,” Hooper told reporters on Monday.
“My first and foremost commitment is to play really good rugby and to play the best possible rugby for the Tahs and how that develops later in the year we’ll see. There’s so much that can happen in six months. , which is the time frame or maybe even less for Test matches there.
New Wallabies coach Eddie Jones keeps his cards close to his chest with the captaincy. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images
How Jones views the No. 7 pecking order remains far from clear.
Since returning home, Jones has been reluctant to single out individuals, instead keeping his cards close to his chest as he considers what he has to work with.
Four Wallabies coaches selected Hooper in the No.7 jersey, with three of them giving him the captaincy.
But when Jones arrived in England, he immediately moved open side flanker Chris Robshaw to the blind side role and initially selected James Haskell, before settling on Tom Curry and Sam Underhill primarily as his flankers.
Jones has a choice of depth, with Reds flanker Fraser McReight and Pete Samu getting extra minutes during Hooper’s time away from the Wallabies setup. The emergence and eligibility of Charlie Gamble as well as the return to fitness of Brad Wilkin and Liam Wright means there is no shortage of talent in the area.
While Hooper has played down his interactions with Jones, the Wallabies star is believed to have spoken to his new boss on several occasions.
“Yeah, very little,” Hooper said when asked about his interactions with Jones.
“But from the conversations I’ve had, (he’s) very impressive. I mean, what a career he’s had and coming home for him is very exciting. So (it’s) huge to learn from someone with so much experience.
Michael Hooper says he is feeling fresh ahead of the Waratahs’ Super Rugby season opener against the Brumbies at the Allianz Stadium on Friday. Photo: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Whichever direction Jones takes, the Australian rugby community will be delighted to hear that Hooper is excited for the year ahead.
“Physically and mentally I feel fine,” he said.
“I think when you get closer to the end and you start to realize that this is the end, the body of my career, you move on to next week and the next game, this or that season and very little time to think. There is still a little time left but we are beginning to realize that there are fewer and fewer cracks.
“Physically the guys did a good job with everyone but I personally feel in good shape. Mentally, I’m extremely motivated this coming season and I’m going to give it my all.
When asked if the World Cup was the end goal, Hooper said there were a lot of “juicy” things ahead of the World Cup kicking off in France.
“Absolutely (but) there is a carrot in everything we do,” he said.
“There’s the carrot of playing at the stadium this weekend, being in this new building which is fantastic, the finals, trying to be a better player individually and being the best I can do is a carrot, then the World Cup, to be part of a team that can do something there, everything is juicy.
“There is a lot to look forward to.”
Michael Hooper says the banter between the Waratahs and the Brumbies has already started ahead of their Super Rugby opener on Friday night. Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images
While Hooper struggled to put together his own swag during last week’s slumber party at the Allianz Stadium, he doesn’t think he’ll struggle to catch up with the pace of the Super’s opening. Friday Rugby despite entering the game without a minute. pre-season.
“I have a few games under my belt so that helps,” he said. “I have good experience to rely on.
“When I had that free time last year, it was very similar time to when I played in the Scotland test, so it was around three and a half months or a bit less. That been around the same time that I didn’t play against Ireland and now I’m coming into this one.
“To run 80 minutes I would be happy and I can really contribute to the team (that’s the plan). I know I’m going to blow this game. It’s going to be tough, there are going to be times when I I have my hands on my hips and my head back and sucking seagulls like everyone else. Sometimes I will have to dig deep, but those are the times that are fun with these matchups.
But with a lot on the line, including a win over his former team and bragging rights for his Wallabies teammates, Hooper says there would be no problem getting up for the Test-type match.
“The banter has already started. I’ve had a few texts between me and the Brumbies guys already,” Hooper said.
“I said ‘Go the Tahs’ and the message I got from Nic White was a picture of me in a Brumbies shirt.
“I had nothing and just came back with hands clapping (emoji).
“These matches are like test matches between the two teams. It’s a big game and the games we all want to play.
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